Controller and method for collision detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9383396-B2
Application number	US-201314054987-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2013
Priority date	Oct 26, 2012
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

A method for detecting a signal activity on a bus comprises measuring a current on the bus, and determining a signal activity based on the measured current.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for detecting a signal activity on a bus, comprising:
increasing a level of a voltage applied to the bus from a lower voltage level to a higher voltage level;
measuring a current on the bus;
determining, using circuitry, a signal activity on the bus based on the measured current;
starting a transmission process of transmitting data on the bus in a case that the measured current is larger than a predetermined threshold value; and
decreasing the level of the voltage applied to the bus from the higher voltage level to the lower voltage level in a case that the measured current is at or below the predetermined threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the current is measured after a wait time interval has passed after starting to increase the level of the voltage applied to the bus.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the wait time interval is determined based on a voltage-time characteristic of a controller applying the voltage.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the wait time interval is set taking into account a predetermined voltage range of receivers connected to the bus.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the wait time interval is set based on a voltage-time characteristic when increasing the level of the voltage applied to the bus.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the current is measured before transmission of data on the bus.

7. The method according to claim 1 , the method further comprising delaying the transmission process of transmitting data on the bus for a predetermined time interval starting after the measured current is at or below the predetermined threshold.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage level is increased to a specific sensing voltage between a supply voltage and a transmission voltage before the current is measured on the bus, wherein the supply voltage is applied to the bus during non-transmission of data on the bus and the transmission voltage is applied to the bus during transmission of data on the bus.

9. A controller, configured to transmit data to a bus of a receiver system, the controller comprising:
circuitry configured to:
increase a level of a voltage applied to the bus from a lower voltage level to a higher voltage level;
measure a current on the bus;
determine a signal activity on the bus based on the measured current;
start a transmission process of transmitting data on the bus in a case that the measured current is larger than a predetermined threshold value; and
decrease the level of the voltage applied to the bus from the higher voltage level to the lower voltage level in a case that the measured current is at or below the predetermined threshold.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium including executable instructions, which when executed by a computer cause the computer to execute a method for detecting a signal activity on a bus, the method comprising:
increasing a level of a voltage applied to the bus from a lower voltage level to a higher voltage level;
measuring a current on the bus;
determining a signal activity on the bus based on the measured current;
starting a transmission process of transmitting data on the bus in a case that the measured current is larger than a predetermined threshold value; and
decreasing the level of the voltage applied to the bus from the higher voltage level to the lower voltage level in a case that the measured current is at or below the predetermined threshold.

Assignees

• Sony Corp

Inventors

• Eitel Ben
• Guth Heimo

Classifications

• G06F2101/00

  Indexing scheme relating to the type of digital function generated · CPC title

• H04Q2213/13299

  Bus · CPC title

• G06F2200/00

  Indexing scheme relating to G06F1/04 - G06F1/32 · CPC title

• G06F1/00

  Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00 (architectures of general purpose stored program computers G06F15/76) · CPC title

• G01R27/28 Primary

  Measuring attenuation, gain, phase shift or derived characteristics of electric four pole networks, i.e. two-port networks; Measuring transient response (in line transmission systems H04B3/46) · CPC title