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:
Apr. 17, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 12, 1999
Pochang Hsu, Fremont, CA (US);
Ravi Nagaraj, Lakeville, MN (US);
Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A dual mode I/O interface circuit compatible with either GTL logic signals or traditional CMOS logic signals comprises a connection node with a differential sense amplifier having one input coupled to the connection node, and the other input coupled to a reference voltage. Pull-up and pull-down circuits are coupled to the connection node. Logic circuitry is coupled to the gate of the at least one P-type field-effect transistor of the pull-up circuit, and the gate of the at least one N-type field-effect transistor of the pull-down circuit to control the conductivity of the field-effect transistors. In this manner, a first representation of the input signal compatible with GTL logic signals as provided at the connection node when the mode signal is asserted, and a second representation of the input signal compatible with CMOS logic levels as provided at the connection node when the mode signal is deasserted.