Patent ID: 6262594
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: G06F,H03K

Abstract:
An integrated circuit chip comprising:a plurality of functional modules, each functional module having a plurality of gates, each functional module having at least one group of terminals (hereinafter ""internal function group"");a plurality of pads capable of connection to circuitry external to the integrated circuit chip, the plurality of pads being subdivided into a number of groups (hereinafter ""external function groups""), the number of pads in each external function group being equal to the number of terminals in each internal function group; anda crossbar switch having a plurality of internal ports and a plurality of external ports, each external port being permanently coupled to an external function group, each internal port being permanently coupled to an internal function group;wherein:the crossbar switch is capable of coupling any port from a set consisting of the plurality of internal ports and the plurality of external ports only to another port from the set; andthe external ports are smaller in number than the internal ports, so that at any given time at least one internal port is uncoupled from all external ports.