Abstract: An electronic crossbar switch employs a switch array for selectively routing signals between its terminals. A separate port provided for each terminal buffers signals flowing in and out of the switch. Each port can be configured to operate with or without tristate buffering under control of a tristate control signal, to optionally latch input or output signals in response to clock and clock enable signals, and to buffer signals passing in or out of the switch terminal in response to a direction control signal. A set of control inputs are provided in common to all ports, allowing an external host to transmit control signals in parallel to each port. Each port may be programmed to select any of its control inputs as its tristate, clock enable, clocking or direction control signal. A parallel "key" bus is also provided in common to all ports for conveying a key address from the host controller.

Abstract: A field programmable interconnect device (FPID) selectively routes signals between signal ports in response to commands from a host controller. Each command includes an address and data. The FPID includes an array of switch cells, each interconnecting a separate pair of the ports and each having first and second control signal inputs. When the first and second control signals are both asserted, the switch cell provides a signal path between the pair of the ports it interconnects. The FPID includes first and second sets of memory cells for storing data. Each first memory cell corresponds to a separate one of the switch cells and selectively asserts or deasserts the first control signal input to the corresponding switch cell according to its stored data. Each second memory cell corresponds to a separate group of switch cells and selectively asserts or deasserts the second control signal input to each switch cell of the corresponding group according to its stored data.