Patent · US Expired

Input/output (I/O) bidirectional buffer for interfacing I/O ports of a field programmable interconnection device with array ports of a cross-point switch

US5428800A · kind A · utility

43Cited by
10References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 13, 1992
Grant dateJun 27, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 13, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K19/01759
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A bi-directional buffer includes first and second unidirectional buffers connected for retransmitting signals in opposite directions between first and second buses. When an external bus driver pulls the first bus low, the first unidirectional buffer pulls the second bus low and generates a signal inhibiting the second unidirectional buffer from actively driving the first bus. When the external bus driver allows the first bus to return to the high logic level, the first unidirectional buffer temporarily supplies a high charging current to the second bus to quickly pull it up. Similarly, when an external bus driver pulls the second bus low, the second unidirectional buffer pulls the first bus low and generates a signal inhibiting the first unidirectional buffer from actively driving the second bus. When the external bus driver allows the second bus to return to the high logic level, the second buffer temporarily supplies a high charging current to the first bus to quickly pull it up. The bi-directional buffer includes a register for storing and reading out data representing successive logic states of a signal on the first bus, thereby providing a history of data appearing on the bus.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.