LSI MICROPROCESSOR CHIP WITH BACKWARD PIN COMPATIBILITY

摘要

A chip implemented in new technology is designed to new functionality. The chip includes compatibility circuits which connect to a pin which is unused in the chip it replaces in an existing computer system. The compatibility circuits connect to those internal parts of the new chip that contain the newly added or altered functionality. The new chip is installed in the existing computer system just as the prior chip. When so installed, the compatibility circuits enable the new chip to operate in the same manner as the replaced chip but at higher speed and with improved performance. When the new chip is installed in the system for which it was designed, the compatibility circuits enable the chip to operate with the new functionality at the same higher speed and improved performance.