Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An integrated automatic bus setting, sensing and switching interface unit is manufactured on board an integrated circuit to interface between the integrated circuit and the system bus. The interface unit can support a plurality of bus structures utilizing the same pins on the integrated circuit for different functions. Several modes of establishing an interface structure are available in the unit. An Address Strobe pin on the integrated circuit is used to automatically detect a signal level representative of the bus structure to be used. A code representative of the parameters of the bus structure is also stored in a configuration register for controlling the interface unit and configuring the pins on the integrated circuit for the specific bus structure to be used. The Basic Input Output System (BIOS) as its first operation stores the code in a register whose contents are then written to the configuration register of the integrated circuit for controlling and configuring the integrated circuit. A combination of these modes is also available.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim