SIGNAL PATH ISOLATION FOR CONDUCTIVE CIRCUIT PATHS AND MULTIPURPOSE INTERFACES

摘要

A device can be configured to provide isolation between conductive circuit paths and to selectively connect one of the conductive circuit paths to a shared interface. Each conductive circuit path can include driver circuitry designed to transmit signals according to a particular protocol and a corresponding signal speed. The shared interface can be, in one instance, a connector designed for connection to other devices. The other devices can be configured to communicate over the shared interface using one or more of the particular protocols provided using the different circuit paths.

主权项

1. A device for reducing loading on a prioritized conductive signal circuit path that share a multipurpose signal interface which passes conductively-carried signals received from respective ones of the conductive signal circuit paths to facilitate the use of different protocols for communication in each path, the device comprising:
a first conductive signal circuit path configured and arranged to transmit an electrical data signal at a signal speed designed for use with a first protocol; a second conductive signal circuit path configured and arranged to transmit an electrical data signal at a signal speed designed for use with a second protocol and that is slower relative to the signal speed designed for use with the first protocol; a third conductive signal circuit path configured and arranged to transmit an electrical data signal at a speed designed for use with a third protocol and that is slower relative to the signal speed designed for use with the first protocol; a first multiplexer circuit configured and arranged to transmit a signal on a first output conductive signal circuit path by selecting, in response to a first control bit, between the second conductive signal circuit path and the third conductive signal circuit path and by electrically isolating the other of the second conductive signal circuit path and the third conductive signal circuit path from the first output conductive signal circuit path; a second multiplexer circuit configured and arranged to transmit a signal on a second output conductive signal circuit path by selecting, in response to a second control bit, between the first conductive signal circuit path and the first output conductive signal circuit path; and control circuitry configured and arranged to generate the first and second control bits in response to a selection of one of the first, second and third protocols for use of the multipurpose signal interface.