Patent US5956518A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5956518A
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US
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Intermediate-grain reconfigurable processing device
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1996-04-11
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Granted: 1999-09-21
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Expires: 2016-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A programmable integrated circuit utilizes a large number of intermediate-grain processing elements which are multibit processing units arranged in a configurable mesh. The coarse-grain resources, such as memory and processing, are deployable in a way that takes advantage of the opportunities for optimization present in given problems. To accomplish this, the interconnect supports three different modes of operation: a static value in which a value set by the configuration data is provided to a functional unit, static source in which another functional unit serves as the value source, and a dynamic source mode in which the source is determined by the value from another functional unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Andre DeHon
- 👤 Ethan Mirsky
- 👤 Thomas F. Knight, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/76; G06F15/80; G06F15/8007; G06F15/8023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A programmable integrated circuit comprising: logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions of a defined set of instructions; memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses; a configurable interconnect which provides signal transmission between the logic units and memories, the interconnect being configurable from configuration control data to define data paths, originating at logic units and/or memories, through the interconnect as address inputs to memories, data inputs to memories and logic units, and instruction inputs to logic units such that the interconnect is configurable to define an interdependent functionality of the memories and logic units; and programmable configuration storage for storing the configuration control data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A programmable integrated circuit comprising: logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions of a defined set of instructions; memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses; a configurable interconnect which provides signal transmission between the logic units and memories, the interconnect being configurable from configuration control data to define data paths, originating at logic units and/or memories, through the interconnect as address inputs to memories, data inputs to memories and logic units, and instruction inputs to logic units such that the interconnect is configurable to define an interdependent functionality of the memories and logic units; and programmable configuration storage for storing the configuration control data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one memory provides at least part of the instructions to a logic unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the logic units are configurable to receive data directly from associated memories.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the configuration storage stores multiple contexts of configuration control data for reconfiguration of the programmable interconnect.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 4 wherein a context selection signal that selects among the multiple contexts is routed by the configurable interconnect.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 5 wherein a global context selection signal that selects among the multiple contexts is globally broadcast to the programmable configuration storage of the device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interconnect is configurable to provide a static value to a logic unit or to provide a variable value from a static source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the memories are deployable as data memory, register files, program counters, and instruction stores for other logic units.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interconnect comprises network drivers which transmit received signals between the memories and logic units.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
A programmable integrated circuit comprising: logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions of a defined set of instructions; memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses; a configurable interconnect which provides signal transmission between the logic units and memories, the interconnect being configurable from configuration control data to define data paths through the interconnect as address inputs to memories, data inputs to memories and logic units, and instruction inputs to logic units such that the interconnect is configurable to define an interdependent functionality of the memories and logic units; and programmable configuration storage for storing the configuration control data; wherein a global context selection signal that selects among multiple contexts is globally broadcast to the programmable configuration storage of the device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
A programmable integrated circuit comprising: logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions of a defined set of instructions; memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses; a configurable interconnect which provides signal transmission between the logic units and memories, the interconnect being configurable from configuration control data to define data paths through the interconnect as address inputs to memories, data inputs to memories and logic units, and instruction inputs to logic units such that the interconnect is configurable to define an interdependent functionality of the memories and logic units; and programmable configuration storage for storing the configuration control data; wherein a global context selection signal that selects among multiple contexts is globally broadcast to the programmable configuration storage of the device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
A programmable integrated circuit comprising: logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions of a defined set of instructions and which are configurable to be chained together to form wider data paths than provided by a single logic unit; memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses; a configurable interconnect which provides signal transmission between the logic units and memories, the interconnect being configurable from configuration control data to define data paths through the interconnect as address inputs to memories, data inputs to memories and logic units, and instruction inputs to logic units such that the interconnect is configurable to define an interdependent functionality of the memories and logic units; and programmable configuration storage for storing the configuration control data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
126 words
A programmable integrated circuit comprising: logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions of a defined set of instructions and which are configurable to be chained together to form wider data paths than provided by a single logic unit; memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses; a configurable interconnect which provides signal transmission between the logic units and memories, the interconnect being configurable from configuration control data to define data paths through the interconnect as address inputs to memories, data inputs to memories and logic units, and instruction inputs to logic units such that the interconnect is configurable to define an interdependent functionality of the memories and logic units; and programmable configuration storage for storing the configuration control data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
135 words
A programmable integrated circuit comprising: logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions of a defined set of instructions; memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses; a configurable interconnect which provides signal transmission between the logic units and memories, the interconnect being configurable from configuration control data to define data paths through the interconnect as address inputs to memories, data inputs to memories and logic units, and instruction inputs to logic units such that the interconnect is configurable to define an interdependent functionality of the memories and logic units, the interconnect being configurable to provide a value to a logic unit or memory from a source, which is determined by a value from another logic unit or memory; and programmable configuration storage for storing the configuration control data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
135 words
A programmable integrated circuit comprising: logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions of a defined set of instructions; memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses; a configurable interconnect which provides signal transmission between the logic units and memories, the interconnect being configurable from configuration control data to define data paths through the interconnect as address inputs to memories, data inputs to memories and logic units, and instruction inputs to logic units such that the interconnect is configurable to define an interdependent functionality of the memories and logic units, the interconnect being configurable to provide a value to a logic unit or memory from a source, which is determined by a value from another logic unit or memory; and programmable configuration storage for storing the configuration control data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
119 words
A programmable integrated circuit comprising: logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions of a defined set of instructions; memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses, the logic units being each grouped with memories to form repeating functional units; a configurable interconnect which provides signal transmission between the logic units and memories, the interconnect being configurable from configuration control data to define data paths through the interconnect as address inputs to memories, data inputs to memories and logic units, and instruction inputs to logic units such that the interconnect is configurable to define an interdependent functionality of the memories and logic units; and programmable configuration storage for storing the configuration control data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
119 words
A programmable integrated circuit comprising: logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions of a defined set of instructions; memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses, the logic units being each grouped with memories to form repeating functional units; a configurable interconnect which provides signal transmission between the logic units and memories, the interconnect being configurable from configuration control data to define data paths through the interconnect as address inputs to memories, data inputs to memories and logic units, and instruction inputs to logic units such that the interconnect is configurable to define an interdependent functionality of the memories and logic units; and programmable configuration storage for storing the configuration control data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 13 further comprising programmable logic arrays on data paths between functional units which perform bit level logic operations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 13 further comprising reduction logic which performs logic operations on the output of the logic units and passes a result to other functional units as control information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
80 words
An integrated reconfigurable computing device, comprising: an array of functional units comprising: multibit arithmetic logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions; memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses; function switches which determine the source of the instructions to the logic units; and address/data switches which are configurable by the other functional units and determine the source of addresses to the memories and the source of data to the logic units and memories.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
An integrated reconfigurable computing device, comprising: an array of functional units comprising: multibit arithmetic logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions; memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses; function switches which determine the source of the instructions to the logic units; and address/data switches which are configurable by the other functional units and determine the source of addresses to the memories and the source of data to the logic units and memories.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 16 wherein the logic units are configurable to both operate on data from the associated memories and operate on data received from outside the functional unit via the address/data switches.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 16 wherein the function switches also determine the configuration of the memories.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 16 wherein the address/data switches are configurable to provide static values, values from other functional units, and values from sources, which are determined by other functional units.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 16 wherein in the output from the arithmetic logic units are distributed over a local network to near-neighbor functional units.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 16 wherein the functional units comprise network drivers which transmit received signals to other functional units.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 21 wherein sources of the received signals to the network drivers are programmable by other functional units.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for organizing signal transmission within an array of logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions and memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses, the method comprising: transmitting data read from the memories as instructions or data to the logic units or addresses or data to other memories; and transmitting data generated by the logic units as instructions or data to other logic units or addresses or data to the memories.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for organizing signal transmission within an array of logic units which perform operations on data in response to instructions and memories which store and retrieve data in response to received addresses, the method comprising: transmitting data read from the memories as instructions or data to the logic units or addresses or data to other memories; and transmitting data generated by the logic units as instructions or data to other logic units or addresses or data to the memories.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 further comprising transmitting data from logic units or memories as control to other logic units or memories.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 further comprising reorganizing the paths of the data and instructions in response to control from the array.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 further comprising transmitting static values, values from other memories or logic units, and values from sources determined by the memories or logic units.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 further comprising performing bit level logic operations to control data paths between memories or logic units.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 further comprising selecting among multiple contexts using a globally broadcast context selection signal to the programmable configuration storage of the device.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 further comprising configuring the logic units to be chained together to form wider data paths than provided by a single logic unit.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 further comprising providing a value to a logic unit or memory from a source, which is determined by a value from another logic unit or memory.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 further comprising grouping each of the logic units with memories to form repeating functional units.
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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) | 2002-09-20 | 2003-03-22 | 2003-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-20 | 2007-03-22 | 2007-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-20 | 2011-03-22 | 2011-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |