Appeal No. 1998-3380
Application 08/542,591
Fieldbus-compatible signals into data which the CPU processes
for a transmission to the computer. The MAU conditions
signals to and from the modem for communication over the
Fieldbus. The invention is further illustrated by the
following claim.
1. An interface device for interfacing a computer with
a Fieldbus, comprising:
a serial port connector for connecting the interface
device to a serial port of the computer;
a power supply coupled to the serial port connector for
generating, from power supplied by the computer, a stabilized
DC voltage for powering the interface device;
a processor coupled to the serial port connector for
processing data from the computer and the Fieldbus for
communication to the Fieldbus and the computer, respectively;
and
a medium attachment unit (MAU) coupled to the processor
for connecting to the Fieldbus and for providing predetermined
electrical characteristics for signals transmitted to and
received from the Fieldbus.
The Examiner relies on the following references:
Warren et al. (Warren) 4,791,356 Dec. 13, 1988
Seigel 5,313,642 May 17, 1994
Kogure 5,412,643 May 2, 1995
Crowder et al. (Crowder) 5,442,639 Aug. 15,
1995
Claims 1-11, and 13-19 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. §
-3-
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