Integrated processor and programmable data path chip for reconfigurable computing
US6282627A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 25, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3897
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention, generally speaking, provides a reconfigurable computing solution that offers the flexibility of software development and the performance of dedicated hardware solutions. A reconfigurable processor chip includes a standard processor, blocks of reconfigurable logic (1101, 1103), and interfaces (319a, 319b, 311) between these elements. The chip allows application code to be recompiled into a combination of software and reloadable hardware blocks using corresponding software tools. A mixture of arithmetic cells and logic cells allows for higher effective utilization of silicon than a standard interconnect. More efficient use of configuration stack memory results, since different sections of converted code require different portions of ALU functions and bus interconnect. Many types of interfaces with the embedded processor are provided, allowing for fast interface between standard processor code and configurable "hard-wired" functions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.