US 6,674,308 B2 · Low power wired OR

Abstract

A low power wired OR circuit of the present invention comprises a plurality of logic blocks for pulling a wired OR signal line low in response to certain conditions, a differential pair of lines, such as the wired OR signal line and a reference signal line, and a sensing device coupled to the reference signal line and the wired OR signal line to receive the wired OR signal and the reference signal respectively and to detect a difference between the two signals. Having a differential pair of lines is advantageous because it maintains noise immunity for small voltage swings on the wired OR signal line, thereby reducing power dissipation in the wired OR circuit. A common current source coupled to each logic block through a common return path allows the low power wired OR circuit to control a discharge rate at which the wired OR line discharges.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An apparatus for reducing power dissipation, comprising:

a logic circuit having an output;
a wired OR signal line, coupled to the output of the logic circuit;
a reference line for receiving a reference signal;
and
a sensing device having a first input, a second input and an output, the first input coupled to the reference signal line for receiving the reference signal and the second input coupled to the wired OR signal line for receiving a wired OR signal, the sensing device detecting a difference between the reference signal and the wired OR signal and outputting a signal.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low power wired OR

Life of this patent

Low power wired OR

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25