Electronic device with address programmable through reduced number of terminals

摘要

An electronic device includes a set of programming terminals for receiving corresponding programming signals, and assignment circuitry for assigning an address to the electronic device according to the programming signals. The assignment circuitry includes circuitry for providing a set of comparison signals, with at least part of the comparison signals that is variable during a non-zero comparison interval, and comparison circuitry for determining the address according to a comparison between the programming signals and the comparison signals during the comparison interval.

主权项

1. An electronic device having a device address associated therewith, the electronic device comprising:
a plurality of device terminals comprising a plurality of operative terminals configured to receive corresponding operative signals comprising at least one of a data signal and a synchronization signal, and a plurality of reference terminals configured to receive corresponding reference voltages comprising at least one of a supply voltage and a ground voltage; at least one programming terminal; and assignment circuitry coupled to said plurality of device terminals and said programming terminal and configured to
receive a plurality of comparison signals, via said plurality of device terminals, corresponding to at least one of the operative signals and the reference voltages, and a programming signal via said at least one programming terminal, the programming signal corresponding to any of the plurality of comparison signals and at least one of the operative signals varying over a given time period during operation,perform a plurality of comparisons over the given time period between the plurality of comparison signals and the programming signal to recognize the programming signal as being one of the plurality of comparison signals, the plurality of comparison signals also being for respective device functions that are different than the plurality of comparisons, andgenerate the device address based upon the programming signal being equal to the one of the plurality of comparison signals, the device address having a number of programmable address bits thereof that are determined based upon the programming signal, the number of bits being greater than a quantity of the at least one programming terminal.