Patent · US Expired

Programmable logic device with highly routable interconnect

US6294928A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
49References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 3, 1997
Grant dateSep 25, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 3, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K19/17728
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A programmable logic device architecture with a highly routable programmable interconnect structure. The arrangement of the logic array blocks (LABs), programmable interconnect structure, and other logical elements forms a Clos network. After specific constraints have been met, the architecture is guaranteed to route. The architecture is provably routable when there is no fan-out in the middle stage. A LAB (A-200) comprises an input multiplexer region (A-504), logic elements (A-300), input-output pins (A-516), and output multiplexer region (A-508). Furthermore, a logic device and a method of operating a logic device. The device includes logic elements (B-240) that perform desired logic functions and routing functions. The logic elements (B-240) are arranged in larger logic blocks known as logic array blocks (B-230) that have local interconnection systems. The logic array blocks (B-230) are configured to provide global interconnections. The configuration provides a Clos network, whereby a signal may be routed from any input to any output without blocking.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.