Patent · US Expired

Programmable logic device with redundant circuitry

US6344755B1 · kind B1 · utility

49Cited by
118References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 18, 2000
Grant dateFeb 5, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 18, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K19/17736
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A programmable logic device is provided that allows a redundant row of programmable logic to be shifted into place to repair the device when a defect is detected in a row of programmable logic on the device. The redundant row is shifted into place by routing programming data into the normal logic and the redundant logic while bypassing the row of logic containing the defect. Switching circuitry may be used to direct programming data into the serial inputs of various data registers that are then used to load the programming data into the device. The patterns of programmable connections that are made between programmable logic regions on the device and vertical and horizontal conductors also allow redundant logic to be shifted into place. Some connections between the logic and the horizontal and vertical conductors may be identical within a column to facilitate shifting. Other connections may only partially overlap between respective rows. The partially overlapping pattern allows the connections to be less regular, which increases flexibility when routing signals on the device.

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