Single-pin command technique for mode selection and internal data access
AssigneeSilicon Laboratories Inc.
InventorsRussell B. Fredrickson, Martin Pechanec, Jeffery A. Battles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A single pin is used to control an operating mode of an integrated circuit and to supply serial data to a host controller. The internal operating mode can be changed by changing a static level on an input/output terminal and maintaining that static level longer than a first time threshold. A read transaction from the integrated circuit can be performed in response to a predetermined sequence on the input/output terminal that includes a pulse that lasts a first predetermined time, the first predetermined time being less than the first time threshold.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- changing an internal operating mode of an integrated circuit responsive to a change in level on an input/output terminal that lasts longer than a first time threshold;
- and
- responsive to a predetermined sequence on the input/output terminal, the sequence including a pulse on the terminal that lasts a first predetermined time, the first predetermined time less than the first time threshold, supplying serial data from the integrated circuit in a read transaction.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- an input/output terminal;
- a control circuit responsive to a change in level on the input/output terminal that lasts longer than a first time threshold to change an operating mode of the integrated circuit;
- and
- the control circuit responsive to a predetermined sequence on the input/output terminal that includes a pulse on the terminal that lasts a first predetermined time, the first predetermined time less than the first time threshold, to supply serial data from the integrated circuit to the input/output terminal in a read transaction.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first device including,
- an input/output terminal coupled to a signal line;
- a control circuit responsive to a change in static level on the input/output terminal that lasts longer than a first time threshold to change an operating mode of the integrated circuit;
- and
- the control circuit responsive to a predetermined sequence on the input/output terminal, the predetermined sequence including a pulse on the terminal that lasts a first predetermined time, the first predetermined time less than the first time threshold, to perform a read transaction to supply serial data from the integrated circuit to the input/output terminal;
- and
- a second device coupled to the signal line and configured to receive the serial data of the read transaction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.