Patent · US Expired

Remote register hierarchy accessible using a serial data line

US6175518A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
2References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 30, 1999
Grant dateJan 16, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 30, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C19/28
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus and method for accessing numerous remote registers on an integrated circuit chip using a minimum of interconnect traces. Plural primary nodes are configured in series along a serial data line, each of the plural primary nodes individually selectable according to a primary address presented on the serial data line. In one embodiment, a hierarchical one of the plural primary nodes includes plural secondary registers, each of the plural secondary registers individually selectable according to a secondary address presented on the serial data line. In another embodiment, a hierarchical one of the plural primary nodes includes plural secondary nodes, each of the plural secondary nodes individually selectable according to a secondary address presented on the serial data line. At least one of the plural secondary nodes includes plural tertiary registers, each of the plural tertiary registers individually selectable according to a tertiary address presented on the serial data line.

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