Techniques for combining volatile and non-volatile programmable logic on an integrated circuit
US7242218B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 10, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 22, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/17772
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques for combining volatile and non-volatile programmable logic into one integrated circuit (IC) are provided. An IC is segregated into two portions. A first block of programmable logic is configured by bits stored in on-chip non-volatile memory. A second block of programmable logic is configured by bits stored in off-chip memory. The function of IO banks on the IC is multiplexed between the two logic blocks of the IC. The programmable logic in the first block can be configured and fully functional in a fraction of the time that the programmable logic in the second block can be configured. The programmable logic in the first block can configure fast enough and have enough independence to assist in the configuration of the second block. The non-volatile memory can also provide security features to a user design, such as encryption.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.