BIOS

In IBM PC Compatible computers, the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) , also known as the System BIOS, is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface.

The BIOS is boot firmware, designed to be the first code run by a PC when powered on. The initial function of the BIOS is to identify, test, and initialize system devices such as the video display card, hard disk, and floppy disk and other hardware. This is to prepare the machine into a known state, so that software stored on compatible media can be loaded, executed, and given control of the PC. This process is known as booting, or booting up, which is short for bootstrapping.

BIOS programs are stored on a chip and are built to work with various devices that make up the complementary chipset of the system. They provide a small library of basic input/output functions that can be called to operate and control the peripherals such as the keyboard, text display functions and so forth. In the IBM PC and AT, certain peripheral cards such as hard-drive controllers and video display adapters carried their own BIOS extension ROM, which provided additional functionality. Operating systems and executive software, designed to supersede this basic firmware functionality, will provide replacement software interfaces to applications.

Transceivers Handle Signal and Power Over a Single Coax Cable

EqcoLogic’s EQCO800SC transceiver circuit enables full duplex communication together with power transmission over a single, low cost coaxial (COAX) cable, at speeds of up to 1.25 Gbit/second and with cable lengths up to 100 m. It supports a number of key protocols including IEEE 1394b (FireWire), Ethernet (Fast and Gigabit), and LVDS. The transceiver circuit is designed for automotive applications, where it enables high performance and low cost networking with COAX cables and connectors in entertainment, information and driver assist applications.

The EqcoLogic device is also suited for industrial and security cameras where FireWire cameras have established a strong position. With the EQCO800SC circuit, low-cost, long haul connections can be made using pre-existing COAX infrastructure. This allows the conversion of an existing analog camera system (using 75 ohm COAX cabling) to digital without the need to re-lay cable. Installations with COAX cables and connectors are intrinsically flexible and can include slip rings to allow rotation, for example, of a camera platform.