The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 10, 1986
Filed:
Feb. 10, 1984
Thomas C Hogan, Natick, MA (US);
Prime Computer, Inc., Natick, MA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method, for connecting a node to and disconnecting a node from a high speed data communications network, has a dead man switching element and high speed solid state switching circuitry interconnected therewith to avoid the effects of mechanical contact bounce normally associated with operation of the mechanical switching element. Thereby, massive data losses on high speed communications paths, and token loss in a token-passing ring network, are substantially avoided. The switch has the solid state switching circuitry connected both in parallel and in series with its mechanical contacts for providing node isolation and communications path bypass channels during the time that the mechanical switch bounce occurs. The alternate paths are maintained during a change of state of the mechanical device, that is, when the node is being connected or disconnected from the communications network.