Arbiter with a direct signal path that is modifiable under priority-conflict control
US5546544A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 21, 1994 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 21, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/14
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An arbiter provides at an output a priority signal that indicates which one of the input signals at an input has gained priority over all other ones. The arbiter comprises a signal processing path between the input and the output for determining the priority signal. The arbiter further comprises a control means coupled to the signal path for detecting (rare) conflicts among priority candidates. In response to the detected conflict, the control means generates control signals to modify the signal path. This conflict-solving part of the arbiter is located outside the signal path. Accordingly, a signal propagation delay in the path is largely independent of the number of input signals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.