IP Library Granted Patent US 7,423,451
Granted Patent B2
US 7,423,451 · App. 11/551,857 · Granted Sep 9, 2008

System-on-a-chip integrated circuit including dual-function analog and digital inputs

Assignee: Actel Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,423,451
App. No.
11/551,857
Granted
Sep 9, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated circuit includes a plurality of inputs, a plurality of output pads, a programmable logic block, an analog circuit block, an analog-to-digital converter programmably coupleable to individual analog circuits in the analog circuit block, and an interconnect architecture programmably coupling selected ones of the plurality of inputs, the plurality of outputs, the programmable logic block, the analog circuit block, and the analog-to-digital converter. At least one of the inputs may be programmably configured as one of a digital input programmably coupleable to elements in the programmable logic block or as an analog input to an analog circuit in the analog circuit block.

Claims (24)

1. An integrated circuit comprising:

a plurality of inputs;

a plurality of outputs;

a programmable logic block;

an analog circuit block coupled to at least one of the inputs, the analog circuit block including at least one hardwired analog function circuit;

an analog-to-digital converter programmably coupleable to individual analog circuits in the analog circuit block;

a digital circuit block coupled to at least one of the inputs, the digital circuit block including at least one hardwired digital function circuit;

an interconnect architecture programmably coupling selected ones of the plurality of inputs, the plurality of outputs, the programmable logic block, the analog circuit block, and the analog-to-digital converter;

wherein at least one of the inputs may be programmably configured as one of a digital input programmably coupleable to elements in the programmable logic block or as an analog input to an analog circuit in the analog circuit block.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the inputs may be programmably configured as a digital input programmably coupleable to elements in the programmable logic block with a slew rate less than about 10MHz.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one hardwired analog function circuit includes at least one of a digital-to-analog converter, an analog-to-digital converter, an analog pulse width modulator, a MOSFET controller, a voltage reference circuit, a low-dropout regulator, an analog multiplexer, and an RF transceiver; and

the at least one hardwired digital function circuit includes at least one of a state machine, analog sequencer, microprocessor, digital signal processor, and interface circuit.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 1 further including:

at least one operational amplifier in the at least one analog function circuit;

a programmable coupling circuit to selectively couple at least one of the inputs to the programmable logic block;

wherein the programmable coupling circuit interrupts power to the at least one operational amplifier when the coupling circuit is programmed to couple the at least one of the inputs to the programmable logic block.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 1 further including a clock system including a clock generator having multiple clock sources.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the multiple clock sources include a crystal oscillator and at least one RC oscillator.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the clock system includes at least one phase locked loop.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the at least one analog function circuit includes an analog-voltage pre-scaler circuit and the programmable coupling circuit includes a multiplexer having a first input coupled to the at least one of the inputs, a second input coupled to the at least one of the inputs through the analog-voltage pre-scaler circuit, and at least one programmable select input.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the coupling circuit includes at least one first MOS transistor coupled between a power rail and a power input on the at least one operational amplifier, and at least one second MOS transistor coupled between a power rail and a digital buffer coupled between the at least one of the inputs and the programmable logic block, the at least one first and second MOS transistors controlled by a decoder.

10. The integrated circuit of claim 9 wherein the decoder is driven by data on the at least one programmable select input of the multiplexer.

11. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the coupling circuitry has a maximum digital bandwidth of less than about 10 MHz.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2018
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.), INC.; MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION; MICROSEMI COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; MICROSEMI SOC CORP.; MICROSEMI CORP. - POWER PRODUCTS GROUP; MICROSEMI CORP. - RF INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS
Reel/Frame 046251/0391 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2016
From: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC. (F/K/A LEGERITY, INC., ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR (V.N.) INC., CENTELLAX, INC., AND ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC.); MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION (F/K/A SYMMETRICON, INC.); MICROSEMI COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (F/K/A VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION); MICROSEMI SOC CORP. (F/K/A ACTEL CORPORATION); MICROSEMI CORP. - POWER PRODUCTS GROUP (F/K/A ADVANCED POWER TECHNOLOGY INC.); MICROSEMI CORP. - RF INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS (F/K/A AML COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037691/0697 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORP.-ANALOG MIXED SIGNAL GROUP, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SOC CORP., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (F/K/A VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION), A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORP.-MEMORY AND STORAGE SOLUTIONS (F/K/A WHITE ELECTRONIC DESIGNS CORPORATION), AN INDIANA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037558/0711 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 28, 2015
From: ACTEL CORPORATION
To: MICROSEMI SOC CORP.
Reel/Frame 037393/0572 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY Recorded Apr 9, 2015
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA (AS SUCCESSOR TO MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC)
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 035657/0223 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2011
From: WHITE ELECTRONIC DESIGNS CORP.; ACTEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 025783/0613 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 1087704300 · Jun 25, 2004
Continuation In Part 1084370100 · May 10, 2004
Provisional Application 6049178800 · Jul 31, 2003
Related Publication 20070046325A1 · Mar 1, 2007