Multipurpose pads used as digital serial and analog interface
AssigneeAvago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
InventorsMilos Davidovic, Kurt Schweiger, Robert Swoboda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An Integrated Circuit, a system, and a method are provided. The disclosed Integrated Circuit may include a plurality of pads exposing internal components of the Integrated Circuit to external circuits, a digital interface connectable to the plurality of pads, an analog interface connectable to the plurality of pads, and sensing circuitry configured to detect whether a digital circuit or an analog circuit is externally connected to the plurality of pads and based on such detection selectively connect at least one of the digital interface and analog interface to the plurality of pads.
Claims20
An Integrated Circuit, comprising:
- a plurality of pads exposing internal components of the Integrated Circuit to external circuits;
- a digital interface connectable to the plurality of pads;
- an analog interface connectable to the plurality of pads;
- and
- sensing circuitry configured to detect whether a digital circuit or an analog circuit is externally connected to the plurality of pads and based on such detection selectively connect at least one of the digital interface and analog interface to the plurality of pads.
A system, comprising:
- an Integrated Circuit having a plurality of pads and an interface that connects the plurality of pads to internal components of the Integrated Circuit;
- external circuitry connectable to the plurality of pads;
- and
- a sensing module configured to detect whether the external circuitry corresponds to digital or analog circuitry and based on such detection switch the interface of the Integrated Circuit between an analog mode of operation and a digital mode of operation.
A method, comprising:
- connecting external circuitry to an Integrated Circuit via a plurality of pads;
- detecting, within the Integrated Circuit, whether the external circuitry corresponds to digital or analog circuitry;
- and
- based on whether the external circuitry is detected as corresponding to digital or analog circuitry, switching an interface of the Integrated Circuit into one of a digital mode of operation and an analog mode of operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.