Pin Multiplexing
AssigneeLantiq Deutschland GmbH
InventorsAlvin Lim, Balakrishnan Kangol, Sreekumar Padmanabhan, Sachin Mathur
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A semiconductor device coupled to input/output pins includes a first core to operate a first function and a second core to operate a second function. A multiplexer is arranged to set the input/output pins to the first function or to the second function, and an arbiter is configured to receive requests from the cores to use the input/output pins and to grant use of the input/output pins to a selected core. A register is arranged to store a value indicative of a delay to be applied by the arbiter when granting use of the input/output pins to the second core.
Claims19
A semiconductor device coupled to input/output pins, the semiconductor device comprising:
- a first core to operate a first function;
- a second core to operate a second function;
- a multiplexer arranged to set the input/output pins according to the first function or to the second function;
- an arbiter arranged to receive requests from the first and second cores to use the input/output pins and to grant use of the input/output pins to a selected core;
- and
- a register arranged to store a value indicative of a delay to be applied by the arbiter when granting use of the input/output pins to the second core.
A method for multiplexing across a plurality of input/output pins between a first core to operate a first function and a second core to operate a second function, the method comprising:
- sending a request signal from the second core to an arbiter for use of the input/output pins;
- commanding the first core to stop external access via the input/output pins;
- and
- granting use of the input/output pins to the second core under control of a predetermined delay.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.