Abstract: A method for receiving and transmitting one or more data packets comprising the steps of (A) receiving and transmitting the one or more data packets in response to one or more control signals and (B) generating the one or more control signals in response to the one or more data packets.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of devices configured to store and present data to a plurality of queues. Each of the plurality of devices may be configured to receive (i) one or more first control signals configured to control data transfer and (ii) one or more second control signals to configure the plurality of queues. A particular one or more of the plurality of devices may be selected in response to one or more device identification bits.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of interface circuits, a plurality of transmit outputs and a plurality of receive inputs. The plurality of interface circuits each comprises (i) a transmit circuit and (ii) a receive circuit. One of the plurality of transmit outputs is generally connected to one of the plurality of receive circuits. One of the plurality of receive inputs is generally connected to one of the plurality of transmit circuits. In general, each one of the plurality of the transmits outputs are generally connected to one of the plurality of the receive inputs.

Abstract: A circuit comprising a memory and a control circuit. The memory may be configured to (i) hold one or more packets of information and (ii) send the held packets of information in response to one or more control signals. The control circuit may be configured to generate the one or more control signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for implementing memory initialization comprising a logic circuit configured to present an address to a memory. The memory initialization may occur as a background process.

Abstract: A method for writing and reading in-band information to and from a single storage element, comprising the steps of (A) receiving the in-band information, (B) storing data in either (i) a port information register when in a first state or (ii) a memory element when in a second state and (C) storing subsequent data in the memory element. The first state and the second state may be dependent upon a block position of the in-band information.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated parallel and serial programming interface that can be selected between either a parallel programming mode or a serial programming mode. The present invention provides a control logic circuit for selecting between the parallel and serial modes. The present invention also includes a parallel and serial detection circuit. The control logic sends a signal to an interface circuit that selects between a serial programming mode and a parallel programming mode based on the outputs of the parallel and serial detection circuits.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to synchronize at least one transport overhead byte with a pulse on an external pin. The second circuit may be configured to synchronize the transport overhead byte to the overhead processor. The overhead processor may be synchronized with (i) an overhead generator and (ii) an overhead extractor.

Abstract: Methods for designing a programmable interconnect matrix having reduced connectivity to achieve maximum routability for the reduced connectivity. An array of multiplexors, each having a multiplexor width wmux that is less than number of input conductors for the programmable matrix, are coupled to the input conductors of the programmable interconnect matrix such that the number of input signals shared between any two multiplexors is less than the multiplexor width wmux and such that each input signal has approximately the same number of chances to route. To better ensure the successful routing of input signals by a programmable interconnect matrix designed according to the present methods, improved routing methods are also described. According to a first embodiment, routing is accomplished by swapping successfully routed input signals with a blocked input signal and determining whether the input signal that has been swapped out may be routed through available multiplexors.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and architecture comprising a first circuit, a second circuit, and a logic circuit coupled to said first and second circuits. The first segment generally comprises a first repeater core configured to operate at one of a plurality of speeds and a first port. The second segment generally comprises a second repeater core configured to operate at one of a plurality of speeds and a second port. A logic circuit may be configured to couple each of the first and second ports to either the first or second repeater core.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and architecture comprising a first circuit, a second circuit, and a logic circuit coupled to said first and second circuits. The first segment generally comprises a first repeater core configured to operate at one of a plurality of speeds and a first port. The second segment generally comprises a second repeater core configured to operate at one of a plurality of speeds and a second port. A logic circuit may be configured to couple each of the first and second ports to either the first or second repeater core.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a mask-programmed cell comprising an input, an output and a transistor. The transistor has a first terminal and a second terminal. The cell may be configured in a first of three possible states when (a) the cell input is coupled to the first terminal via a first of two mask-programmed interconnects, and (b) the second terminal is coupled to the output. The cell may be configured in a second of three possible states when (a) a complement of the cell input is coupled to the first terminal via a second of the two mask-programmed interconnects, and (b) the second terminal is coupled to the output. The cell may be configured in a third of the three possible states when either the second terminal or the output is coupled to a predetermined level signal.

Abstract: A circuit and method comprising a physical layer circuit, a select circuit and a repeater circuit. The physical layer circuit may be configured to present a number of shared signals and a number of individual signals. The select circuit may be configured to connect one or more said first number of shared signals to one of a second number of shared signals, where the second number of shared signals may be less than the first number of shared signals. The repeater circuit may be configured to receive the number of individual signals and the second number of shared signals.

Abstract: A circuit and method comprising a first logic circuit, a second logic circuit and a speed detect circuit. The first logic circuit may be configured to present a global signal in response to a plurality of first speed indication signals. The speed detect circuit may be configured to present a plurality of second speed indication signals in response to an input operating at one of a plurality of speeds. The second logic circuit may be configured to present a plurality of internal speed indication signals, each in response to (i) the global signal and (ii) one of the plurality of the speed indication signals.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and architecture comprising a first circuit, a second circuit, and a logic circuit coupled to said first and second circuits. The first segment generally comprises a first repeater core configured to operate at one of a plurality of speeds and a first port. The second segment generally comprises a second repeater core configured to operate at one of a plurality of speeds and a second port. A logic circuit may be configured to couple each of the first and second ports to either the first or second repeater core.

Abstract: A slew rate control circuit to control output slew rate according to a programmable reference signal. A slew rate control circuit limits the slew rate of a plurality output buffers according to a signal received from a programmable slew rate control reference.

Abstract: A single pump circuit for generating a variable high voltage that responds to more than one discrete input. The present invention uses a common pump circuitry to process a number of voltage inputs. Each of the voltage inputs can be a different input voltage and will be stepped up to a higher output voltage according to the design constraints of the pump circuitry. Since the pump circuitry is used for each of the inputs, without redundancy, the amount of chip real estate consumed is minimized. A switching system is implemented that detects which input has a voltage present and activates a particular path to the pump output accordingly.

Abstract: A mask-programmable and mask-programmed interconnect matrix is disclosed in which at least one of a plurality of output conductors may be interconnected via a mask-programmed interconnection to at least one input conductor. Also disclosed is a method of creating a mask programmed device implementing a logic function comprising the steps of creating a field-programmable device or array and a mask-programmable device or array, determining an interconnect map that would implement the logic function on the field programmable device or array, and implementing the interconnect map on the mask programmable device or array by mask programming the interconnects determined in the interconnect map onto the mask programmable device or array.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a mask-programmed cell comprising an input, an output and a transistor. The transistor has a first terminal and a second terminal. The cell may be configured in a first of three possible states when (a) the cell input is coupled to the first terminal via a first of two mask-programmed interconnects, and (b) the second terminal is coupled to the output. The cell may be configured in a second of three possible states when (a) a complement of the cell input is coupled to the first terminal via a second of the two mask-programmed interconnects, and (b) the second terminal is coupled to the output. The cell may be configured in a third of the three possible states when either the second terminal or the output is coupled to a predetermined level signal.

Abstract: Methods for designing a programmable interconnect matrix having reduced connectivity to achieve maximum routability for the reduced connectivity. An array of multiplexors, each having a multiplexor width w.sub.mux that is less than number of input conductors for the programmable matrix, are coupled to the input conductors of the programmable interconnect matrix such that the number of input signals shared between any two multiplexors is less than the multiplexor width w.sub.mux and such that each input signal has approximately the same number of chances to route. To better ensure the successful routing of input signals by a programmable interconnect matrix designed according to the present methods, improved routing methods are also described. According to a first embodiment, routing is accomplished by swapping successfully routed input signals with a blocked input signal and determining whether the input signal that has been swapped out may be routed through available multiplexors.