US5970254A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Integrated processor and programmable data path chip for reconfigurable computing
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1997-06-27
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Granted: 1999-10-19
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Expires: 2017-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A reconfigurable processor chip has a mixture of reconfigurable arithmetic cells and logic cells for higher effective utilization than a standard FPGA. The reconfigurable processor includes a standard microprocessor such as an embedded RISC processor. Many different types of interfaces are used to interface between the embedded processor and the reconfigurable portions of the chip, thus allowing for the fastest interface between standard processor code and configurable "hard-wired" functions. A configuration memory stack is provided, allowing for nearly instantaneous reconfiguration. if desired, configuration planes can be shared between ALU function configuration and bus interconnect configuration, allowing more efficient use of stack memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Laurence H. Cooke
- 👤 Christopher E. Phillips
- 👤 Dale Wong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/76; G06F15/78; G06F15/7867; G06F15/7871
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
An integrated circuit comprising: a first module which includes a microprocessor; a second module which includes configurable logic functions and associated memory to define multiple configuratins of the logic functions; and a third module which includes configurable functions and associated memory to define multiple configurations of the arithmetic functions; and wires between said modules for communication and configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
An integrated circuit comprising: a first module which includes a microprocessor; a second module which includes configurable logic functions and associated memory to define multiple configuratins of the logic functions; and a third module which includes configurable functions and associated memory to define multiple configurations of the arithmetic functions; and wires between said modules for communication and configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
An integrated circuit as in 1 wherein some of the wires between said modules for communication and configuration comprise a bus connected to the microprocessor, the configurable arithmetic functions and associated memory, the configurable logic functions and associated memory, an external bus controller such as PCI and an external general purpose memory controller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An integrated circuit as in 1 wherein some of the wires between said modules for communication and configuration comprise a bus connected to the microprocessor, the configurable arithmetic functions and associated memory, the configurable logic functions and associated memory, an external bus controller such as PCI and an external general purpose memory controller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An integrated circuit as in 1 including a set of instructions within the microprocessor which will load a configuration from external memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An integrated circuit as in 1 including a set of instructions within the microprocessor which will load a configuration from external memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An integrated circuit as in 1 including a set of instructiions within the microprocessor which will switch between configurations within the configurable modules.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An integrated circuit as in 1 including a set of instructiions within the microprocessor which will switch between configurations within the configurable modules.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated circuit as in 1 including a set of instructiions within the microprocessor which will pass data and controll between the configurable modules and the microprocessor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated circuit as in 1 including a set of instructiions within the microprocessor which will pass data and controll between the configurable modules and the microprocessor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
An integrated circuit as in 3, and a means for loading the said memory within the configurable modules such that the data needed to completely configure the module is much smaller than the said memory.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
An integrated circuit as in 3, and a means for loading the said memory within the configurable modules such that the data needed to completely configure the module is much smaller than the said memory.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
An integrated circuit as in 6 wherein the memory is comprised of data words whose length is equivalent to each cell's configuration requirements; an addressing structure which allows multiple groups of words to be loaded simultaneously with equivalent configuration data; a memory addressing structure to load a configuration from external memory switch between configurations within the configurable modules, and pass data to and from the configurable modules.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
An integrated circuit as in 6 wherein the memory is comprised of data words whose length is equivalent to each cell's configuration requirements; an addressing structure which allows multiple groups of words to be loaded simultaneously with equivalent configuration data; a memory addressing structure to load a configuration from external memory switch between configurations within the configurable modules, and pass data to and from the configurable modules.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
An integrated circuit as in 1 wherein some of the wires between said modules for communication and configuration include connections between the configurable arithmetic functions associated memory and the configurable logic functions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An integrated circuit as in 1 wherein some of the wires between said modules for communication and configuration include connections between the configurable arithmetic functions associated memory and the configurable logic functions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
An integrated circuit as in 1 wherein the memories to define multiple configurations of either logic and arithmetic functions are structured to allow the transfer of the entire contents of one plane to any other plane in one clock cycle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
An integrated circuit as in 1 wherein the memories to define multiple configurations of either logic and arithmetic functions are structured to allow the transfer of the entire contents of one plane to any other plane in one clock cycle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An integrated circuit as in 5 where in special instructions include an external load of a configuration memory's plane.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
An integrated circuit as in 5 where in special instructions include an external load of a configuration memory's plane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
An integrated circuit as in 10 which also contains one or more execute instructions which will load, and transfer the function to the proper configuration plane, if necessary, and correctly execute the function.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
An integrated circuit as in 10 which also contains one or more execute instructions which will load, and transfer the function to the proper configuration plane, if necessary, and correctly execute the function.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-18 | 2003-04-19 | 2003-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-18 | 2007-04-19 | 2007-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-18 | 2011-04-19 | 2011-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |