Streaming input-output ports in a digital device

• US 20050265378A1
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Masgras, Cristian P., Julicher, Joseph Harry, Pyska, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/059,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20050265378A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

A digital device comprising a digital processor, a streaming input-output (I/O) port module, and an interface port module having an independent data and control bus may be independently coupled to the streaming I/O port module. The streaming I/O port module may also be coupled to the digital processor, wherein the digital process may control whether the streaming I/O port module is coupled to either the interface port module or the digital processor. The interface port module may also be coupled to the digital processor independently of the streaming I/O port module. The interface port module and the streaming I/O port module may be adapted for parallel and/or serial data transfers. The streaming I/O port may be used to couple an external peripheral device to either the digital processor or to the interface port module.

Claims

1. A digital device having streaming input-output (1/O) ports, comprising:

a digital processor;

an interface module coupled to the digital processor;

a streaming port module; and

a multiplexer having a first input-output port coupled to the interface module, a second input-output port coupled to the digital processor and a third input-output port coupled to the streaming port module, wherein the multiplexer couples the streaming port module to either the interface module or the digital processor.

2. The digital device according to claim 1, wherein the digital processor controls the multiplexer for selecting whether the streaming port module is coupled to the interface module or to the digital processor.

3. The digital device according to claim 1, wherein the streaming port module is configured by the digital processor.

4. The digital device according to claim 1, wherein the digital processor is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and programmable logic array (PLA).

5. The digital device according to claim 1, wherein the interface module is coupled to a serial bus.

6. The digital device according to claim 5, wherein the serial bus is a Universal Serial Bus (USB).

7. The digital device according to claim 1, wherein the streaming port module is coupled to a parallel bus.

8. The digital device according to claim 1, wherein the streaming port module is coupled to a serial bus.

9. The digital device according to claim 1, wherein the streaming port module is adapted for interfacing with an external peripheral device.

10. The digital device according to claim 9, wherein the external peripheral device has high data throughput.

11. The digital device according to claim 1, wherein the digital processor, the interface module, the streaming port module and the multiplexer are fabricated on an semiconductor integrated circuit.

12. The digital device according to claim 11, wherein the semiconductor integrated circuit is enclosed in an integrated circuit package.

13. A system having an external peripheral device coupled to a digital device, said system comprising:

an external peripheral device; and

a digital device, said digital device comprising,

a streaming port module coupled to the external peripheral device;

a digital processor;

an interface module coupled to the digital processor;

a multiplexer having a first input-output port coupled to the interface module, a second input-output port coupled to the digital processor and a third input-output port coupled to the streaming port module, wherein the multiplexer couples the streaming port module to either the interface module or the digital processor.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the external peripheral device transfers data to and from the interface module when the multiplexer couples the first input-output port to the third input-output port.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the external peripheral device transfers data to and from the digital processor when the multiplexer couples the second input-output port to the third input-output port.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the external peripheral device has high data throughput.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the digital processor is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and programmable logic array (PLA).

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the interface module is coupled to a serial bus.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the serial bus is a Universal Serial Bus (USB).

20. The system according to claim 13, wherein the streaming port module is coupled to a parallel bus.

21. The system according to claim 13, wherein the streaming port module is coupled to a serial bus.

22. A method for streaming input-output ports in a digital device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a digital processor;

providing an interface module coupled to an interface bus;

providing a streaming port module coupled to an external peripheral bus;

coupling the interface module to the streaming port module when data is to be transferred directly between the external peripheral bus and the interface bus; and

coupling the digital processor to the streaming port module when data is to be transferred directly between the external peripheral bus and the digital processor.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein each step of coupling is done with a signal multiplexer.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the digital processor controls the signal multiplexer.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the interface bus is a serial bus.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the interface bus is a Universal Serial Bus (USB).

27. The method according to claim 22, wherein the external peripheral bus is a parallel bus.

28. The method according to claim 22, wherein the external peripheral bus is a serial bus.

29. The method according to claim 22, wherein the digital processor is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and programmable logic array (PLA).

30. The method according to claim 22, wherein the external peripheral bus is an industry standard parallel bus.

31. The method according to claim 22, wherein the external peripheral bus is a proprietary parallel bus.

32. The method according to claim 22, wherein the external peripheral bus is an industry standard serial bus.

33. The method according to claim 22, wherein the external peripheral bus is a proprietary serial bus.