Communications bus line isolator
View Patent ↗A communications bus line isolator is provided. In some embodiments, a first side of the communications bus isolator can be coupled to a first device via first communications bus cabling, a second side of the communications bus isolator can be coupled to a second device via second communications bus cabling, and, when the communications bus isolator detects a fault on or tampering or interference with the second communications bus cabling or the second device, the communications bus isolator can isolate the first communications bus cabling from the second communications bus cabling. In some embodiments, when the first device detects a continuous fault on or continuous tampering or interference with the second communications bus cabling or the second device, the first device can transmit a signal to the communications bus isolator, instructing the communications bus isolator to actively disable receivers on the second side of the communications bus isolator.
1. A system comprising:
a first communications bus isolator;
a first side of the first communications bus isolator coupled to a control panel via internal communications bus cabling and to a dedicated fault bus isolation output of the control panel via a communications line that is different than the internal communications bus cabling; and
a second side of the first communications bus isolator coupled to at least one peripheral device via an external bus cabling receiver of the first communications bus isolator and external communications bus cabling,
wherein, when the first communications bus isolator detects a transient or continuous fault on, transient or continuous tampering with, or transient or continuous interference with the external communications bus cabling or the at least one peripheral device, the first communications bus isolator isolates the internal communications bus cabling from the external communications bus cabling, and
wherein, when the control panel detects the continuous fault on, the continuous tampering with, or the continuous interference with the external communications bus cabling or the at least one peripheral device, the control panel transmits a first signal to the first communications bus isolator, via the dedicated fault bus isolation output of the control panel and the communications line, instructing the first communications bus isolator to actively disable the external bus cabling receiver of the first communications bus isolator.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first communications bus isolator includes a communications bus repeater.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the communications bus repeater includes a passive transparent communications bus repeater.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein, absent detection of the transient or continuous fault on, the transient or continuous tampering with, or the transient or continuous interference with the external communications bus cabling or the at least one peripheral device, the first communications bus repeater automatically passes second signals between the internal communications bus cabling and the external communications bus cabling.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the control panel, the first communications bus isolator, and the internal communications bus cabling is housed within a control panel enclosure.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein each of the at least one peripheral device and the external communications bus cabling is located outside of the control panel enclosure.
7. The system of claim 5 further comprising:
a second communications bus isolator that is coupled to first and second portions of the external communications bus cabling and that is located outside of the control panel enclosure.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first communications bus isolator detecting the transient or continuous fault on, the transient or continuous tampering with, or the transient or continuous interference with the external communications bus cabling or the at least one peripheral device includes the first communications bus isolator detecting a voltage transition indicative of the transient or continuous fault on, the transient or continuous tampering with, or the transient or continuous interference with the external communications bus cabling or the at least one peripheral device.
9. A system comprising:
a first communications bus isolator;
a first side of the first communications bus isolator coupled to a first portion of external communications bus cabling and to a dedicated fault bus isolation output of a subordinate controller via a communications line, the first portion of the external communications bus cabling being further coupled to a first plurality of peripheral devices and to internal communications bus cabling, the communications line being different than the internal communications bus cabling and the first portion of the external communications bus cabling; and
a second side of the first communications bus isolator coupled to a second portion of the external communications bus cabling via an external bus cabling receiver of the first communications bus isolator, the second portion of the external communications bus cabling being coupled to a second plurality of peripheral devices,
wherein, when the first communications bus isolator detects a transient or continuous fault on, or transient or continuous tampering with, or transient or continuous interference with the second portion of the external communications bus cabling or at least one of the second plurality of peripheral devices, the first communications bus isolator isolates the first portion of the external communications bus cabling from the second portion of the external communications bus cabling, and
wherein, when the subordinate controller detects the continuous fault on, the continuous tampering with, or the continuous interference with the second portion of the external communications bus cabling or the at least one of the second plurality of peripheral devices, the subordinate controller transmits a first signal to the first communications bus isolator, via the dedicated fault bus isolation output of the subordinate controller and the communications line, instructing the first communications bus isolator to actively disable the external bus cabling receiver of the first communications bus isolator.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the first communications bus isolator includes a communications bus repeater.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the communications bus repeater includes a passive transparent communications bus repeater.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein, absent detection of the transient or continuous fault on, the transient or continuous tampering with, or the transient or continuous interference with the second portion of the external communications bus cabling or the at least one of the second plurality of peripheral devices, the first communications bus repeater automatically passes second signals between the first portion of the external communications bus cabling and the second portion of the external communications bus cabling.
13. The system of claim 9 wherein each of the first communications bus isolator, the first portion of the external communications bus cabling, the first plurality of peripheral devices, the second portion of the external communications bus cabling, and the second plurality of peripheral devices is located outside of a control panel enclosure.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the internal communications bus cabling is housed within the control panel enclosure.
15. The system of claim 13 further comprising:
a second communications bus isolator housed within the control panel enclosure;
a first side of the second communications bus isolator coupled to the internal communications bus cabling; and
a second side of the second communications bus isolator coupled to the first portion of the external communications bus cabling.
16. The system of claim 9 wherein the first communications bus isolator detecting the transient or continuous fault on, the transient or continuous tampering with, or the transient or continuous interference with the second portion of the external communications bus cabling or the at least one of the second plurality of peripheral devices includes the first communications bus isolator detecting a voltage transition indicative of the transient or continuous fault on, or the transient or continuous tampering with, or the transient or continuous interference with the second portion of the external communications bus cabling or the at least one of the second plurality of peripheral devices.