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US6184708B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for selecting slew rate for a programmable device

Assignee: Xilinx Inc
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Filing: 1999-11-04
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Granted: 2001-02-06
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Expires: 2019-11-04
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Abstract

Abstract A system including a programmable logic device (PLD) mounted on a populated printed circuit board, and a configuration processor. The PLD includes a plurality of input/output blocks (IOBs), each having an input buffer and an output buffer. Each output buffer is coupled to an associated adjustable slew rate control circuit and to an adjustable delay line of the PLD. The configuration processor controls each of the slew rate control circuits to provide a first slew rate. The configuration processor also controls the output buffers to be coupled to the adjustable delay line. The configuration processor then controls the adjustable delay line to generate a first test pulse, which is applied to each of the output buffers. Depending on the impedances of the printed circuit board, the first test pulse transmitted from a particular output buffer may be reflected. Reflected test pulses return to the associated input buffers and are recorded. The configuration processor determines which IOBs received reflected test pulses, and which have not. The configuration processor adjusts the slew rate in the IOBs receiving a reflected test pulse, and repeats the test until there are no reflected test pulses.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jesse H. Jenkins, IV

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 15:24
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/02; H03K19/173; H03K19/177; H03K19/17736; H03K19/17744; H03K19/0175; H03K19/0185; H03K19/018585; H03K19/1733; H03K19/1735; H03K19/1736

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 103 words
A method of configuring a programmable device which is mounted on a printed circuit board, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a first slew rate for an output buffer of the programmable device; applying a digital pulse to the output buffer, whereby the output buffer transmits the digital pulse to a pad of the programmable logic device and a trace of the printed circuit board; monitoring the pad to determine if the digital pulse is reflected back to the pad; and configuring the output buffer to have the first slew rate if the digital pulse is not reflected back to the pad.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 103 words
A method of configuring a programmable device which is mounted on a printed circuit board, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a first slew rate for an output buffer of the programmable device; applying a digital pulse to the output buffer, whereby the output buffer transmits the digital pulse to a pad of the programmable logic device and a trace of the printed circuit board; monitoring the pad to determine if the digital pulse is reflected back to the pad; and configuring the output buffer to have the first slew rate if the digital pulse is not reflected back to the pad.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of configuring the output buffer to have a second slew rate if the digital pulse is reflected back to the pad.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 93 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of: selecting a second slew rate for the output buffer if the digital pulse is reflected back to the pad; applying a second digital pulse to the output buffer, whereby the output buffer transmits the second digital pulse to the pad and the trace; monitoring the pad to determine if the second digital pulse is reflected back to the pad; and configuring the output buffer to have the second slew rate if the second digital pulse is not reflected back to the pad.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of applying the digital pulse is performed by a delay line of the programmable device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps are controlled by a configuration processor which configures the programmable device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of monitoring the pad comprises the step of coupling an asynchronous latch to the pad.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing the first slew rate in a JTAG register of the programmable device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of shifting the slew rate from the JTAG register to a configuration processor coupled to the programmable device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying a second digital pulse, having different width than the digital pulse, to the output buffer if the digital pulse is reflected back to the pad.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5644496A Cited
US5017813A Cited
US5144166A Cited
US5331220A Cited
US5740410A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2004-02-06 2004-08-07 2005-02-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2008-02-06 2008-08-07 2009-02-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2012-02-06 2012-08-07 2013-02-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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