Flexible control interface for integrated circuit
US6677779B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 28, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/3167
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A control interface, which includes both master and slave devices, can provide buffering of input data packets, thereby allowing configurations of the integrated circuit to be modified quickly and efficiently. Additionally, the control interface can be sized and configured to receive digital signals from any number of nodes on an integrated circuit, thereby facilitating the testing, lab characterization, and debugging of those nodes. Finally, the control interface can advatageously control the monitoring of analog components on the integrated circuit, thereby significantly reducing the number of pins for such monitoring. The control interface has particular relevance to highly integrated circuits that utilize analog and/or mixed signals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.