Circuits and methods for sub-bank sharing of external interfaces

A method for sharing a first sub-bank in a first input/output bank with first and second external interfaces, the method comprising:

• implementing a first input/output lane in the first sub-bank as at least a part of the first external interface to transmit first signals to a first external device through first external terminals using first driver circuits in the first input/output lane;
• and
• implementing a second input/output lane in the first sub-bank as at least a part of the second external interface to transmit second signals to a second external device through second external terminals using second driver circuits in the second input/output lane, wherein the first input/output bank is in an integrated circuit, and
• wherein the first sub-bank in the first input/output bank is shared between the first external interface that transmits the first signals to the first external device and the second external interface that transmits the second signals to the second external device.

An integrated circuit package comprising:

• first and second integrated circuits;
• and
• a third integrated circuit comprising a first input/output lane comprising first external terminals and first driver circuits, wherein the first input/output lane is part of a sub-bank in an input/output bank, wherein the first input/output lane implements at least a part of a first external interface, wherein the first driver circuits transmit first signals to the first integrated circuit through the first external terminals,
• wherein the third integrated circuit further comprises a second input/output lane comprising second external terminals and second driver circuits, wherein the second input/output lane is part of the sub-bank in the input/output bank, wherein the second input/output lane implements at least a part of a second external interface, wherein the second driver circuits transmit second signals to the second integrated circuit through the second external terminals, and
• wherein the sub-bank in the input/output bank is shared between the first external interface that transmits the first signals to the first integrated circuit and the second external interface that transmits the second signals to the second integrated circuit.