Electronic digital logic circuitry – Multifunctional or programmable – Field-effect transistor
Patent
1995-10-26
1996-12-10
Westin, Edward P.
Electronic digital logic circuitry
Multifunctional or programmable
Field-effect transistor
326 86, 326 47, H03K 190944
Patent
active
055834523
ABSTRACT:
A configurable multi-directional buffer circuit for a programmable integrated circuit. The novel buffer circuit is a configurable multi-directional buffer circuit having one pair of inverters and having a first input/output line and a second input/output line and a third input line multiplexed with the first input/output line. The novel buffer circuit is configurable to allow a signal from the first input/output line to be driven over the second input/output line or configurable to allow a signal from the second input/output line to be driven over the first input/output line. The novel buffer circuit also allows a signal over the third input line to be driven over the second input/output line. In either case, only a single pair of inverter circuits are used. In an alternate embodiment, the novel buffer allows signal over a fourth input line to be driven over the first input/output line. The novel buffer is configurable to realize any of the above configurations using programmable memory cells and therefore is well suited for application within a programmable integrated circuit. Since the novel buffer utilizes only a single pair of inverters to provide the buffering, in any configuration, it does not contain unused driver circuitry when configured. Therefore, the novel buffer advantageously consumes a relatively small amount of substrate area.
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Duong Khue
Trimberger Stephen M.
Driscoll Benjamin D.
Harms Jeanette S.
Murabito Anthony C.
Westin Edward P.
Xilinx , Inc.
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