Very large scale integrated circuit subdivided into isochronous regions, method for the machine-aided design of such a circuit, and method for the machine-aided testing of such a circuit
First Claim
1. A very large scale integrated circuit comprising a plurality of function cells which are connected to one another and to the environment by means of information connections, wherein said function cells are grouped in a number of m≧
- 3 function blocks, the integrated circuit which is formed on a single chip being subdivided into m isochronous regions, each of which comprises one function block, each isochronous region comprising for each information connection a communication cell between a function cell which is situated within the isochronous region and any function cell which is situated outside said isochronous region, said communication cell being connected in the relevant information connection so that any information connection between two function cells which are situated in different isochronous regions always comprises a series connection of two communication cells, two communications cells thus paired being interconnected by an information connection and at least two synchronization connections for by means of bidirectional handshake signals under local control realizing as asynchronous information transport between said paired communication cells, and therefore between the associated isochronous regions, each information connection from any function cell to the environment comprising a further communication cell for the exchange of information and synchronization signals with the environment, the function cells within a function block forming a coherent first network while the function blocks within the integrated circuit form a coherent second network.
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Abstract
A very large scale integrated circuit comprises a number of function blocks which are synchronized by relevant clock signals. Each function block forms an isochronous region so that the delay times of the signals within the relevant function block can be negligibly small with respect to the gate delay times. Each function block is paired with at least one other function block in that the pair is connected by an information connection and by at least two synchronization handshake lines for transporting synchronization signals dispatched by each function block of the pair to the other function block of the pair so that an asynchronous information transport is obtained. One or more of the function blocks comprises an information connection to the environment. As a result of this set-up, the circuit can also be tested and designed per function block.
158 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A very large scale integrated circuit comprising a plurality of function cells which are connected to one another and to the environment by means of information connections, wherein said function cells are grouped in a number of m≧
- 3 function blocks, the integrated circuit which is formed on a single chip being subdivided into m isochronous regions, each of which comprises one function block, each isochronous region comprising for each information connection a communication cell between a function cell which is situated within the isochronous region and any function cell which is situated outside said isochronous region, said communication cell being connected in the relevant information connection so that any information connection between two function cells which are situated in different isochronous regions always comprises a series connection of two communication cells, two communications cells thus paired being interconnected by an information connection and at least two synchronization connections for by means of bidirectional handshake signals under local control realizing as asynchronous information transport between said paired communication cells, and therefore between the associated isochronous regions, each information connection from any function cell to the environment comprising a further communication cell for the exchange of information and synchronization signals with the environment, the function cells within a function block forming a coherent first network while the function blocks within the integrated circuit form a coherent second network.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A very large scale integrated circuit comprising a plurality of function cells for together executing a first set of digital data processing functions, said circuit being distributed over a plurality of at least three isochronous regions, in each of which any internal operation is independent of any signal delay time variation therein;
- each isochronous region comprising a second set of interconnected function cells together constituting a single function block;
wherein a particular first function cell in a first isochronous region is connected by a first information connection with a particular second function cell in a second isochronous region, and a third function cell in said second isochronous region is connected by a second information connection with a particular fourth function cell in a third isochronous region, said first information connection having a first communication cell within said first isochronous region and a second communiation cell within a said second isochronous region, said second information connection having a third communication cell within said second isochronous region, and a fourth communication cell within said third isochronous region, wherein said first and second communication cells are interconnected by at least two handshake connections for bidirectionally transporting handshake signals for realizing under local control an asynchronous information transport between the associated communication cells, and wherein said third and fourth communication cells are interconnected by at least two further handshake connections for bidirectionally transporting further handshake signals for realizing under local control a further asynchronous information transport between the associated communication cell, and wherein at least one fifth function cell is provided with a fifth communication cell attached thereto, said fifth communication cell being provided with synchronizing means and at least one external handshake connection for realizing an exchange of synchronization and information signals with an external circuit connectable to said fifth communication cell.
- each isochronous region comprising a second set of interconnected function cells together constituting a single function block;
Specification