Unbalanced multiplexer and arbiter combination
US5815023A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 20, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 29, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 20, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/364
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for high speed signal path arbitration and transfer of a plurality of source signals to a destination signal path, is provided. An arbiter system includes an arbiter and a multiplexer. The multiplexer includes a plurality of n inputs each coupled to receive a source signal from one of a plurality of source signal paths and an output coupled to provide an output signal to the destination signal path. The multiplexer is controlled by a plurality of n select signal values received from the arbiter. The arbiter is coupled to receive a plurality of request signal values which prompt the arbiter to control the multiplexer to pass one of the source signals to the destination signal path. The multiplexer includes a plurality of n multiplexer signal paths each extending from one of n multiplexer inputs to the multiplexer output. Time characteristics of each of the n multiplexer signal paths are unequal. Request signal transfer times are required by the arbiter for providing a select signal value corresponding to each of the n request signal values. In the present invention, the time characteristics of the multiplexer signal paths and the request signal transfer times …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.