Patent · US Expired

Integrated circuit for handling buffer contention and method thereof

US6380760B1 · kind B1 · utility

3Cited by
7References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 11, 2000
Grant dateApr 30, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 11, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T83/2037
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In one embodiment, an integrated circuit (10, 110) has a contention detection circuit (12, 112) coupled to a tri-stateable output buffer (18, 118). The contention detection circuit (12, 112) provides a contention tri-state control signal (34, 134) to the tri-stateable output buffer (18, 118) in order to place it in a tri-stated condition when an external device (31, 131), such as a computer, supplies power to an input/output pad (22, 122) on the integrated circuit (10, 110). Thus, external and/or internal buffer contention is avoided when an external device (31, 131), such as a computer, supplies power to an input/output pad (22, 122) on the integrated circuit (10, 110).

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