초록 ▼

A data communications system having a plurality of communication devices including a host having a first receiver and a second receiver; and one or more clients, each client including a transmitter coupled between a signal node and a transmitter node, the transmitter selectively transmitting a multi

A data communications system having a plurality of communication devices including a host having a first receiver and a second receiver; and one or more clients, each client including a transmitter coupled between a signal node and a transmitter node, the transmitter selectively transmitting a multistate signal from the signal node to the transmitter node; and a single conductor daisy-chain loop redundantly communicating each multistate signal from each the transmitter to both receivers, the single conductor daisy-chain loop electrically communicating each transmitter node to the receivers. A data communications method including a) transmitting selectively a multistate signal from each of one or more clients; b) communicating electrically each multistate signal to a first location on a host using a single conductor coupled to each the client; and c) communicating electrically each multistate signal to a second location on the host using the single conductor.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A data communications system, comprising: a plurality of communication devices including: a host having a first receiver and a second receiver; andone or more clients, each said client including a transmitter coupled between a signal node and a transmitter node, said transmitter selectively trans

1. A data communications system, comprising: a plurality of communication devices including: a host having a first receiver and a second receiver; andone or more clients, each said client including a transmitter coupled between a signal node and a transmitter node, said transmitter selectively transmitting a multistate signal from said signal node to said transmitter node; anda single conductor daisy-chain loop redundantly communicating each said multistate signal from each said transmitter to both said receivers, said single conductor daisy-chain loop electrically communicating each said transmitter node to said receivers;wherein said first receiver includes a first input having a first pull-up resistance coupling said first input to a first voltage, wherein said second receiver includes a second input having a second pull-up resistance coupling said second input to a second voltage node, wherein each said transmitter is configured to transmit a signal current for said multistate signal to said single conductor daisy-chain loop, said transmitter including an output coupled to said transmitter node wherein said single conductor daisy-chain loop electrically communicates each said transmitter node to said inputs. 2. The data communications system of claim 1 wherein each said transmitter includes a digital isolator having a transmission channel. 3. The data communications system of claim 2 wherein said host includes a power supply providing a first voltage at said voltage nodes and a second voltage and wherein each said digital isolator includes a client portion independently powered by each said client and a host portion independently powered from said power supply, further comprising: a single conductor first voltage power daisy-chain loop coupled to said first voltage and a single conductor second voltage power daisy-chain loop coupled to said second voltage, each said power daisy-chain loop extending from a first location on said host to a second location on said host with each client coupled to each power daisy-chain loop between said locations and each host portion of said digital isolator of each client powered from said power daisy-chain loops. 4. The data communications system of claim 2 wherein said host includes a first digital isolator coupled to said first receiver and includes a second digital isolator coupled to said second receiver. 5. The data communications system of claim 4 wherein one or more of said host and said one or more clients operate in an electrically noisy environment, further comprising a first low-pass filter coupled between said transmitters and said first digital isolator of said host and a second low-pass filter coupled between said transmitters and said digital isolator of said host. 6. The data communications system of claim 1 wherein said multistate signal includes a FAULT signal. 7. The data communications system of claim 1 further comprising a single conductor first voltage power daisy-chain loop and a single conductor second voltage power daisy-chain loop, each said power daisy-chain loop extending from a first location on said host to a second location on said host with each client coupled to each power daisy-chain loop between said locations. 8. A data communications system, comprising: a plurality of communication devices including: a host having a first receiver and a second receiver; andone or more clients, each said client including a transmitter coupled between a signal node and a transmitter node, said transmitter selectively transmitting a multistate signal from said signal node to said transmitter node; anda single conductor first voltage power daisy-chain loop and a single conductor second voltage power daisy-chain loop each redundantly communicating each said multistate signal from each said transmitter to both said receivers, and electrically communicating each said transmitter node to said receivers, each said power daisy-chain loop extending from a first location on said host to a second location on said host with each client coupled to each power daisy-chain loop between said locations. 9. The data communications system of claim 8 wherein said host includes a power supply coupled to said first locations of each said power daisy-chain loops. 10. The data communications system of claim 9 wherein said power supply includes an isolated direct current to direct current power converter (DC-DC converter). 11. The data communications system of claim 9 wherein the electrically noisy environment induces a noise signal between said locations, wherein said power supply provides a direct current to each said client using said single conductor power daisy-chain loops to operate a function of each said client, and wherein said host includes an impedance coupling said first location to said second location sufficient to operate said function of said clients from said first location when said single conductor daisy-chain loop from said first location to said clients is intact, said impedance passing said direct current from said first location to said second location with a sufficiently low voltage drop to continue to operate said function of a downstream set of said clients from said second location when said single conductor daisy-chain loop from said first location to said downstream set of said clients is impaired while isolating said noise signal at one said location from the other said location. 12. The data communications of claim 11 wherein said multistate signal on said first single data conductor daisy-chain loop is referenced to a first particular one power daisy-chain loop producing a pseudo-differential signal transmission. 13. The data communications of claim 12 wherein said particular one power daisy-chain loop is co-routed with said single conductor daisy-chain loop along a transmission path through a region of the electrically noisy environment having a time-varying magnetic field capable of generating a noise induced signal having a noise magnitude on an order of a data magnitude of signals over said first single data conductor daisy-chain loop wherein said single conductor daisy-chain loop and said particular one power daisy-chain loop are twisted together at least over a portion of said transmission path. 14. The data communications system of claim 11 wherein said first receiver includes a first input having a first pull-up resistance coupling said first input to a first voltage, wherein said second receiver includes a second input having a second pull-up resistance coupling said second input to a second voltage node, wherein each said transmitter is configured to transmit a signal current for said multistate signal to said single conductor daisy-chain loop, said transmitter including an output coupled to said transmitter node wherein said single conductor daisy-chain loop electrically communicates each said transmitter node to said inputs. 15. The data communications system of claim 14 wherein each said client includes a digital isolator having a transmission channel. 16. The data communications system of claim 15 wherein each said digital isolator includes a client portion independently powered by each said client and a host portion wherein said host portion includes said client function independently powered from said power supply using said power daisy-chain power loops. 17. The data communications system of claim 8 wherein said host includes a first power supply connected to said first locations of each said power daisy-chain loops and a second power supply connected to said second locations of each of said power daisy-chain loops without a route, internal to said host, coupling said first location to said second location. 18. The data communications system of claim 17 wherein said host includes a first digital isolator coupled to said first receiver and includes a second digital isolator coupled to said second receiver. 19. The data communications system of claim 8 wherein said host includes a power supply connected to said first locations of each said power daisy-chain loops. 20. The data communications system of claim 19 wherein said host includes a digital isolator coupled to said first receiver and said host provides a ground-reference for said second receiver. 21. The data communications system of claim 8 wherein said first receiver includes a first input having a first pull-up resistance coupling said first input to a first voltage, wherein said second receiver includes a second input having a second pull-up resistance coupling said second input to a second voltage node, wherein each said transmitter is configured to transmit a signal current for said multistate signal to said single conductor daisy-chain loop, said transmitter including an output coupled to said transmitter node wherein said single conductor daisy-chain loop electrically communicates each said transmitter node to said inputs. 22. A data communications system, comprising: a plurality of communication devices including: a host having a first receiver and a second receiver; andone or more clients, each said client including a transmitter coupled between a signal node and a transmitter node, said transmitter selectively transmitting a multistate signal from said signal node to said transmitter node; anda single conductor daisy-chain loop redundantly communicating each said multistate signal from each said transmitter to both said receivers, said single conductor daisy-chain loop electrically communicating each said transmitter node to said receivers;wherein said host includes a printed circuit board (PCB) including said receivers, a first connector with a first plurality of electrical couplers electrically communicated to said first receiver, and a second connector with a second plurality of electrical couplers electrically communicated to said second receiver, wherein each client includes a PCB having a connector with a plurality of electrical couplers including a first electrical coupler and a second electrical coupler, a plurality of PCB components including said transmitter, and a plurality of traces communicating said plurality of electrical couplers to one or more of said plurality of PCB components including coupling said electrical couplers to said transmitter node; and wherein said single conductor daisy-chain loop includes a plurality of conductor segments, each particular one conductor segment having a first end joined to a particular one electrical coupler of an upstream communications device and having a second end joined to a particular one electrical coupler of a downstream communications device. 23. The data communications system of claim 22 wherein each said PCB includes an isolator electrically disposed between said connector and said transmitter and wherein for each particular PCB said isolator includes a transmission channel having a first port coupled to said electrical couplers and having a second port coupled to said transmitter node. 24. The data communications system of claim 23 wherein said first voltage is a supply voltage, wherein said second voltage is a reference voltage, wherein said host includes a power supply providing said supply voltage and said reference voltage, and wherein each said digital isolator includes a client portion independently powered by each said client and a host portion independently powered from said power supply, further comprising: a single conductor supply voltage power daisy-chain loop coupled to said supply voltage and a single conductor reference voltage power daisy-chain loop coupled to said reference voltage, each said power daisy-chain loop extending from a first location on said host to a second location on said host with each client coupled to each power daisy-chain loop between said locations and each host portion of said digital isolator of each client powered from said power daisy-chain loops;wherein said plurality of electrical couplers of each said client includes a first supply electrical coupler, a second supply electrical coupler, a first reference electrical coupler, and a second reference electrical coupler, wherein said single conductor supply voltage power daisy-chain loop includes a plurality of supply voltage conductor segments, each particular one supply voltage conductor segment having a first end joined to a particular one supply electrical coupler of an upstream communications device and having a second end joined to a particular one supply electrical coupler of a downstream communications device, and said single conductor reference voltage power daisy-chain loop includes a plurality of reference voltage conductor segments, each particular one reference voltage conductor segment having a first end joined to a particular one reference electrical coupler of an upstream communications device and having a second end joined to a particular one reference electrical coupler of a downstream communications device. 25. A data communications method, comprising: a) transmitting selectively a multistate signal from each of one or more clients;b) communicating electrically each said multistate signal to a first location on a host using a single conductor coupled to each said client; andc) communicating electrically each said multistate signal to a second location on said host using said single conductor;wherein a power supply is coupled to said first location and wherein an impedance couples said first location to said second location sufficient to isolate a noise signal at one said location from the other said location, the method further comprising:c) powering a function of each said client from said first location using said power supply to supply an operating current over said single conductor when said single conductor is intact; andd) powering said function of a downstream set of said one or more clients through said impedance whenever said operating current from said first location to said downstream set of said one or more clients is impaired while continuing to power an upstream set of said one or more clients from said first location.