Patent ID: 7480263

Claim:
A method for bi-directional transmission of data signals between at least two communication participants on a communication path, the communication participants each having at least one switchable load unit, at least one first switchable current-source unit assigned to the switchable load unit, and at least one comparator unit assigned to the load unit, the method comprising: temporarily assigning each of the at least two communication participants one of a function of a transmitter for transmission of the data signals and a function of a receiver, wherein: the switchable load unit of the transmitter is deenergized prior to transmission of the data signals; the switchable current-source unit of the transmitter is clocked for generating the data signals to be transmitted via the communication path; the generated data signals are transmitted via the communication path, so that corresponding output signals are produced at the comparator unit assigned to the receiver from the data signals transmitted via the communication path; the switchable load unit of the transmitter is reenergized after transmission of the data signals; and at least one second switchable current-source unit is connected in parallel to the at least one first current-source unit in each of the at least two communication participants.