Micrel, Inc.

MIC2569

September 2007

13

M9999-092507-C

(408) 944-0800

Application Information

CableCARD™ Operating Modes

The OpenCable system has a host component (S-Host

or M-Host) and a card component (S-Card or M-Card).

The host / card combination determines which

operational mode is used i.e. S-Mode or M-Mode. This

in turn determines the appropriate state diagram. Table

3 below shows all of the combinations and operating

modes.

S-Host

M-Host

S-Card

S-Mode

S-Mode or No power

M-Card

S-Mode

M-Mode

Table 3 Operating Mode Combinations

An M-Host has the choice to accept or not accept an S-

Card. If the M-Host accepts the S-Card then the M-Host

will initiate a change from M-Mode to S-Mode.

Otherwise, the M-Host will not power-up the S-Card.

S-Host

After power-up, the S-Host remains in state 0 [000]

unless one of two events occurs:

1. CIS Request – The CableCard™ may request

that the Vpp outputs be provided with 5VIN, that

is, enter state 1 [001]. It is the S-Host decision

whether to provide the Vpp outputs with 5VIN.

The S-Host has two possible options.

a. If the S-Host refuses to provide 5VIN,

then the S-Host does not change to

state 1 [001] and will remain in state

0 [000], even upon card removal. See

paragraph 2 below.

b. If the S-Host grants 5VIN, then S-Host

changes to state 1 [001]. The S-Host

remains in state

1 [001]

without

returning. See paragraph 2 below.

2. Card removal – Upon card removal, the S-Host

has two possible options:

a. The S-Host changes directly to state

0 [000], regardless of the state at card

was removed.

b. The S-Host has the option to pass

through state 6 [110] to remove any

excessive voltage or charge on the Vpp

outputs.

The S-Host then returns to

state 0 [000].

Figure 1 shows S-Mode power state diagram.

Figure 1 S-Host Power State Diagram

M-Host

1. Power-up - Upon power-up, M-Host two options:

a. Move directly the state 2 [010]

b. Pass through state 7 [111] to remove any

excess voltage or charge, then move to

state 2 [010]

2. No Card – M-Host will remain in state 2 [010]

until card insertion.

3. Card Detection – If the M-Host detects that the

inserted card is an M-card, then the M- Host will

change to state 3 [011]. This informs the card

that the host is an M-Host.

4. Card ID – The M-Host uses the card

identification process to determine what type of

card it is and what modes the card can operate

in. There are three options:

a. If the card is an M-Card, then the M-

Host will change to state 4 [100] and

remain in state 4 [100] until card

removal.

b. If the card is an S-Card able to support

CH1, then the M-Host will reset the card

and power-up in S-Mode. The card will

remain in S-Mode until card removal.

c. If the card is not an M-Card, or an S-

Card not able to support Ch1, then

power will not be provided to the card.

The card will remain without power and

not change state until card removal.