Method and apparatus for a programmable output interface

A microchip Input/Output (I/O) pad comprising:

• a switching device, the switching device receiving an enable signal, a selection signal, and an information signal, the switching device passing one of the enable signal and the information signal to an output of the switching device based on the selection signal;
• and
• an output driver, an output of the output driver being enabled by the output of the switching device, the output driver receiving the information signal and passing the information to the output of the output driver if the output driver is enabled,
• wherein the selection signal is usable to convert the output driver output to one of a tri-state output and an open collector output, the enable signal usable to enable and disable the tri-state when the output driver output is a tri-state output.

A microcircuit comprising:

• a switching device, the switching device receiving an enable signal, a selection signal, and an information signal, the switching device passing one of the enable signal and the information signal to an output of the switching device based on the selection signal;
• and
• an output driver, an output of the output driver being enabled by the output of the switching device, the output driver receiving the information signal and passing the information to the output of the output driver if the output driver is enabled,
• wherein the selection signal is usable to convert the output driver output to one of a tri-state output and an open collector output, the enable signal usable to enable and disable the tri-state when the output driver output is a tri-state output.

A method for programming an output interface comprising:

• receiving an enable signal, a selection signal, and an information signal at a switching device, the switching device passing one of the enable signal and the information signal to an output of the switching device based on the selection signal;
• receiving the information signal at an output driver;
• passing the information to the output of the output driver if the output driver is enabled, the output driver being enabled by the output of the switching device;
• and
• switching the output driver output to one of a tri-state output and an open collector output based on the selection signal.