Importance

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Abstract

A wafer scale integrated circuit comprises a few hundred modules (10) which can be connected into a long chain by commands sent to the modules along a transmit path set up by way of module inputs (XINN, XINE, XINS, XINW) from neighboring modules and outputs thereto (XOUTN, XOUTE, XOUTS, XOUTW), only one of which is enabled by one of four selection signals (SELN, SELE, SELS, SELW) acting both on transmit path logic (20) and on receive path logic (21) in a return path. Each module includes configuration logic (22) which decodes commands providing the selection signals (SELN, etc), a READ signal and a WRITE signal. The configuration logic (22) is addressed when a bit is presented thereto by the transmit path simultaneously with assertion of a signal (CMND) which is supplied globally to all modules. The address configuration logic clocks the bit along a shift register and the selected command is determined by the position of the bit at the time that the global signal (CMND) is terminated. Each module includes a memory unit (23) including a free running address counter. When the WRITE command appears a data stream on the transmit path is read into the memory. When READ appears, the contents of the memory are read out onto the return path. Memory refresh occurs conventionally under control of the free-running address counter. In order to avoid heavy current in any of the power distribution conductors on the wafer, the count cycles of the free-running address counters are staggered.

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First Claim