US5968140A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for configuring a device where stored configuration information is asserted at a first time and external operational data is asserted at a second time
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1997-01-02
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Granted: 1999-10-19
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Expires: 2017-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A programmable configuration selector is provided to an apparatus having at least one configurable device. The programmable configuration selector comprises a non-volatile memory having at least one storage register for storing configuration information corresponding to the at least one configurable device, and a multiplexer driver. The multiplexer driver comprises at least one output port coupled to the at least one configurable device, for asserting configuration information, received from the non-volatile memory, on the at least one output port to configure the at least one configurable device at a first time, and for asserting operational data, received from a data bus, on the at least one output port to the at least one configurable device at a second time.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerald N. Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1402; G06F11/1415; G06F11/1433; G06F13/00; G06F13/10; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/4068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus to selectively configure at least one configurable device, the apparatus comprising: a memory having at least one storage register to store configuration information for the at least one configurable device; and a multiplexer driver, having at least one output port coupled to the at least one configurable device, to assert the stored configuration information on the at least one output port to configure the at least one configurable device at a first time, and to assert operational data received from a communicatively coupled external source to the at least one configurable device at a second time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus to selectively configure at least one configurable device, the apparatus comprising: a memory having at least one storage register to store configuration information for the at least one configurable device; and a multiplexer driver, having at least one output port coupled to the at least one configurable device, to assert the stored configuration information on the at least one output port to configure the at least one configurable device at a first time, and to assert operational data received from a communicatively coupled external source to the at least one configurable device at a second time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory is an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an interface logic, coupled to an input bus, to receive configuration information corresponding to the at least one configurable device, and to write said configuration information to the at least one storage register in the memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the input bus to which the interface logic is responsive comprises an I 2 C compatible bus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a write protect input line, coupled to the interface logic, which when asserted disables interface logic from writing said configuration information to said memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an override input, which when asserted configures the at least one configurable device to a default setting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a second output port, coupled to the memory and the override input, to configure a second communicatively coupled configurable device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mux -- select input, coupled to the multiplexer driver, to couple the output port to either the data bus or the non-volatile memory based, at least in part, on the state of the mux -- select input.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
144 words
A system comprising: at least one configurable device having a plurality of alternative configurations; and a programmable configuration selector, coupled to the at least one configurable device, to configure the at least one configurable device to one of the plurality of alternative configurations, the programmable configuration selector comprising: a memory having at least one storage register to store configuration information for the at least one configurable device; and a multiplexer driver, having at least one output port coupled to the at least one configurable device, to assert the stored configuration information on the at least one output port to configure the operating characteristics of the at least one configurable device at a first time, and to assert operational data on the at least one output port received from a communicatively coupled external device to the at least one configurable device at a second time.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
144 words
A system comprising: at least one configurable device having a plurality of alternative configurations; and a programmable configuration selector, coupled to the at least one configurable device, to configure the at least one configurable device to one of the plurality of alternative configurations, the programmable configuration selector comprising: a memory having at least one storage register to store configuration information for the at least one configurable device; and a multiplexer driver, having at least one output port coupled to the at least one configurable device, to assert the stored configuration information on the at least one output port to configure the operating characteristics of the at least one configurable device at a first time, and to assert operational data on the at least one output port received from a communicatively coupled external device to the at least one configurable device at a second time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the programmable configuration selector further comprises interface logic, coupled to an input bus, to receive configuration information corresponding to the at least one configurable device, and to write said configuration information to the at least one storage register in the memory.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 10, further comprising a write protect input line, coupled to the interface logic, which when asserted disables the interface logic from writing configuration information to the memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 10, wherein the input bus to which the interface logi is responsive comprises an I 2 C compatible bus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 9, further comprising an override input line coupled to the programmable configuration selector, which when asserted configures the at least one configurable device to a default setting.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the programmable configuration selector further comprises a second output port, responsive to the non-volatile memory and the override input line, to configure a second configurable device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 9, further comprising a mux -- select input, coupled to the multiplexer driver, to couple the output port to either the non-volatile memory or the data bus based, at least in part, on the state of the mux -- select input.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a system including at least one configurable device and a programmable configuration selector, a method for selectively configuring the at least one configurable device comprising: (a) receiving configuration information at a first multiplexer input port from a communicatively coupled memory; (b) controlling the multiplexer to selectively accept input data from either the first multiplexer input port, or from an external source communicatively coupled to a second multiplexer input port; and (c) asserting the input data received from the first multiplexer input port to the at least one configurable device at a first time to configure the configurable device, and from the second multiplexer input port to the at least one configurable device at a second time providing the configurable device with operational data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a system including at least one configurable device and a programmable configuration selector, a method for selectively configuring the at least one configurable device comprising: (a) receiving configuration information at a first multiplexer input port from a communicatively coupled memory; (b) controlling the multiplexer to selectively accept input data from either the first multiplexer input port, or from an external source communicatively coupled to a second multiplexer input port; and (c) asserting the input data received from the first multiplexer input port to the at least one configurable device at a first time to configure the configurable device, and from the second multiplexer input port to the at least one configurable device at a second time providing the configurable device with operational data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 16, wherein step (c) comprises: (c.1) asserting input data received by the multiplexer from the non-volatile memory to the at least one configurable device at a first time, wherein the input data includes configuration information; and (c.2) asserting input data received the second multiplexer input port from the external source to the at least one configurable device at a second time, wherein the input data is comprised of operational data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one configurable device is a processor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising (d) asserting configuration information from the to a second configurable device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 16, wherein (b) comprises: (b.1) automatically switching the multiplexer to accept input from the first multiplexer input port, coupled to the memory, during power-up and reset states of the computer system; and (b.2) automatically switching the multiplexer to accept input from the external source coupled the second multiplexer input port during other operational states of the computer system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-18 | 2003-04-19 | 2003-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-18 | 2007-04-19 | 2007-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-18 | 2011-04-19 | 2011-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |