Apparatus for receiving/transmitting signals in an input/output pad buffer cell

An electronic circuit die comprising:

• a plurality of first input/output pad buffer cells, each including:
• a pad adapted to be coupled to a bond wire;
• a latch coupled to said pad and adapted to receive data signals from said pad;
• and
• a plurality of conductive trace pins, conductively coupling adjacent ones of said first input/output pad buffer cells;
• wherein each of said plurality of first input/output pad buffer cells are of similar construction;
• and
• a plurality of second input/output pad buffer cells, each including:
• a second pad adapted to be coupled to a bond wire and adapted to receive a clocking signal;
• wherein latches of ones of said first input/output pad buffer cells are conductively coupled to at least one of said second input/output pad buffer cells via ones of said conductive trace pins and adapted to receive said clocking signal.

An apparatus for transferring data signals between two components comprising:

• first and second components, each including
• a plurality of first input/output pad buffer cells, each cell including a pad adapted to be coupled to a bond wire;
• and a latch coupled to said pad and adapted to receive data signals from said pad;
• a plurality of conductive trace pins, conductively coupling adjacent ones of said first input/output pad buffer cells;
• and
• a plurality of second input/output pad buffer cells, each including a pad adapted to be coupled to a bond wire and adapted to receive a clocking signal, wherein latches of ones of said first input/output pad buffer cells are conductively coupled to at least one of said second input/output pad buffer cells via ones of said conductive traces pins and adapted to receive said clocking signal;
• a plurality of data signal lines coupled between ones of said first input/output pad buffer cells of said first and second components;
• at least one bidirectional clocking signal line coupled between a second input/output pad buffer cell of each of said first and second components;
• each of said first and second components is adapted to transmit data signals over said data signal line and at least one clocking signal over said clocking signal line to another of said first and second components, and each of said first and second components is adapted to receive and latch data signals in relation to a clocking signal received from the other of said first and second components.

An apparatus for transferring data signals among at least three components comprising:

• first, second, and third components, each including
• a plurality of first input/output pad buffer cells, each cell including a pad adapted to be coupled to a bond wire;
• and a latch coupled to said pad and adapted to receive data signals from said pad;
• a plurality of conductive trace pins, conductively coupling adjacent ones of said first input/output pad buffer cells;
• and
• a plurality of second input/output pad buffer cells, each including a pad adapted to be coupled to a bond wire and adapted to receive a clocking signal, wherein latches of ones of said first input/output pad buffer cells are conductively coupled to at least one of said second input/output pad buffer cells via ones of said conductive traces pins and adapted to receive said clocking signal;
• a plurality of data signal lines of a bus coupled between ones of said first input/output pad buffer cells of said first, second, and third components;
• at least one bidirectional clocking signal line of said bus coupled between a second input/output pad buffer cell of each of said first, second, and third components;
• each of said first, second, and third components is adapted to transmit data signals over said data signal lines and at least one clocking signal over said clocking signal line to another of said first, second, and third components, and each of said first, second, and third components is adapted to receive and latch data signals in said first input/output pad buffer cells in relation to a clocking signal received from the other of said first, second, and third components.