Selectable analog functions on a configurable device and method employing nonvolatile memory

• US 6,185,127 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2000
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Connectivity Patent Trust
• Original Assignee: Summit Microelectronics, Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Palm, Richard A., Adkins, Kenneth C., Myers, Theodore M., Orlando, Richard V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Son T.
• Application Number:
  US09/495,409
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 365/185.03, 365/45
• US Class Current: 365/185.03
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/06 Auxiliary circuits, e.g. for writing into memory
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/20 Initialising; Data preset; Chip identification

Abstract

A configurable integrated circuit and method for trimming a desirable combination of analog and digital functions and customizing pin assignments by programming nonvolatile memory. Functional enhancement and chip compatibility are achieved by configuring an integrated circuit with specified analog and digital settings for operation with an external chip. Multiple NV registers with designated bits that correspond to activating, deactivating, trimming, or changing analog functions including internal voltages, bandgap, and oscillating frequencies.

Claims

1. A method for programming a configurable integrated circuit, comprising the steps of:

programming a plurality of nonvolatile bits in one or more nonvolatile registers, each nonvolatile bit or a combination of nonvolatile bits in the plurality of nonvolatile bits corresponding to an analog function; and

generating a configuration on an integrated circuit from programming the plurality of nonvolatile bits in the one or more nonvolatile registers.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of nonvolatile bits in the one or more nonvolatile registers comprises E² cells.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein in the programming step comprises the step of enabling an analog function by the nonvolatile bit or the combination of nonvolatile bits.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein in the enabling step comprises the step of setting the analog function to a specific value.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein in the programming step comprises changing pin assignments by programming one or more nonvolatile bits.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the analog function comprises trimming an internal voltage of the integrated circuit.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of combining a plurality of analog signals to generate a digital output.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing a status of a fault condition of the integrated circuit in the one or more NV registers.

9. An integrated circuit, comprising:

one or more nonvolatile registers having a plurality of nonvolatile bits, each nonvolatile bit or a combination of nonvolatile bits in the plurality of nonvolatile bits corresponding to programming an analog function; and

a circuit configuration in the integrated circuit being generated from programming one or more nonvolatile registers.

10. The integrated circuit of claim 9 further comprising a decoder, coupled between the one or more nonvolatile registers and a circuit configuration, for decoding the plurality of nonvolatile bits for programming analog functions.

11. The integrated circuit of claim 9 wherein the plurality of nonvolatile bits comprises E² cells.

12. The integrated circuit of claim 9 wherein the nonvolatile bit or the combination of nonvolatile bits in the one or more nonvolatile registers enables the analog function.

13. The integrated circuit of claim 12 wherein the nonvolatile bit or the combination of nonvolatile bits in the one or more nonvolatile registers sets a specific value to the enabled analog function.

14. The integrated circuit of claim 9 wherein the nonvolatile bit or the combination of nonvolatile bits in the one or more nonvolatile registers changes pin assignments of the integrated circuit.

15. The integrated circuit of claim 12 where the bit or the combination of nonvolatile bits trims an internal voltage of the enabled analog function.

16. The integrated circuit of claim 9 further comprising a logic gate for combining a plurality of analog signals to generate a digital output.

17. A configurable device, comprising:

means for programming one or more nonvolatile registers having a plurality of nonvolatile bits, each bit or a combination of bits in the plurality of nonvolatile bits corresponding to an analog function; and

means for generating a configuration from programming the plurality of nonvolatile bits.

18. The configurable device of claim 17 wherein the programming means of the one or more nonvolatile registers comprises E² cells.

19. The configurable device of claim 17 wherein the programming means comprises enabling the analog function.

20. The configurable device of claim 17 wherein the programming means comprises selecting a specific value of the analog function.