Abstract: A multiple data-rate receiver uses a signal rate detection technique that employs comparators to obtain information on the incoming data rate for enabling the appropriate receiver. Once a data rate is determined, only then is the appropriate receiver activated. Hence, power dissipation is kept to a minimum during the autonegotiation phase. This is a significant improvement over existing art which require two (or more) receivers to be active during the autonegotiation phase, consequently demanding high power dissipation. Because the autonegotiation phase can be lengthy, the present technique is preferable in many cases.

Abstract: A single, 10/100 twisted-pair driver for Ethernet and Fast Ethernet applications designed in a 0.25 &mgr;m, 3.3V, digital CMOS process is described. The combined driver sources either 10 Mbaud Manchester data or 125 Mbaud MLT3/NRZI data. In 10 Mbaud mode the driver incorporates programmable features such as an additional common-mode current for various linearity performance as function of power supply dissipation. In 125 Mbaud mode of operation, the driver can be configured for different duty cycle distortion and for various rise and fall-times as a trade-off in EMI performance and remote receiver cable length performance. As well, rise/fall-time asymmetry performance is programmable as a trade-off in supply power dissipation. The driver can be run optimally during a transition and sub-optimally when sending multiple “0” symbols to save power. These power dissipation numbers can be reduced through programmable modes when more relaxed performance targets are acceptable.

Abstract: A data receiver equalization technique utilizes a receiver clock that has a frequency different that the incoming data frequency (i.e., an “asynchronous clock”) to asynchronously sample the incoming data waveform. The resulting information about the data, typically including the rise and/or fall times, overshoot and/or undershoot, and amplitude, may be used to equalize a data channel. Other adjustments to the receiver, including the gain level and DC offset compensation, may also be made using the resulting information. An illustrative embodiment using clocked comparators, continuous-time comparators, and a statistical analysis circuit is shown.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for alerting an individual that an appliance has completed a specified event. This invention consists of assigning distinct audio signals to events performed by an appliance and distributing the distinct audio signals throughout a local area network upon the occurrence of an event. Each device would then selectively emit the distinct audio signal received. The devices may communicate which each other over conventional connections such as a home's existing electrical system, radio frequencies, intra red light, local area network wiring, or any combination of connections. The invention may incorporate the use of a device that is specifically placed or carried by a user resulting in the user being informed of all events occurring within the network. The transmission of the signal may be directly from device to device or may incorporate a distribution device to monitor events and control which devices emit the signal.

Abstract: The invention is a receiver front end for a data communications system having adaptive correction for intersymbol interference, DC offset, baseline wander, and flat loss and related method. Each of the compensation circuits is adaptive and is controlled by adaptation logic via a digital feedback loop including a digital integrator for providing perfect or near-perfect integration of the adaptation algorithm feedback error signal. The architecture further utilizes multiple comparators, including continuous-time and clocked comparators, for separately detecting various aspects of the received data signals that are used to determine the signal degradation characteristics needed to generate error signals for the adaptation feedback loops.

Abstract: A shared receiver demand priority repeater for use in a shared receiver demand priority repeater network having at least two transmission media, has a demand priority repeater core. A receiver is coupled to the demand priority repeater core. A multiplexer is coupled between the receiver and the at least two transmission media. A transmitter for each the transmission media is coupled between the demand priority repeater core and the transmission media. Wherein the multiplexer couples a selected one of the transmission media to the receiver in response to the demand priority repeater core.The multiplexer can comprise an address selectable switch.A method is described for interfacing a demand priority repeater core to at least two downlinks, each downlink coupled to a device.