Patent ID: 8558577

Claim:
A signal separation module, comprising: a single-ended bidirectional pin coupled to a processing device; a single-ended unidirectional output pin coupled to a differential signal transceiver; a single-ended unidirectional input pin coupled to the differential signal transceiver; and signal separation logic configured to: detect a current flow condition that indicates the bidirectional pin is asserted by the processing device; assert, as a result of the existence of the current flow condition, the unidirectional output pin and prevent the unidirectional input pin from affecting the bidirectional pin; detect an opposite current flow condition that indicates that the unidirectional input pin is asserted by the differential signal transceiver; and assert, as a result of the existence of the opposite current flow condition, the bidirectional pin and prevent the assertion of the bidirectional pin from affecting the unidirectional output pin.