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:
Apr. 09, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 05, 1998
Joel Silverman, Mountain View, CA (US);
Michael D. Rostoker, Boulder Creek, CA (US);
Kawasaki Microelectronics, Inc., Chiba, JP;
Abstract
An interface device is provided which enables communications between devices having disparate protocols (e.g., USB and Ethernet), and can be fabricated on a single integrated circuit (IC) chip. A system incorporating the interface device provides plug-and-play capability for both MAC and nonMAC environments. A “smart” cable incorporating the interface device has the ability to recognize what type of external device using what type of protocol is connected to the “other” end of the cable, thereby enabling a host to communicate with the external device. An electronic component (e.g., integrated circuit) incorporating the technique is suitably included in a system or subsystem having electrical functionality, such as general purpose computers, telecommunications devices, and the like.