Controlling signal levels on a signal line within an integrated circuit
US7830176B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 27, 2006 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 9, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C7/1084
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A signal line 12 has at a first location a first driver 14 to drive a first signal level on that signal line 12. A second driver 16 is provided at a second location, separated from the first location, and serves to drive the line signal to a different value from that driven by the first driver 14. Associated with each of these drivers 14, 16 are respective keeper circuits 18, 20, 22; 24, 26, 28 serving to maintain the signal value driven by the respective remote driver 16; 14. Thus, the first keeper 18, 20, 22 local to the first driver 14 serves to maintain the signal value driven by the second driver 16. The keepers 18, 20, 22; 24, 26, 28 are disabled by the control signal which enables their local driver 14; 16 and thus do not contend with the change being driven by their local driver 14, 16.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.