Configuration state memory for functional blocks on a reconfigurable chip
US6288566A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 23, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 23, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/1776
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A configuration state memory is associated with a configurable functional block on a reconfigurable chip. The configuration state memory stores more than one configuration for the functional block. This allows the functional block to switch configurations without requiring the configuration data to be loaded from off-chip which would stall the operation of the reconfigurable chip. In a preferred embodiment, the configuration state memory uses a relatively few address bits to produce a relatively broad configuration output to the functional blocks. The small number of input address bits allows the configuration state memory to be addressed by relatively small state machine unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.