The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 31, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 20, 1998
David William Howard, Cherry Hinton, GB;
ARM Limited, Cambridge, GB;
Abstract
The present invention provides a data processing apparatus comprising a precharged circuit having at least one input line arranged to be precharged to a first logic value during a precharge phase, and a conditional-invert circuit connected to a first at least one input line and arranged to provide a first data value or the inverted first data value on the first input line during an active phase following the precharge phase. The conditional-invert circuit comprises a signal line coupled to the first input line and arranged to be precharged to a predetermined logic value during the precharge phase, a first set of logic gates connected between the signal line and a predetermined voltage, and being arranged upon receipt of a select signal to cause the first data value to be provided on the first input line, and a second set of logic gates connected between the signal line and the predetermined voltage, and being arranged upon receipt of a select signal to cause the inverted first data value to be provided on the first input line. In the active phase, either the first set of logic gates or the second set of logic gates is arranged to receive the select signal. In accordance with the present invention, the speed benefits of using a precharged circuit as opposed to a non-precharged circuit can be realised in circuitry that also requires a conditional-invert function.