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:
Aug. 24, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 10, 1997
Paul E Greaves, Granite Bay, CA (US);
Play Incorporated, Rancho Cordova, CA (US);
Abstract
A current-based contention detection and handling system, upon detection of excessive current being applied to a communicating subsystem, avoids potential system damage by preventing continued excessive current. In a preferred embodiment, a current sensor and a subsystem control unit are provided in each communicating subsystem. The subsystem control unit preferably includes a latch and control logic. A system coordinator is further preferably provided for directing recovery. Upon current sensor detection of excessive current to a subsystem bus driver, the subsystem control unit disables the bus driver and asserts an interrupt and fault line to alert the system coordinator. The system coordinator confirms the alert and, upon confirmation, a preferably resets both the subsystem and the subsystem control unit. The subsystem control unit preferably includes a latch and control logic.