Programming and control of an integrated circuit using an externally connected resistor network
US7102394B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2005 |
| Grant date | Sep 5, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/22
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A circuit in an integrated circuit having input terminals coupled to a resistor network for selecting one of multiple digital states includes a tri-state circuit, a multiplexer, a comparator and a control circuit. A DAC can be used to generate a set of comparison voltage levels. The circuit detects the power connection and the resistance values of at least two resistors in the resistor network having a third resistor of fixed resistance. The resistance values for the two resistors are selected from a set of resistance values corresponding to the number of digital stages which can be programmed on each terminal. The power connection option doubles the number of digital stages to be programmed on each terminal. Thus, multiple programming states can be assigned to each control pin of an integrated circuit and a large number of programming states can be programmed using a small number of control pins.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.