US5646544A
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US
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System and method for dynamically reconfiguring a programmable gate array
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-05
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Granted: 1997-07-08
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Expires: 2015-06-05
Abstract
Abstract In each of multiple logic cells of a Programmable Gate Array ("PGA"), a programing array is provided having multiple programming words therein. Each of the programming words is engagable to control the configuration of the logic cell. The programming words are selectively engaged such that multiple functions are performed by the logic cell within the PGA. As a result, a PGA with a number of virtual logic cells in excess of actual physical logic cells is provided. The PGA therefore has the capability to emulate a PGA with a larger number of logic cells than it physically has.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Andrew Iadanza
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:21
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/02; H03K19/173; H03K19/177; H03K19/17748; H03K19/17752; H03K19/17704; H03K19/17756
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A configuration system for a logic cell within a programmable array, comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored in said programmable array, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; and means to engage a selected programming word of said at least two programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell, including a wordline for each of said at least two programming words to selectively engage the respective programming word; wherein said means to engage further includes means for coupling the wordlines to selected logic cells within the programmable array to facilitate engagement of the selected programming word by said selected logic cells.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A configuration system for a logic cell within a programmable array, comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored in said programmable array, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; and means to engage a selected programming word of said at least two programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell, including a wordline for each of said at least two programming words to selectively engage the respective programming word; wherein said means to engage further includes means for coupling the wordlines to selected logic cells within the programmable array to facilitate engagement of the selected programming word by said selected logic cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
A configuration system for a logic cell within a programmable array, comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored in said programmable array, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; and means to engage a selected programming word of said at least two programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell; wherein said means to engage comprises a programmable counter for sequentially engaging different programming words of said at least two programming words.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A configuration system for a logic cell within a programmable array, comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored in said programmable array, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; and means to engage a selected programming word of said at least two programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell; wherein said means to engage comprises a programmable counter for sequentially engaging different programming words of said at least two programming words.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The configuration system of claim 2, wherein said programmable counter comprises at least one other logic cell of the programmable array.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The configuration system of claim 2, wherein said programmable counter comprises means for sequentially engaging each programming word of said at least two programming words as said selected programming word.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The configuration system of claim 2, wherein said programmable counter comprises means for repeatedly sequentially engaging the individual words of a preprogrammed subset of programming words of said at least two programming words as said selected programming word.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The configuration system of claim 2, wherein said programmable counter comprises a common programmable counter to said logic cell and to other logic cells within said programmable array.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The configuration system of claim 2, wherein said programmable counter is only utilized by said logic cell of all logic cells within said programmable array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
An integrated circuit chip having a logic cell therein, said logic cell comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored in the logic cell, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; and means to engage a selected programming word of said at least two programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell; wherein said integrated circuit chip further comprises an Application Specific Integrated Circuit macro or a microprocessor macro.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
An integrated circuit chip having a logic cell therein, said logic cell comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored in the logic cell, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; and means to engage a selected programming word of said at least two programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell; wherein said integrated circuit chip further comprises an Application Specific Integrated Circuit macro or a microprocessor macro.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
A configuration system for a logic cell within a programmable array, comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored in said programmable array, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; and means to engage a selected programming word of said at least two programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell; wherein said means to engage comprises at least one other logic cell within said programmable array.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
A configuration system for a logic cell within a programmable array, comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored in said programmable array, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; and means to engage a selected programming word of said at least two programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell; wherein said means to engage comprises at least one other logic cell within said programmable array.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
A configuration system for a logic cell within a programmable array, comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored in said programmable array, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; means to engage a selected programming word of said at least two programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell; and means for writing to a different programming word than said selected programming word, while said logic cell remains operational using said selected programming word.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
A configuration system for a logic cell within a programmable array, comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored in said programmable array, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; means to engage a selected programming word of said at least two programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell; and means for writing to a different programming word than said selected programming word, while said logic cell remains operational using said selected programming word.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The configuration system of claim 10, wherein said means for writing comprises a dual-ported memory including said at least two programming words.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for configuring a logic cell within a programmable array, said logic cell being controllable by each programming word of at least two of a plurality of programming words associated with said logic cell and simultaneously stored in said PA, said method comprising: determining a selected programming word of said at least two programming words; engaging said selected programming word to control the configuration of the logic cell; and writing to a different programming word than said selected programming word, while said logic cell remains operational using said selected programming word.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for configuring a logic cell within a programmable array, said logic cell being controllable by each programming word of at least two of a plurality of programming words associated with said logic cell and simultaneously stored in said PA, said method comprising: determining a selected programming word of said at least two programming words; engaging said selected programming word to control the configuration of the logic cell; and writing to a different programming word than said selected programming word, while said logic cell remains operational using said selected programming word.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said logic cell includes a dual-ported memory including said at least two programming words, and wherein said writing comprises writing a new programming word to said dual-ported memory while simultaneously reading said selected programming word therefrom.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for configuring a logic cell within a programmable array, said logic cell being controllable by each of at least two programming words of a plurality of programming words associated with said logic cell and simultaneously stored in said programmable array, said method comprising: determining a sequence of selected programming words of said at least two programming words; engaging said sequence of selected programming words to sequentially control the configuration of the logic cell; and sequentially engaging the programming words of said at least two programming words as said sequence of selected programming words.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for configuring a logic cell within a programmable array, said logic cell being controllable by each of at least two programming words of a plurality of programming words associated with said logic cell and simultaneously stored in said programmable array, said method comprising: determining a sequence of selected programming words of said at least two programming words; engaging said sequence of selected programming words to sequentially control the configuration of the logic cell; and sequentially engaging the programming words of said at least two programming words as said sequence of selected programming words.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for configuring a logic cell within a programmable array, said logic cell being controllable by each of at least two programming words of a plurality of programming words associated with said logic cell and simultaneously stored in said programmable array, said method comprising: determining a sequence of selected programming words of said at least two programming words; engaging said sequence of selected programming words to sequentially control the configuration of the logic cell; and repeatedly sequentially engaging the individual words of a preprogrammed subset of programming words of said at least two programming words as said sequence of selected programming words.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for configuring a logic cell within a programmable array, said logic cell being controllable by each of at least two programming words of a plurality of programming words associated with said logic cell and simultaneously stored in said programmable array, said method comprising: determining a sequence of selected programming words of said at least two programming words; engaging said sequence of selected programming words to sequentially control the configuration of the logic cell; and repeatedly sequentially engaging the individual words of a preprogrammed subset of programming words of said at least two programming words as said sequence of selected programming words.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
87 words
A logic cell comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored within the logic cell, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; and means to engage a selected programming word of said at least two programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell; wherein said means to engage includes a programmable counter for engaging the individual words of a preprogrammed sequence of said at least two programming words as said selected programming word.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
87 words
A logic cell comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored within the logic cell, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; and means to engage a selected programming word of said at least two programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell; wherein said means to engage includes a programmable counter for engaging the individual words of a preprogrammed sequence of said at least two programming words as said selected programming word.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
95 words
An integrated circuit chip having a logic cell therein, said logic cell comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored in the logic cell, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; and means to engage a selected programming word of said plurality of programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell; wherein said means to engage includes a programmable counter for engaging the individual words of a preprogrammed sequence of said at least two programming words as said selected programming word.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
95 words
An integrated circuit chip having a logic cell therein, said logic cell comprising: a plurality of programming words simultaneously stored in the logic cell, of which each of at least two programming words is engagable to control a configuration of the logic cell; and means to engage a selected programming word of said plurality of programming words to control the configuration of the logic cell; wherein said means to engage includes a programmable counter for engaging the individual words of a preprogrammed sequence of said at least two programming words as said selected programming word.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-07 | 2001-01-06 | 2001-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-07 | 2005-01-06 | 2005-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-07 | 2009-01-06 | 2009-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |