Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP
Interface module with protection circuit and method of protecting an interface
 An interface module for a communications system includes a processing device and a peripheral device which are interconnected through a communications bus. The interface module includes a transceiver interface and a protection circuit. The protection circuit is positioned between the transceiver interface and a port configured to receive a signal from a terminal of the communications bus. The protection circuit is further configured to automatically provide a protection voltage to the transceiver interface if a power supply for the transceiver interface is inactive. The protection voltage is derived from the signal received at the terminal. 
QLogic Corporation
G H
G06F H03K
inventional inventional
Thinh D. Ting-Li
Tran Chan