System on chip (SOC) four-way switch crossbar system and method

摘要

A System On Chip (SOC) has been provided which includes a crossbar switch between 64 functional I/Os internal to the chip, and 40 external connection pins. The crossbar switch permits a signal at any of the 64 functional I/Os to appear at any of the connector pins. The cross bar switch, permitting signals at the 40 connector pins to appear at any of the 64 specified functional I/Os. Because the switching is done with 4-way switches, the total number of hierarchical switch layers is reduced to 3. A parallel, opposite oriented, network of switches permits input signals delivered to the physical I/Os to be switched to any of the 64 functional I/Os. The small number of switch layers permit connections to be made with a minimum of delay across the switch. A method corresponding to the above-described crossbar switch system is also provided.