Patents Represented by Attorney Kevin D. Radigan
  • Patent number: 5386393
    Abstract: Logic fencing circuit and method are provided for increasing system protection at a multiprocessor system interface so that spurious noise (e.g., attributable to an electrostatic discharge through a signal cable) is more reliably isolated from an active portion of the processing system. The noise fencing circuit, which is responsive to a fence control signal, includes logic circuitry for attenuating a received noise signal by constraining the noise signal to a magnitude less than or equal to the voltage level of a system power supply. The attenuating circuitry outputs an attenuated noise signal to a signal fence circuit which, when enabled by the fence control signal, outputs a substantially constant isolation signal in response to a received, attenuated noise signal. A logically staged fencing method is also set forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Hallee, Suo-Lun Huang, Kirk H. Hwang, Benedicto U. Messina