Patent ID: 8362808

Claim:
A transmission input circuit of a master device which, in a state where a load current from a load is flowing into a transmission line serving also as a power supply line, detects the presence or absence of a transmission current from a slave device connected to the transmission line, the transmission input circuit comprising: a current detection resistor which receives an input of a line current flowing through the transmission line and generates a line current detection voltage; a constant current circuit which generates a predetermined reference current; a first switch which performs a switching operation at an empty timing where the transmission current is not flowing, to thereby allow the reference current to flow from the constant current circuit to the current detection resistor, and generate a reference voltage, in which a threshold voltage corresponding to the reference current is added to a load current detection voltage corresponding to the load current; a capacitor which is connected to the current detection resistor via this first switch; a second switch which performs a switching operation in synchronization with the first switch to thereby sample-hold the reference voltage generated by the current detection resistor in the capacitor; and a comparator which receives an input of the line current detection voltage generated by means of the current detection resistor, to one input terminal, receives an input of the reference voltage held in the capacitor to an other input terminal, and outputs a voltage component of the line current detection voltage which exceeds the reference voltage, as a transmission current detection signal.