Configurable NAND/NOR element
US5592107A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jan 7, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/1736
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A configurable NAND/NOR logic element is used, in an exemplary embodiment, in an array of spare gates included in a processor or other integrated circuit. The NAND/NOR logic element (FIG. 3, 50) is configurable as either a NAND or a NOR gate by a C (configuration) input (that can be metal configurable as either asserted or deasserted). C inputs control p- and n-channel transistors. Depending on whether the C input is deasserted or asserted, respective internal nodes are shorted to effect the selected configuration. Specifically, deasserting C provides the NAND configuration, while asserting C provides the NOR configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the NAND/NOR logic element can be used in a full adder to provide the carry output.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.