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US 12,711,084 B2Granted
Electromechanical switches on input/output (I/O) components
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsJeremy Kuehlwein, Neil Petrie, Ming-ta Hsieh, Gregory A. King
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Input/output (I/O) components can include electromechanical switches that can be placed respectively on signal lines coupled between transceivers and I/O pads. Electromechanical switches can operate to isolate respective transceivers from the other transceivers and/or I/O pads to protect those transceivers from ESD events. Electromechanical switches of I/O components can be micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switches.
Claims15
An apparatus, comprising:
- an input/output (I/O) pad;
- an input driver coupled to the I/O pad;
- an output driver coupled to the I/O pad;
- a first microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switch coupled to the I/O pad and to the input driver;
- and
- a second MEMS switch coupled to the I/O pad and to the output driver;
- wherein:
- the first MEMS switch is placed in an open position to isolate the input driver from the I/O pad when the output driver is actively driving a signal;
- the second MEMS switch is placed in an open position to isolate the output driver from the I/O pad when the input driver is actively driving a signal;
- and
- while the input and output drivers are not actively driving a signal and to isolate both the input and output drivers from the I/O pad:
- the first MEMS switch is placed in the same position as the position in which the first MEMS switch is placed, while the output driver is actively driving a signal;
- and
- the second MEMS switch is placed in the same position as the position in which the second MEMS switch is placed, while the input driver is actively driving a signal.
11 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an input/output (I/O) component comprising:
- an I/O pad coupled to an output driver and an input driver;
- a first microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switch coupled between the I/O pad and the output driver, the first MEMS switch operable to isolate the output driver from the I/O pad and the input driver;
- and
- a second MEMS switch coupled between the I/O pad and the input driver, the second MEMS switch operable to isolate the input driver from the I/O pad and the output driver;
- a controller coupled to the I/O component;
- the controller configured to:
- place, to isolate the output driver from the I/O pad and the input driver, the first MEMS switch in an open position, while the input driver is actively driving a signal;
- place, to isolate the input driver from the I/O pad and the output driver, the second MEMS switch in an open position, while the output driver is actively driving a signal;
- and
- place, while the input and output drivers are not actively driving a signal and to isolate both the input and output drivers from the I/O pad:
- the first MEMS switch in the same position as the position in which the first MEMS switch is placed, while the input driver is actively driving a signal, and
- the second MEMS switch in the same position as the position in which the second MEMS switch is placed, while the output driver is actively driving a signal.
10 more elements
A method, comprising:
- in association with driving a signal via an output driver of an input/output (I/O) component, closing a first microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switch coupled between the output driver and an I/O pad of the I/O component;
- and
- while the output driver is actively driving the signal, maintaining a second MEMS switch in an open position, wherein the second MEMS switch is coupled between an input driver of the I/O component and the I/O pad;
- placing the first MEMS switch in an open position, while the input driver is actively driving a signal;
- placing the second MEMS switch in an open position, while the output driver is actively driving a signal;
- and
- placing, while the input and output drivers are not actively driving a signal:
- the first MEMS switch in the same position as the position in which the first MEMS switch is placed, while the input driver is actively driving a signal, and
- the second MEMS switch in the same position as the position in which the second MEMS switch is placed, while the output driver is actively driving a signal.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.