(19)

(11)

EP 0 772 818 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 14.05.1997 Bulletin 1997/20 (21) Application number: 96916800.0 (22) Date of filing: 24.05.1996

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G06F 7/ 78( . ) G06F 9/ 30( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1996/008052 (87) International publication number: WO 1996/037828 (28.11.1996 Gazette 1996/52)

(84) Designated Contracting States: DE FR GB (30) Priority: 26.05.1995 US 19950452080 (71) Applicant: National Semiconductor Corporation Santa Clara, CA 95052 (US)	(72) Inventors: NEMIROVSKY, Mario San Jose, CA 95129 (US) PEREZ, Alexander Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (US) (74) Representative: Horton, Andrew Robert Grant, et al  BOWLES HORTON Felden House Dower Mews High Street Berkhamsted Hertfordshire HP4 2BL Berkhamsted Hertfordshire HP4 2BL (GB)