Area-efficient, width-adjustable signaling interface
AssigneeRambus Inc.
InventorFrederick A. Ware
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lateral transfer path within an adjustable-width signaling interface of an integrated circuit component is formed by a chain of logic segments that may be intercoupled in different groups to effect the lateral data transfer required in different interface width configurations, avoiding the need for a dedicated transfer path per width configuration and thereby substantially reducing number of interconnects (and thus the area) required to implement the lateral transfer structure.
Claims20
An integrated circuit device comprising:
- data signal contacts to receive data signals from a source external to the integrated circuit device;
- storage elements to store data values conveyed in the data signals, each of the storage elements having (i) a timing signal input to receive a timing signal that triggers storage of one or more of the data values and (ii) a data input;
- and
- multiplexing circuits coupled between the signaling contacts and the storage elements, each of the multiplexing circuits having:
- a first data signal input coupled to a respective one of the data signal contacts,
- a second data signal input,
- a data signal output coupled to the second data signal input of a neighboring one of the multiplexing circuits and, via a conductive path that does not pass through any other of the multiplexing circuits, to the data input of a respective one of the storage elements, and
- transistor switching elements to switchably couple either the first data signal input or the second data signal input to the data signal output.
A method of operation within an integrated circuit device having multiplexing circuits coupled between data signal contacts and data storage elements, each data storage element having a timing signal input and a data input and each multiplexing circuit having a first data signal input coupled to a respective one of the data signal contacts, a second data signal input, and a data signal output coupled to the second data signal input of a neighboring one of the multiplexing circuits and, via a conductive path that does not pass through any other of the multiplexing circuits, to the data input of a respective one of the data storage elements, the method comprising:
- generating multiplexer control signals in response to a configuration value;
- and
- within each of the multiplexing circuits, switchably coupling either the first data signal input or the second data signal input to the data signal output according to a logic state of a respective one of the multiplexer control signals.
An integrated circuit device comprising:
- data signal contacts to receive data signals from a source external to the integrated circuit device;
- storage elements to store data values conveyed in the data signals, each of the storage elements having (i) a timing signal input to receive a timing signal that triggers storage of one or more of the data values and (ii) a data input;
- and
- a plurality of means for interconnecting the signaling contacts and the storage elements, each of the means for interconnecting having:
- a first data signal input coupled to a respective one of the data signal contacts,
- a second data signal input,
- a data signal output coupled to the second data signal input of a neighboring one of the means for interconnecting and, via a conductive path that does not pass through any other of the multiplexing circuits, to the data input of a respective one of the storage elements, and
- means for switchably coupling either the first data signal input or the second data signal input to the data signal output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.