I/O circuitry shared between processor and programmable logic portions of an integrated circuit
US7446561B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 17, 2005 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 12, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F15/7867
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides circuitry and methods for sharing I/O pins between a programmable logic portion and an embedded processor portion of a chip. The circuits in the programmable logic portion and the embedded processor portion can access data signals from and send data signals to the same I/O pins. The data signals are multiplexed to control access to the shared I/O pins. The multiplexers may be controlled by a control signal that determines when particular I/O pins are accessed by the programmable logic portion and the embedded processor portion. Control signals that configure the associated I/O pin circuitry to the correct I/O standard are also multiplexed by the shared I/O circuitry of the present invention. Signals received at the shared I/O pins that are transmitted to the embedded processor portion may be concurrently sent to snoop circuitry within the programmable logic portion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.