Patent ID: 6243779
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: G06F,H03K

Abstract:
A method of communicating a digital word to be next communicated onto a bus, the next digital word including a plurality of bits, the bus including a corresponding plurality of individual bus lines for carrying the plurality of bits, each of the plurality of bus lines having first and second states representing binary values of a bit associated therewith, said method comprising:determining whichever one of a true polarity form and a complement polarity form of the next digital word is to be driven onto the bus by use of a spatially distributed circuit having a respective portion thereof in close proximity with a respective output circuit for each respective bit of the digital word, said determining includingcomparing each bit of the next digital word to a corresponding bit of the present bus state to determine whether each bit of the next digital word differs from the corresponding bit of the present bus state, said comparing using a spatially distributed comparing circuit having a respective portion thereof in close proximity with a respective output circuit for each respective bit of the next digital word, andtallying the number of bits of the next digital word that differ from the corresponding bits of the present bus state to determine whether at least a certain number of bits within the next digital word differ from corresponding bits within the present bus state, said tallying using a spatially distributed tallying circuit having a respective portion thereof in close proximity with a respective output circuit for each respective bit of the next digital word;driving the next digital word onto the bus in whichever one of a true polarity form and a complement polarity form that requires fewer than a certain number of bus lines equal to the certain number of bits to change state relative to the present state of each bus line; andproviding an indicator signal to the bus to indicate which polarity form of the data word is driven onto the bus.