Programmable switch
US6486712B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 18, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/693
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A programmable switch includes at least one or more pass transistors having a control voltage that is greater than the data path reference voltage that is selected by a corresponding pass transistor. The control voltage is provided by a higher voltage power supply than the power supply that provides the data path reference voltage. In one embodiment, the higher voltage supply is a quiet supply that is not loaded with devices that switch during normal operation of the programmable switch such as CMOS devices. In another embodiment, the power supply that provides a voltage to an I/O circuit of the probable switch is the power supply that is utilized to provide the control voltage to the pass transistors. In a particular embodiment, the pass transistors comprise higher voltage tolerant devices than other devices in the programmable device. In a particular embodiment, the higher voltage supply is at least the data path reference voltage plus the threshold voltage of the pass transistors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.