Atmel Corporation

Winbond Electronics Corporation

Windbond Electronics Corp.

Oliver Chihkuang Kao

Peter J Holzmann

Geoffrey Bruce Jackson

Aditya Raina

Saleel V Awsare

Carl R Palmer

Ming-Bing Chang

Lawrence D Engh

Nancy D Kunnari

Gladwyn O D'Souza

Hung-Chuan Pai

An apparatus and method for providing an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in programmable logic devices is disclosed. A plurality of multi-purpose input/output (I/O) blocks is configured to provide analog-to-digital conversion and other I/O functionality. The plurality of multi-purpose I/O blocks is also configured to save power when ADC mode is disabled.

Apparatus and method for implementing an analog-to-digital converter in programmable logic devices

An apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in a programmable logic device (PLOD) having multiple logic blocks and macrocells. Power consumption is reduced by detecting programmable switch values in each macrocell and generating a clock control signal based on the switch values. The clock control signal controls a macrocell buffer used for compensating for distortion of clock signals inputted to the macrocell. The macrocell buffer is disabled if the clock signals are not being used by the corresponding macrocell, thereby preventing unnecessary toggling and power consumption.

Apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in electronic devices

A multilevel analog recording and playback system is described. The analog recording and playback system provides a variety of analog processing functions to enhance system level integration. The analog recording and playback system is an fully configurable integrated device that includes a plurality of signal paths, a microphone automatic gain control ('AGC') circuit, volume control and filtering circuit, speaker driver circuit, gain selectable analog input, auxiliary input and output paths, configurable summation amplifiers having mixing features, multilevel analog memory storage array, and user selectable programming duration.

Multiple message multilevel analog signal recording and playback system containing configurable analog processing functions

A first configuration controller loads configuration data into a programmable logic device. The first controller is coupled with a first configuration memory and manages couplings of the memory to a first load path. The load path couples to a latch ring, which receives configuration data from the first memory. An array of configuration latches receives the configuration from the latch ring and effects a configuration of the programmable device. A write-back path couples the latch ring and first configuration memory. A write-back controller manages write-back operations of configuration data from the latch ring to the configuration memory. A second configuration controller is coupled to a second configuration memory, which is coupled to a second load path. The second controller and second memory operate like the first. The write-back controller can be configured to couple to the second memory and facilitate development processes by a writing-back developmental configurations.

Programmable logic auto write-back

A multilevel analog recording and playback system is described. An analog processing circuit processes analog data. A storage circuit includes a non-volatile memory array, a switching circuit, and a communication interface. The non-volatile memory array stores analog and digital data. The switching circuit transfers the analog and digital data to and from the memory array. The communication interface allows a processor to exchange information with the device.

Multiple message multilevel analog signal recording and playback system having memory array configurable for analog and digital storage and serial communication

A test circuit aids in accurately measuring the input pin to output pin signal propagation speed through an integrated circuit by providing a D flip-flop in the signal path near the output pad to register the arrival of a test signal transition. The flip-flop is clocked at various clock frequencies. At the high frequencies, test signal transitions applied at the input pad coincident with a clock transition having not arrived at the output pad in time to be registered at the next clock transition. At lower clock frequencies, the test transition has time to propagate through the integrated circuit and thus will be registered by the flip-flop. By successively lowering the clock frequency and sending test signals through the circuit, one-half of that clock period that just registers the test signal transition corresponds to the input-to-output delay time being measured.

Test circuit for input-to-output speed measurement

Integrated circuit device that uses tristate switching means to disconnect input/output pins from input buffers during a power down mode, thereby preventing current leakage through partially turned on MOS transistors inside input buffers. A transition detection means connected between the input/output pins and the controlling inputs of the tristate switching means monitors electronic signal at the input/output pins while the chip is in a power-down mode and turns on the tristate switching means when a signal transition is detected.

Growing community of inventors

Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Oliver Chihkuang Kao