Patent ID: 7962662
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A device adapted for coupling to a serial data bus and having a single external multifunction connection used for programming an address into the device, said device comprises: serial interface and control logic, the serial interface and control logic having an input coupled to an external serial data bus connection; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC); a primary function; a switch having a first signal port coupled to a single external connection, a second signal port coupled to an input of the ADC, a third signal port coupled to the primary function, and a control port coupled to the serial interface and control logic; first and second resistors having first and second resistance values, respectively, the first and second resistors coupled to the single external connection, wherein the combination of the first and second resistors creates a certain analog value that is applied to the input of the ADC during an address definition operation; an address register having data inputs coupled to respective digital outputs of the ADC and an address detection control input coupled to the serial interface and control logic, wherein logic levels on the respective digital outputs of the ADC are stored in the address register when the serial interface and control logic applies an address detection signal to the address detection control input during an address detection operation; wherein the serial interface and control logic causes the switch to couple together the first and third signal ports during a normal operation, and the first and second signal ports during the address definition operation; whereby the ADC converts the certain analog value to a multi-bit digital address that is stored in the address register during the address detection operation; and thereafter the serial interface and control logic returns the switch to normal operation.