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:
May. 23, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 02, 1998
T Scott Cummins, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus for inserting an error signal onto a bidirectional signal line. The apparatus includes a first switch for decoupling a first terminal of the bidirectional signal line from a second terminal of the bidirectional signal line, a second switch for coupling the error signal to the first terminal, and a third switch for coupling the error signal to the second terminal. The apparatus also includes a control unit for generating a switch enable signal. When the switch enable signal is deasserted, the first switch closes and the second and third switches open, such that the first terminal is coupled to the second terminal. When the switch enable signal is asserted, the first switch opens and the second and third switches close, such that the error signal is coupled to the first and second terminals.