SAE AIR4903

Description / Abstract: This section defines the scope of the document, provides a bried history of the Pi-Bus, discusses key features of the Pi-Bus, and provides an overview of the operation of the Pi-Bus.

This document is a handbook intended to accompany AS4710 Pi-Bus standard. The purpose of this document is to provide information to aid users of the Pi-Bus, whether they be implementors of Pi-Bus controllers, architects of systems considering using the Pi-Bus, or programmers who must develop applications in a system which uses the Pi-Bus as the backplane communications bus. This document also provides rationale for many of the Pi-Bus requirements as defined in AS4710 and a dicussion of potential enhancements that are being considered for the Pi-Bus.

The following is a mapping of major sections in this document for particular audiences:

a. Overview of Pi-Bus and its capabilities: Section 1

b. Pi-Bus rationale: Sections 3, 4, and 5

c. information for IC designers: Sections 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9

d. Information for system designers/architects: Sections 1, 6, 7, and 9

e. Information for software designer: Sections 1, 6, and 7