System and method for shared use of common GPIO line
First Claim
1. A method for sharing a single general purpose input/output (GPIO) line of an integrated circuit between at least two circuit components, the method comprising:
- providing, using the GPIO line, a first input from a first circuit component to the integrated circuit during a first time;
providing, using the GPIO line, a first output from the integrated circuit to a second circuit component during a second time; and
wherein the first circuit component and the second circuit component are concurrently coupled to the GPIO line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are a method and system for sharing a single GPIO line of an integrated circuit (IC) between at least two circuit components connected concurrently, wherein at least one of the circuit components is to provide input via the GPIO line and at least one circuit component is to receive output via the GPIO line. The input and output can be provided at separate times with the status of the GPIO line changing accordingly or, provided that the input is provided at a lower frequency relative to the switching frequency of the GPIO line, an input to the IC can be provided concurrent with an output from the IC since the low frequency input typically persists until an input cycle of the GPIO line. The present invention finds particular benefit when implemented to interface with GPIO lines of a microprocessor.
26 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for sharing a single general purpose input/output (GPIO) line of an integrated circuit between at least two circuit components, the method comprising:
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providing, using the GPIO line, a first input from a first circuit component to the integrated circuit during a first time;
providing, using the GPIO line, a first output from the integrated circuit to a second circuit component during a second time; and
wherein the first circuit component and the second circuit component are concurrently coupled to the GPIO line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for sharing a general purpose input/output (GPIO) line of an integrated circuit, the method comprising:
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connecting a first circuit component to the GPIO line;
connecting a second circuit component to the GPIO line concurrently with the first circuit component;
wherein the first circuit component is to provide input to the integrated circuit using the GPIO line during a first time; and
wherein the second circuit component is to receive an output from the integrated circuit using the GPIO line during a second time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An electrical circuit having circuit components in electrical communication with an integrated circuit, the circuit being adapted to share a general purpose input/output (GPIO) line of the integrated circuit among at least two circuit components external to the integrated circuit, the circuit comprising:
- a first circuit component connected to the GPIO line;
a second circuit component connected to the GPIO line concurrently with the first circuit component;
the integrated circuit being adapted to receive an input from the first circuit component via the GPIO line during a first time; and
the integrated circuit being adapted to provide an output to the second circuit component via the GPIO line during a second time. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
- a first circuit component connected to the GPIO line;
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33. In a system comprising electrical circuitry and components:
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an integrated circuit having a general purpose input/output (GPIO) line;
a first circuit component coupled to the GPIO line, wherein the first circuit component is adapted to provide, at a first time, a first input to the integrated circuit using the GPIO line; and
a second circuit component coupled to the GPIO line, wherein the second circuit component is adapted to receive, at a second time, a first output from the integrated circuit using the GPIO line. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification