Importance

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Abstract

A self-powered intelligent computer accessory device has a serial data input port and a parallel data output port and is used for interconnection from computer to computer and between a computer and a peripheral device. The accessory device uses a full wave diode bridge to generate bipolar supply voltages referenced to ground from the serial data port to power a microprocessor of the accessory device. A power extraction circuit is provided on the output side of the microprocessor for extracting power from standard pull-up resistors within the peripheral device to power an output buffer circuit. The period of time in which power is extracted from the pullup resistors is maximized by using an enable control signal from the microprocessor to ensure that the output buffer circuit is only driving the external peripheral device during the output data strobe sequence and at all other times is not consuming power. The buffer circuit is constructed and controlled such that it is capable of driving the load of the external peripheral device but draws virtually no power in performing this task.

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First Claim