Patent ID: 7653776

Claim:
An apparatus that couples an integrated circuit (IC) chip to card slots, comprising: a Z-bar switch which includes: exactly three switches; a select input; a first IC port coupled to a first IC pin; a second IC port coupled to a second IC pin; a first card slot port coupled to a first card slot pin; a second card slot port coupled to a second card slot pin; the first IC pin coupled to the input of a first switch, wherein the output of the first switch is coupled to the first card slot pin; the first IC pin coupled to the input of a second switch, wherein the output of the second switch is coupled to the second card slot pin; the second IC pin coupled to the input of a third switch, wherein the output of the third switch is coupled to the second card slot pin; and the output of the second switch is coupled to the output of the third switch; wherein if the select input receives a first control pattern, the Z-bar switch is configured to: couple the first IC pin to the first card slot pin; and to couple the second IC pin to the second card slot pin; and wherein if the select input receives a second control pattern, the Z-bar switch is configured to: couple the first IC pin to the second card slot pin; leave the second IC pin floating; and to leave the first card slot pin floating.