Bi-directional crossbar switch with control memory for selectively routing signals between pairs of signal ports

摘要

A hierarchical crossbar switch includes several switch arrays, each switch array including several switch cells. Each switch cell interconnects a unique pair of signal ports and provides a bi-directional signal path between the signal ports it interconnects when switched on by an enabling signal. A first memory array stores input data indicating particular switch cells to be switched on. A second memory array stores input data indicating particular ones of the switch arrays to be enabled. The crossbar switch also includes a logic cell array that reads the data stored in the first and second memories and sends separate control signals to each switch cell. Each control signal switches on the switch cell to which it is sent when data in the first and second memory arrays indicate both that the switch cell is to be switched on and that the switch cell array including the switch cell is to be enabled.