US6069490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Routing architecture using a direct connect routing mesh
Assignee: Xilinx Inc
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Filing: 1997-12-02
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Granted: 2000-05-30
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Expires: 2017-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A direct connect mesh routing structure is provided for interconnecting configurable logic blocks within a programmable logic device. The structure includes multi-bit interconnect busses and a highly regular structure distributed throughout a configurable array enabling high direct interconnect utilization to adjacent and non-adjacent logic blocks, high speed circuit implementation, and improved timing characteristics. The direct connections of the invention are the preferred interconnect path between logic blocks because they substantially reduce the average interconnect delay, thereby allowing the programmable logic device to operate at a higher speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Emil S. Ochotta
- 👤 Douglas P. Wieland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 02:11
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/02; H03K19/173; H03K19/177; H03K19/17736; H03K19/17724; H03K19/17728; H03K19/1778; H03K19/17792; H03K19/17796
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A programmable logic device comprising an array of rows and columns of substantially identical logic blocks, said device comprising: at least four logic blocks not all in the same column and not all in the same row of said array, not all of said four logic blocks being adjacent to one another, each such logic block having at least one input and at least one output; and a direct interconnect structure connecting each of said four logic blocks with each other of said four logic blocks, whereby each logic block output can programmably drive said at least one input of each of said other logic blocks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A programmable logic device comprising an array of rows and columns of substantially identical logic blocks, said device comprising: at least four logic blocks not all in the same column and not all in the same row of said array, not all of said four logic blocks being adjacent to one another, each such logic block having at least one input and at least one output; and a direct interconnect structure connecting each of said four logic blocks with each other of said four logic blocks, whereby each logic block output can programmably drive said at least one input of each of said other logic blocks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The programmable logic device of claim 1, wherein said four logic blocks are positioned such that they form a square.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The programmable logic device of claim 1, wherein: each of said four logic blocks comprises a configurable logic element and an associated input multiplexer; and each such logic block output can programmably drive, through said direct interconnect structure, the configurable logic element in each of the other three logic blocks by traversing one such associated input multiplexer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The programmable logic device of claim 1, further comprising a programmable general interconnect structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The programmable logic device of claim 1, wherein a direct interconnect path implemented in said direct interconnect structure comprises only one programmable interconnect point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The programmable logic device of claim 1, wherein said direct interconnect structure comprises a bus at least two bits wide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A programmable logic device comprising: an array of logic blocks, each logic block having at least one input and at least one output; and a direct interconnect structure connecting said output of each such logic block with said input of each other such logic block within a Manhattan distance of two.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A programmable logic device comprising: an array of logic blocks, each logic block having at least one input and at least one output; and a direct interconnect structure connecting said output of each such logic block with said input of each other such logic block within a Manhattan distance of two.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The programmable logic device of claim 7, wherein: each such logic block comprises a configurable logic element and an associated input multiplexer; and each such logic block output can programmably drive, through said direct interconnect structure, the configurable logic element in each other such logic block within a Manhattan distance of two by traversing one such associated input multiplexer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The programmable logic device of claim 7, further comprising a programmable general interconnect structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The programmable logic device of claim 7, wherein a direct interconnect path implemented in said direct interconnect structure comprises only one programmable interconnect point.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The programmable logic device of claim 7, wherein said direct interconnect structure comprises a bus at least two bits wide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
A programmable logic device comprising: an array of logic blocks arranged in rows and columns, each logic block having at least one input and at least one output; and a direct interconnect structure connecting said output of a first such logic block to one of said inputs of each other such logic block located within a distance of two rows and two columns of said first logic block.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
A programmable logic device comprising: an array of logic blocks arranged in rows and columns, each logic block having at least one input and at least one output; and a direct interconnect structure connecting said output of a first such logic block to one of said inputs of each other such logic block located within a distance of two rows and two columns of said first logic block.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The programmable logic device of claim 12, wherein a direct interconnect path implemented in said direct interconnect structure comprises only one programmable interconnect point.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The programmable logic device of claim 12, wherein said direct interconnect structure comprises a bus at least two bits wide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
The programmable logic device of claim 12, wherein: each such logic block comprises a configurable logic element and an associated input multiplexer; and a first such logic block output can programmably drive, through said direct interconnect structure, the configurable logic element in each other such logic block located within a distance of two logic blocks of said first logic block by traversing one such associated input multiplexer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The programmable logic device of claim 12, further comprising a programmable general interconnect structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
122 words
A programmable logic device comprising an array of logic blocks, said device comprising: at least four logic blocks not all adjacent to one another, each such logic block having at least one input and at least one output, said four logic blocks forming a pattern in said array of logic blocks, said four logic blocks being not all in one row and not all in one column of said array; and a direct interconnect structure connecting each of said four logic blocks with each other of said four logic blocks, whereby each logic block output can programmably drive said at least one input of each of said other logic blocks, wherein one such logic block can take any position in said pattern.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
122 words
A programmable logic device comprising an array of logic blocks, said device comprising: at least four logic blocks not all adjacent to one another, each such logic block having at least one input and at least one output, said four logic blocks forming a pattern in said array of logic blocks, said four logic blocks being not all in one row and not all in one column of said array; and a direct interconnect structure connecting each of said four logic blocks with each other of said four logic blocks, whereby each logic block output can programmably drive said at least one input of each of said other logic blocks, wherein one such logic block can take any position in said pattern.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The programmable logic device of claim 17, wherein said four logic blocks are positioned such that they form a square.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The programmable logic device of claim 17, wherein a direct interconnect path implemented in said direct interconnect structure comprises only one programmable interconnect point.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The programmable logic device of claim 17, wherein said direct interconnect structure comprises a bus at least two bits wide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
The programmable logic device of claim 17, wherein: each of said four logic blocks comprises a configurable logic element and an associated input multiplexer; and each such logic block output can programmably drive, through said direct interconnect structure, the configurable logic element in each of the other three logic blocks by traversing one such associated input multiplexer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The programmable logic device of claim 17, further comprising a programmable general interconnect structure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
146 words
A programmable logic device comprising an array of logic blocks arranged in rows and columns, said device comprising: first, second, and third logic blocks, each logic block having at least one input and at least one output, said second logic block being adjacent to said first logic block, said third logic block not being adjacent to said first logic block, said first, second, and third logic blocks being not all in the same column and not all in the same row of said array; and a direct interconnect structure connecting the output of said first logic block to the input of said second logic block and further to the input of said third logic block, the output of said second logic block to the input of said first logic block, and the output of said third logic block to the input of said first logic block.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
146 words
A programmable logic device comprising an array of logic blocks arranged in rows and columns, said device comprising: first, second, and third logic blocks, each logic block having at least one input and at least one output, said second logic block being adjacent to said first logic block, said third logic block not being adjacent to said first logic block, said first, second, and third logic blocks being not all in the same column and not all in the same row of said array; and a direct interconnect structure connecting the output of said first logic block to the input of said second logic block and further to the input of said third logic block, the output of said second logic block to the input of said first logic block, and the output of said third logic block to the input of said first logic block.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The programmable logic device of claim 23, wherein a direct interconnect path implemented in said direct interconnect structure comprises only one programmable interconnect point.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The programmable logic device of claim 23, wherein said direct interconnect structure comprises a bus at least two bits wide.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
97 words
The programmable logic device of claim 23, wherein: each of said first, second, and third logic blocks comprises a configurable logic element and an associated input multiplexer; and the first logic block output can programmably drive, through said direct interconnect structure, the configurable logic elements in said second and third logic blocks, the second logic block output can programmable drive, through said direct interconnect structure, the configurable logic element in said first logic block, and the third logic block output can programmably drive, through said direct interconnect structure, the configurable logic element in said first logic block.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The programmable logic device of claim 23, further comprising a programmable general interconnect structure.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
98 words
A programmable logic device comprising an array of rows and columns of logic blocks, said device comprising: at least four logic blocks not all adjacent to each other, not all in the same column, and not all in the same row in said array, each such logic block having at least one input and at least one output; and a direct interconnect structure connecting each of said four logic blocks with each other of said four logic blocks, whereby each logic block output can programmably drive said at least one input of each of said other logic blocks.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
98 words
A programmable logic device comprising an array of rows and columns of logic blocks, said device comprising: at least four logic blocks not all adjacent to each other, not all in the same column, and not all in the same row in said array, each such logic block having at least one input and at least one output; and a direct interconnect structure connecting each of said four logic blocks with each other of said four logic blocks, whereby each logic block output can programmably drive said at least one input of each of said other logic blocks.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The programmable logic device of claim 28, wherein said four logic blocks are positioned such that they form a square.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The programmable logic device of claim 28, wherein two of said four logic blocks are positioned such that they are adjacent to each other.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
43 words
The programmable logic device of claim 28, wherein said four logic blocks are positioned such that a first two of said four logic blocks are adjacent to each other, and a second two of said four logic blocks are adjacent to each other.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The programmable logic device of claim 28, wherein a direct interconnect path implemented in said direct interconnect structure comprises only one programmable interconnect point.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The programmable logic device of claim 28, wherein said direct interconnect structure comprises a bus at least two bits wide.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
57 words
The programmable logic device of claim 28, wherein: each of said four logic blocks comprises a configurable logic element and an associated input multiplexer; and each such logic block output can programmably drive, through said direct interconnect structure, the configurable logic element in each of the other three logic blocks by traversing one such associated input multiplexer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The programmable logic device of claim 28, further comprising a programmable general interconnect structure.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
95 words
A programmable logic device, comprising: an array of logic blocks comprising a first logic block, the first logic block having two horizontally adjacent logic blocks, two vertically adjacent logic blocks, and four diagonally adjacent logic blocks; and a direct interconnect structure providing interconnections between the logic blocks, wherein: the direct interconnect structure provides interconnections between the first logic block and each of the four diagonally adjacent logic blocks, and the direct interconnect structure further provides interconnections between the first logic block and at least one other logic block not adjacent to the first logic block.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
95 words
A programmable logic device, comprising: an array of logic blocks comprising a first logic block, the first logic block having two horizontally adjacent logic blocks, two vertically adjacent logic blocks, and four diagonally adjacent logic blocks; and a direct interconnect structure providing interconnections between the logic blocks, wherein: the direct interconnect structure provides interconnections between the first logic block and each of the four diagonally adjacent logic blocks, and the direct interconnect structure further provides interconnections between the first logic block and at least one other logic block not adjacent to the first logic block.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
51 words
The programmable logic device of claim 36, wherein: the direct interconnect structure further provides interconnections between the first logic block and each of the two horizontally adjacent logic blocks; and the direct interconnect structure further provides interconnections between the first logic block and each of the two vertically adjacent logic blocks.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The programmable logic device of claim 36, wherein a direct interconnect path implemented in the direct interconnect structure comprises only one programmable interconnect point.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The programmable logic device of claim 36, wherein the direct interconnect structure comprises a bus at least two bits wide.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The programmable logic device of claim 36, further comprising a programmable general interconnect structure.
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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) | 2003-05-30 | 2003-11-29 | 2004-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-30 | 2007-11-29 | 2008-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-30 | 2011-11-29 | 2012-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |