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:
Jul. 18, 1989
Filed:
Apr. 14, 1987
Carlo F Petronio, Ross Township, Allegheny County, PA (US);
James C Belz, Penn Hills, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A dual media network interface module includes an electrical network interface and an optical network interface each having a transmit port to which signals to be transmitted on the associated network are applied and a receiver port at which signals received on the network are generated. The receiver port of each interface is connected to the transmitter port of the other interface so that signals received on either network are retransmitted on the other network. Blocking circuits block the receiver signal of a LAN which is transmitting during the transmitting interval plus an interval which exceed the worst case propagation time for the associated network to prevent endless repetition of a signal. A preferred form of the module includes a pair of controller interfaces having transmit ports and receiver ports connected to the corresponding ports of the other controller interface and of the electrical and optical network interfaces to provide bidirectional communications between all devices connected to the module. The modules can be used to interface electrical and optical nodes in a network, to expand both electrical and optical networks, and to interconnect various combinations of electrical and optical local area networks.