Star coupler for a bus system, bus system having such a star coupler and method for interchanging signals in a bus system

摘要

A star coupler has the ability to distinguish signals arriving via connections according to the time slot in which they arrive and to forward these signals to at least one other connection on the basis of the connection via which the signals arrive and on the basis of the time slot. An assignment in which the star coupler once treats the bus system as a single bus system and virtually divides the bus system into two subsystems in another time slot is possible in particular.

主权项

1. A star coupler for a bus system, comprising:
a plurality of connections to which bus branches can be connected; a digital data processing unit coupled to the connections; and a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver being provided between a respective associated connection and the data processing unit, each transceiver converting analog signals arriving via the respective associated connection into digital signals which are forwarded to the data processing unit and converting digital signals emitted by the data processing unit into analog signals which are forwarded to the respective associated connection, wherein the data processing unit comprises a timer to divide a cycle time such that for each connection, a cyclically repeating sequence of time slots is defined, the data processing unit operating according to a predetermined assignment relating to time slots such that a signal received from a first connection in a predetermined time slot defined for the first connection, is forwarded to at least one second connection stipulated according to the predetermined assignment, the signal being forwarded in a time slot stipulated by the predetermined assignment and defined for the second connection, wherein the predetermined assignment stipulates that signals are forwarded in a time slot other than that in which they arrive.