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US5701091A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Routing resources for hierarchical FPGA

Assignee: Xilinx Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-06
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Granted: 1997-12-23
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Expires: 2015-06-06
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Abstract

Abstract In an FPGA having a hierarchical routing structure, additional routing lines are provided which have different destinations for different cells within a block. A pattern is chosen which allows signal lines to turn corners conveniently. In one embodiment having cells arranged into 4×4 blocks, cells on the diagonal of a block generate signals which are provided to switches which form one boundary of the block.

Inventors

  • 👤 Thomas A. Kean

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 05:36
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/02; H03K19/173; H03K19/177; H03K19/17736; H03K19/17704; H03K19/1774

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 143 words
A programmable logic device comprising: a plurality of cells arranged in an array in said programmable logic device; a plurality of routing lines, said routing lines extending in north-south or east-west directions; a plurality of switches grouping said cells into a plurality of blocks of cells; at least one multiplexer in each of said cells which takes inputs from a plurality of signals coming into said cell and provides an output signal, the output signals from multiplexers in one of said blocks being connected to at least one of said switches, the choice of which switch being determined by the position of said cell in its block; each of said cells within said one of said blocks being connected to at least one switch via a wire, said wire being connected to no other of said cells in said one of said blocks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 143 words
A programmable logic device comprising: a plurality of cells arranged in an array in said programmable logic device; a plurality of routing lines, said routing lines extending in north-south or east-west directions; a plurality of switches grouping said cells into a plurality of blocks of cells; at least one multiplexer in each of said cells which takes inputs from a plurality of signals coming into said cell and provides an output signal, the output signals from multiplexers in one of said blocks being connected to at least one of said switches, the choice of which switch being determined by the position of said cell in its block; each of said cells within said one of said blocks being connected to at least one switch via a wire, said wire being connected to no other of said cells in said one of said blocks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 85 words
A programmable logic device as in claim 1 in which said blocks comprise a 4×4 array of cells, and multiplexers in cells of said 4×4 array are connected to switches such that multiplexers on one diagonal of said 4×4 array connect to switches located north and south of said cells, and multiplexers on the other diagonal of said 4×4 array connect to switches located east and west of said cells; whereby said multiplexers allow a 4-line bus to turn a 90-degree corner in said block.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5019736A Cited
US5218240A Cited
US5208491A Cited
WO1994010754A1 Cited
US5448186A Cited
US5512765A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-12-22 2001-06-23 2001-12-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-12-22 2005-06-23 2005-12-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-12-22 2009-06-23 2009-12-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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