Data processing: structural design – modeling – simulation – and em – Emulation – Of peripheral device
Reexamination Certificate
1993-03-31
2001-04-24
Teska, Kevin J. (Department: 2123)
Data processing: structural design, modeling, simulation, and em
Emulation
Of peripheral device
C703S021000, C703S028000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223147
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to the field of integrated circuits.
Specifically, the present invention relates to sockets for receiving integrated circuits and the like.
2. Description of Related Art
Many modem electronic circuit boards contain on-board read-only memory, typically provided as an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM). An EPROM provides permanent storage for configuration information or processing logic (i.e., firmware) that is used by the circuit board during normal operations or in a testing mode. One advantage of using an EPROM on a circuit board is that the operation of the circuit board can be customized without the need for jumpers, switches, or other hardware selection devices. Further, permanent memory storage is provided on the EPROM for storage of driver software used for controlling the operation of various resources or systems provided by the circuit board. The use of an EPROM device is convenient in that upgrades or enhancements to this driver software may be accomplished by replacing the EPROM device with a replacement containing the upgraded firmware. In this manner, the operation of a circuit board may be customized or upgraded.
One disadvantage in using a standard EPROM device for customizing a circuit board is that the EPROM must be removed from the board and replaced by another EPROM device containing the upgraded configuration information or firmware. Because the EPROM device must be removable, circuit board designers typically provide a socket into which an EPROM device may be removably inserted. In a conventional system, the socket pinouts are identical to the pinouts for the integrated circuit that is plugged into the socket. For that reason, conventional systems are limited to use of a single type read-only memory device for a given socket pinout configuration. Another disadvantage of conventional systems using EPROM devices is that the content of the EPROM devices cannot be modified without removing them from the circuit. The steps of removing an EPROM device and replacing the device with an upgraded EPROM requires field service support or user intervention. Sometimes errors are introduced in this process.
New non-volatile memory technology has given rise to new circuit board applications. Once such new technology is flash memory. Flash memory is a non-volatile memory technology wherein memory contents persist after power down; but, unlike an EPROM device, flash memory can be reprogrammed without removing the device from the circuit. Flash memory mitigates some of the limitations inherent in the use of EPROM devices. For example, configuration information or software resident within a flash device may be modified and permanently written into the flash device without removing the device from a circuit board. The problems inherent in removal and reinstallation of a modified EPROM device are thereby eliminated.
It is convenient in conventional systems to provide a means by which more than one type of read-only memory device may be installed in a socket on a circuit board. Having such a mechanism would allow a user to install either an EPROM device or a flash device into the same socket on a circuit board. In this manner, a particular circuit board could support either type of permanent storage device. However, the use of a single socket for multiple types of non-volatile memory devices is not provided in the prior art. Because the pinouts for an EPROM or other read-only memory device are different from the pinouts of a flash device, a single socket in conventional systems cannot support multiple types of permanent storage devices.
Thus, a better means and method is needed for allowing multiple types of permanent storage devices to be installed in a single socket on a circuit board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a multiple use chip socket providing a means and method by which more than one type of permanent storage chip may be supported in a single chip socket. The multiple use chip socket provides a plurality of address bit lines which are used to specify an address of a particular location within a memory device installed in the socket. In general, the number of address bit lines directly coupled to the socket correspond to the number of address bit lines required for the smallest memory device to be installed in the socket. Additional address bit lines are coupled to control logic of the present invention. As will be described in more detail below, the control logic selectively applies addressing signals to the chip socket depending on the type of memory device inserted in the socket.
As part of the initialization process, the processing logic of the present invention first determines if an access to a device installed in the chip socket is required by a circuit board as part of its initialization or boot process. If such an access is required, the processing logic of the present invention then determines if a device is installed in the chip socket. If a device is installed in the chip socket, the processing logic then determines if the device is a flash device or an EPROM device or other type of device. In this manner, the accessing signals appropriate for the particular type of device can be configured.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention that a single socket supports both an EPROM device or a flash device. It is a further advantage of the present invention that a multiple use chip socket includes control logic for identifying the type of chip installed in the socket. It is a further advantage of the present invention that particular signals of the socket are manipulated depending on the type of chip installed within the socket. It is a further advantage of the present invention that particular address pins of the socket are provided only if a particular type of integrated circuit is installed within the socket. It is a further advantage of the present invention that power is provided to a particular pin of the socket only if a particular type of integrated circuit is installed in the socket. It is a further advantage of the present invention that control logic is provided for reading a predetermined location of a chip installed in the chip socket to determine if the chip is of a particular type.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent as presented and described in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.
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Blakely , Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
Intel Corporation
Phan Thai
Teska Kevin J.
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