Patent ID: 7603509
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: G06F,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A crossbar switch, comprising: a. a plurality of cross-point blocks each containing a complete set of orthogonal input ports and output ports sufficient to perform the function of said crossbar switch, and b. each of said input ports in each of said cross-point blocks is comprised of a plurality of input data paths of number equal to the total number of input data paths in each port of said crossbar switch divided by the number of said cross-point blocks, and c. each of said output ports in each of said cross-point blocks is comprised of a plurality of output data paths of number equal to the total number of output data paths in each port of said crossbar switch divided by the number of said cross-point blocks and routed orthogonally to said plurality of input data paths, and d. a plurality of macro cells each comprised of a plurality of cross-point circuits that conditionally connect all of said input data paths that comprise one of said input ports of one of said cross-point blocks uniquely with all of said output data paths that comprise one of said output ports of the same cross-point block, and e. said plurality of macro cells is sufficient to connect all of said output ports comprising each of said cross-point blocks to any of said input ports comprising the same cross-point block, and f. each of said cross-point blocks contains a fraction of the total number of said input data paths that comprises said crossbar switch and an equal fraction of said output data paths that comprises said crossbar switch and that said fraction is one divided by the number of cross-point blocks, and whereby said crossbar switch comprised of said plurality of cross-point blocks requires an area substantially inversely proportional to the number of said cross-point blocks compared to a functionally equivalent crossbar switch comprised of a single block of cross points and the lengths of each of said input data paths and the lengths of each of said output data paths is substantially inversely proportional to the number of said cross-point blocks compared to a functionally equivalent crossbar switch comprised of a single block of cross points resulting in substantial area reduction, power reduction, and performance improvement.