Patent ID: 6034955
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A communication system for communication among integrated circuits (ICs) comprising:a single communication line;a plurality of ICs coupled to said single communication line;wherein one of said ICs is operable as a master IC;wherein one of said plurality of ICs is operable as a transmitting IC according to a designation by said master IC; andwherein one of said plurality of ICs is operable as a receiving IC according to a designation by said master IC;wherein said master IC is operable to transmit, on said single communication line, a reference signal having a reference signal width, C.sub.PW, to said ICs;wherein said master IC is operable to designate a first one of said ICs and a second one of said ICs as a chosen transmitting IC and a chosen receiving IC, respectively, for an imminent data-transmission operation, by transmitting a plurality of signals of differing widths relative to said reference signal width on said single communication line;wherein said plurality of ICs are operable to store said reference signal width, respectively, and are operable to recognize designation or not for said imminent data-transmission operation, respectively, by comparing said plurality of signals of said differing widths, transmittable on said single communication line, against said reference signal width; andwherein said chosen transmitting IC is operable to transmit data signals to said chosen receiving IC after completion by said master IC of said respective designations.