Importance

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Abstract

A multi-voltage circuit on a semiconductor chip including core circuitry driven by a power supply voltage equal to the voltage of a selected external device operating in connection with the semiconductor chip, and having input/output circuitry in selected regions for operating in connection with external devices having the same operating voltage and other external devices having a selected substantially lower operating voltage. Peripheral input/output circuit regions of at least first and second kinds are established for interfacing with the respective high and low voltage external devices. According to one version of the invention, the input/output circuitry directed toward interfacing with external devices operating at a particular voltage level is concentrated at a particular peripheral region in the periphery of the semiconductor chip. According to another version of the invention, multiple regions of input/output circuitry are established for external devices at the same voltage level. These multiple regions may be configured by the system designer to operate with any combination of high voltage and low voltage external devices.

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First Claim