Dynamically programmable gate array with multiple contexts
US5742180A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 1995 |
| Grant date | Apr 21, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/1776
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An integrated dynamically programmable gate array comprises a two dimensional array of programmable gates. These gates can be implemented as look up tables but hardwired gates with programmable interconnections are also possible. Each one of the gates receives plural input logic signals from plural other gates. Consequently, a broad range of logic combinations are possible. The gates further include locally stored multiple contexts dictating different combinatorial logic operations performed by the gates. The contexts increase the logic operations performable by the gate and the fact that the contexts are locally stored enables better integration and speed. Only a context instruction needs to be distributed among programmable gates. A context signal generator is included that generates a context signal indicating a change in an active one of the contexts. This active context dictates the logic operations of the gates that commonly receive by the signal. Since the contexts information is stored on the gate array, and specifically locally, the context signal can change as fast as every clock cycle of the programmable gate array. To increase functionality, context memory arrays, which…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.