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:
Sep. 25, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 09, 1999
Claude L. Bertin, South Burlington, VT (US);
Anthony R. Bonaccio, Shelburne, VT (US);
Howard Kalter, Colchester, VT (US);
William R. Tonti, Essex Junction, VT (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A self-terminating module is provided that at least partially terminates a signal line when the self-terminating module is coupled thereto. The self-terminating module comprises an internal non-self-terminating module directly coupled to an internal termination circuit. Preferably an active internal termination circuit is employed. A pass circuit may be coupled between the internal termination circuit and the internal non-self-terminating module so as to pass a received signal therebetween with fewer reflected signal contributions. When a pass circuit is employed, a delay circuit responsive to a trigger signal controls signal transfer between the internal termination circuit and the internal non-self-terminating module. One or more self-terminating modules may be coupled to a signal line and the termination impedance of each module is selected to provide adequate signal line termination without significantly loading the signal line when one or more of the self-terminating modules are coupled thereto.