IP Library Granted Patent US 9,197,216
Granted Patent B2
US 9,197,216 · App. 13/957,906 · Granted Nov 24, 2015

Multiplexing for systems with multiple supply sources

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,197,216
App. No.
13/957,906
Granted
Nov 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes an inverter element to gate forward current flow from a first signal source, and a reverse current inhibition element to block reverse current flow towards the first signal source from a second signal source.

Claims (50)

1. A method, comprising:

applying a first control signal to an inverter element;

applying a second control signal to a first transistor of a multiplexer; and

applying the first control signal to a third transistor;

in response to the second control signal, allowing signal flow across the first transistor;

in response to the first control signal:

passing a signal input to a gate of a second transistor of the multiplexer using the inverter; and

restricting signal flow across the third transistor; and

responsive to the signal input at the gate of the second transistor, restricting signal flow across the second transistor, the second transistor coupled to the first transistor in series, the third transistor coupled in parallel to the first and second transistors.

2. The method of claim 1 where the first and second transistors comprise positive metal oxide semiconductor (pMOS) transistors.

3. The method of claim 2 where the third transistor comprises a negative metal oxide semiconductor (nMOS) transistor.

4. The method of claim 1 where the first and second transistors are coupled in a mirrored configuration which restricts a parasitic current pathway.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second transistors and the inverter operate as a first gating circuit of multiple gating circuits; and

the method further comprises selectively applying the first and second control signals to ones of the multiple gating circuits to gate signal flow to a shared output.

6. The method of claim 5 , where selectively applying the first and second control signals to ones of the multiple gating circuits comprises applying a selection signal to a second gating circuit of the multiple gate circuits; and

in response to the selection signal, allowing signal flow across the second gating circuit.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising indicating a low power mode via the control signal.

8. The method of claim 1 , where passing the signal input to the gate of the second transistor restricts signal flow across the second transistor.

9. A circuit comprising;

a first transistor;

a second transistor connected in series with the first transistor, the first and second transistors situated in a mirrored configuration;

a third transistor connected in parallel with the first and second transistors; and

an inverter to, in a first mode, pass a input from a source and provide the input to a gate of the first transistor; and

responsive to the second transistor receiving a control signal, the third transistor and the second transistor configured to switch the circuit between the first mode in which transmission is allowed between the source and an output and a second mode in which transmission is restricted.

10. The circuit of claim 9 where the second mode comprises a low power mode of the circuit.

11. The circuit of claim 9 where in the first mode the inverter and the second transistor receive a logical high control signal.

12. The circuit of claim 9 where the second mode comprises an active mode of the circuit.

13. The circuit of claim 9 where the circuit comprises a component of a multiplexer system configured to manage transmission of multiple inputs to an output.

14. The circuit of claim 13 where the multiplexer system is configured to allow one input to transmit to the output at a time.

15. A device, comprising:

reverse current inhibition circuitry comprising:

a first transistor; and

a second transistor, the first and second transistors situated in series with one another;

the reverse current inhibition circuitry configured to:

block reverse current flow towards a first signal source from a second signal source when in a low power mode; and

allow an input to flow from a source to an output when in an active mode;

a third transistor coupled in parallel to the reverse current inhibition circuitry, the third transistor configured to:

switch between a low power mode and the active mode responsive to a selection signal different from the input, the selection signal configured to distinguish between the low power mode and the active mode;

restrict current flow in the low power mode; and

allow current flow in the active mode;

an inverter coupled to the reverse current inhibition circuitry, the inverter configured to:

when the selection signal indicates the low power mode, pass the input to a gate of the first transistor to restrict signal flow across the first transistor; and

when the selection signal indicates the active mode, allow signal flow across the first transistor; and

control circuitry coupled to the inverter, the control circuitry configured to apply the selection signal to the inverter.

16. The device of claim 15 where the first and second transistors are coupled such that the second transistor forms a structural mirror of the first transistor.

17. The device of claim 15 where the inverter is configured to, in the active mode, provide the input to the gate of the first transistor without inversion.

18. The device of claim 15 where:

the control circuitry is configured to, in the low power mode, provide a logical low to a gate of the second transistor to restrict current flow across the second transistor.

19. The device of claim 15 where the first and second transistors comprise positive metal oxide semiconductor transistors.

20. The device of claim 19 where the first and second transistors are situated in parallel with a negative metal oxide semiconductor transistor.

Assignments (7)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 9,385,856 TO 9,385,756 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 47349 FRAME: 001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Mar 22, 2019
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 051144/0648 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EFFECTIVE DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 047229 FRAME 0408. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE EFFECTIVE DATE IS 09/05/2018. Recorded Oct 29, 2018
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047349/0001 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 4, 2018
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047229/0408 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041712/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2017
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 041706/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037806/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2013
From: SOLTESZ, DARIO
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030933/0380 →