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:
May. 17, 2005
Filed:
May. 21, 2002
Jeremy M. Flasck, Fremont, CA (US);
Andrew J. Burstein, Fremont, CA (US);
David B. Lidsky, Oakland, CA (US);
Michael D. Mcjimsey, Danville, CA (US);
Jeremy M. Flasck, Fremont, CA (US);
Andrew J. Burstein, Fremont, CA (US);
David B. Lidsky, Oakland, CA (US);
Michael D. McJimsey, Danville, CA (US);
Volterra Semiconductor, Inc., Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining a setting specified from a plurality of the settings for a function provided in an integrated circuit, wherein the setting is specified by connecting an external measurement resistor to a measurement terminal of the integrated circuit, comprises applying a direct current to the measurement terminal of the integrated circuit, thereby producing a measurement voltage at the measurement terminal; applying the direct current to a reference terminal of the integrated circuit, wherein the reference terminal has an external reference resistor connected thereto, thereby producing a reference voltage at the reference terminal; quantizing a voltage level of a difference voltage representing a voltage difference between the reference voltage and the measurement voltage, thereby producing a quantized voltage; and providing control signals to a functional module within the integrated circuit, the control signals representing the one of the settings corresponding to the quantized voltage, wherein each of the settings is represented by a different quantized voltage; wherein the functional module implements the one of the settings represented by the control signals.