Patent ID: 6886066

Claim:
An interface circuit for interfacing a system controller integrated circuit and a plurality of peripheral integrated circuits, said interface circuit comprising: a node within said system controller integrated circuit commonly connected to a first and a second one of said plurality of peripheral integrated circuits; first switch means for selectively connecting said node to a first circuit of the system controller integrated circuit for communicating signals with reference to said first peripheral integrated circuit; second switch means for selectively connecting said node to a second circuit of the system controller integrated circuit for communicating signals with reference to said second peripheral integrated circuit; signal means for early enabling and late disabling of said first and second switch means consistent with setup and hold times of the respective first and second peripheral integrated circuits, and wherein said node is a bi-directional interface pin for interfacing bi-directional signals to said first peripheral integrated circuit, wherein first peripheral integrated circuit includes bi-directional input/output connections, wherein said first switch means comprises a transmission gate having a select input coupled to said signal means, a first terminal connected to said node and a second terminal coupled to said first circuit, and wherein said node is further a bi-directional interface pin for interfacing bi-directional signals to said second peripheral integrated circuit and said second switch means comprises a transmission gate having a select input coupled to said signal means, a first terminal connected to said node and a second terminal coupled to said second circuit.