US Patent 7317934 Configurable communications modules and methods of making the same

Configurable communications modules and methods of making the same are described. In one aspect, a communications module includes a data channel and a termination impedance controller. The data channel is operable to translate data signals in at least one direction between a transmission cable interface and a host device interface. The data channel has a variably configurable termination impedance at a host device node that is connectable to a host device. The termination impedance controller is operable to set the variably configurable termination impedance of the data channel to match the termination impedance to the host system.