Patent ID: 7504816

Claim:
A circuit for multiplexing digital information and analog information contained in a control signal, by way of a single pin of a driver circuit for a DC-DC converter, wherein said digital information is used to select one of plural modes of operation of said converter, and wherein said analog information is used to program an operational parameter of said converter, said circuit comprising: an input circuit through which said control signal is applied to said single pin of said driver circuit; a digital information extraction circuit coupled between said single pin and said driver circuit, and being operative to extract said digital information from said control signal and to supply said digital information to said driver circuit; and an analog information extraction circuit coupled between said single pin and said driver circuit, and being operative to extract said analog information from said control signal and to supply said analog information to said driver circuit; wherein said digital information extraction circuit is operative to extract said digital information from said control signal based upon a direction of flow of an analog current through said single pin, said analog current flowing through said single pin in response to application of said control signal to said input circuit; and wherein said analog information extraction circuit is operative to extract said analog information from said control signal based upon a magnitude of said analog current flowing through said single pin in response to application of said control signal to said input circuit.