Apparatus and method for controlling a three-state bus
AssigneeMorphics Technology, Inc.
InventorStephen L. Wasson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A signal control circuit includes a set of signal lines that form a data bus. A set of three-state driver columns is connected to the data bus; each three-state driver column is connected to each signal line of the set of signal lines. A programmable synchronous three-state control circuit is connected to the set of three-state driver columns. The programmable synchronous three-state control circuit responds to a control signal and select signals to produce a three-state output enable signal which is applied to a selected three-state driver column of the set of three-state driver columns so as to control data signals on the data bus.
Claims16
A signal control circuit, comprising:
- a plurality of signal lines forming a data bus;
- a plurality of three-state driver columns connected to said plurality of signal lines, each of said plurality of three-state driver columns including at least one three-state driver;
- and
- a programmable synchronous three-state control circuit connected to said plurality of three-state driver columns, said programmable synchronous three-state control circuit responding to a control signal and select signals to produce a three-state output enable signal which is selectively applied to said plurality of three-state driver columns to control data signals on said data bus.
A programmable synchronous three-state control circuit comprising;
- programmable logic configured to permit mapping of physical drivers to user defined addresses, said programmable logic is configured by a control signal including at least one synchronizing and control input,
- wherein said programmable logic includes a programmable sequencer configured to enable complex three-state enable sequences, a decoder, and at least one flip-flop.
A method of selectively enabling signal lines in a signal control circuit, comprising the steps of:
- forming a data bus comprising a plurality of signal lines;
- attaching a plurality of three-state driver columns to said plurality of signal lines, each three-state driver column of said plurality of three-state driver columns including at least one three-state driver;
- and
- attaching a programmable synchronous three-state control circuit to said plurality of three-state driver columns, said programmable synchronous three-state control circuit responding to a control signal and select signals to produce a three-state output enable signal;
- and
- applying said three-state output enable signal to selectively enable said plurality of three-state driver columns to control data signals on said data bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.