Master-slave interface
View Patent ↗A bus interface couples a master device and one or more slave devices. Upon detecting a condition on the bus, one or more of the slave devices may force an extension of the bus condition for a predetermined time period. The forced extension may comprise forcing a voltage level, causing other devices on the bus to change modes. A master on the bus may detect an out-of-variance bus condition and, in response, take action to change the bus state to a stable condition. The bus interface may include power contacts and a single-wire bus for communicating between a host device and one or more battery packs.
1. A method comprising:
detecting, on a bus that couples a master device and one or more slave devices, a condition indicative of at least one device coupled to the bus transitioning from a first mode to a second mode, wherein the master device and the one or more slave devices communicate by alternating a voltage level on the bus between a low voltage level and a high voltage level, and wherein the first mode is different from the second mode and the first mode enables the one or more slave devices to initiate an interrupt to the master device; and
in response to detecting the condition, forcing an extension of the condition on the bus for a predetermined time period.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the extension of the condition on the bus comprises driving a voltage level of the bus for the predetermined time period.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the master device and the one or more slave devices communicate by modulating a duration of signal levels on the bus.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transitioning, at a first slave device of the one or more slave devices, from the second mode to the first mode; and
wherein detecting the condition comprises detecting the condition by the first slave device while the first slave device is in the first mode.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, at a first slave device of the one or more slave devices, a command from the master device to enter the first mode;
in response to receiving the command, transitioning the first slave device to the first mode; and
in response to detecting the condition on the bus, transitioning the first slave device to the second mode.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a host device comprises the master device, wherein a battery pack comprises a first slave device of the one or more slave devices, and wherein the bus comprises a single-wire bus between the host device and the battery pack.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
from a first slave device of the one or more slave devices, generating an interrupt signal on the bus when the first slave device and the master device are both in the first mode.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
at the master device, detecting an interrupt signal from one of the one or more slave devices and, in response, processing one or more interrupts based on signals read from the one or more slave devices.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the extension of the condition on the bus is performed by a first of the one or more slave devices.
10. An apparatus comprising:
a bus interface comprising contacts for power and a communication line to couple the apparatus to a bus; and
slave circuitry coupled to the bus interface and configured to communicate with a master device over the bus, wherein the slave circuitry is configured to
communicate with the master device by alternating a voltage level on the bus between a low voltage level and a high voltage level,
detect, on the bus, a condition indicative of at least one device coupled to the bus transitioning from a first mode to a second mode, and
in response to detecting the condition, force an extension of the condition on the bus for a predetermined time period.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the slave circuitry is configured to force the extension of the condition on the bus by driving a voltage level of the bus for the predetermined time period.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the slave circuitry is configured to further communicate with the master device by modulating a duration of signal levels on the bus.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the slave circuitry is configured to transition from the second mode to the first mode; and
wherein the slave circuitry is configured to detect the transition by detecting the condition while in the first mode.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the slave circuitry is configured to:
receive a command from the master device to enter the first mode;
in response to receiving the command, transition to the first mode; and
in response to detecting the condition on the bus, transition to the second mode.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus comprises a host device, which comprises the master device, wherein the apparatus comprises a battery pack, which comprises the slave circuitry, and wherein the bus comprises a single-wire bus between the host device and the battery pack.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the slave circuitry is configured to generate an interrupt signal on the bus when the slave circuitry is in the first mode.