Re-configurable mixed-mode integrated circuit architecture
OwnerHagop Nazarianinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An analog portion of a mixed-mode integrated circuit system includes a plurality of analog input cells, a plurality of analog output cells, and an interconnect array. The input cells are, configured to program analog functions. The output cells are configured to provide Analog and digital outputs corresponding to the programmed analog functions. The interconnect array processes the programmed analog functions into signals indicative of the analog functions. The interconnect array selectively provides the signals to the plurality of analog output cells.
Claims19
A circuit, comprising:
- an analog input cell including one or more switches and being configured to perform a first analog function or a second analog function according to setting defined for the one or more switches;
- a voltage-to-current converter configured to receive a first voltage signal from the analog input cell and output a first current signal;
- an analog interconnect array configured to receive the current signal output by the voltage-to-current converter, the analog interconnect array including a plurality of switches and configured to selectively steer, branch, and mix current signals including the first current signal received from the voltage-to-current converter;
- and
- a current-to-voltage converter configured to receive a second current signal output by the analog interconnect array and output a second voltage signal.
A configurable analog input cell coupled to an analog interconnect matrix, the configurable analog input cell comprising:
- a circuit network including a plurality of switches, at least one resistor, and at least one capacitor;
- an operational amplifier coupled to the circuit network;
- and
- a multiplexer having first and second output terminals coupled, respectively, to first and second input terminals of the operational amplifier,
- wherein the circuit network provides a first mathematical function if the plurality of switches defines a first state and a second mathematical function if the plurality of switches defines a second state different, and
- wherein the analog input cell is coupled to the analog interconnect matrix via a voltage-to-current convertor of the analog interconnect matrix, the analog interconnect matrix operating in a current domain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.