Configurable electrical circuit having configurable logic elements and configurable interconnects
First Claim
1. An interconnect structure for programmably interconnecting lines within an integrated circuit comprising:
- at least three sets of interconnect line including a first set, a second set, and a third set;
programmable means, not including said sets of interconnect lines, for connecting at least one of said lines in said first set to at least one of said lines in said second set, for connecting at least one of said lines in said first set to at least one of said lines in said third set, and for connecting at least one of said lines in said second set to at least one of said lines in said third set.
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Abstract
A configurable logic array comprises a plurality of configurable logic elements variably interconnected in response to control signals to perform a selected logic function. Each configurable logic element in the array is in itself capable of performing any one of a plurality of logic functions depending upon the control information placed in the configurable logic element. Each configurable logic element can have its function varied even after it is installed in a system by changing the control information placed in that element. Structure is provided for storing control information and providing access to the stored control information to allow each configurable logic element to be properly configured prior to the initiation of operation of the system of which the array is a part. Novel interconnection structures are provided to facilitate the configuring of each logic element.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An interconnect structure for programmably interconnecting lines within an integrated circuit comprising:
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at least three sets of interconnect line including a first set, a second set, and a third set; programmable means, not including said sets of interconnect lines, for connecting at least one of said lines in said first set to at least one of said lines in said second set, for connecting at least one of said lines in said first set to at least one of said lines in said third set, and for connecting at least one of said lines in said second set to at least one of said lines in said third set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A configurable system comprising:
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one master configurable logic array; a plurality of slave configurable logic arrays; at least one memory; said master configurable logic array having means for retrieving data from said at least one memory, means for first using said data for configuring itself, and means for passing some of said data to said plurality of slave configurable logic arrays. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. A configurable system comprising:
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a master configurable logic array; a plurality of slave configurable logic arrays; and a controller including means for addressing said configurable logic arrays and means for sending data to said configurable logic arrays;
wherein said master configurable logic array includesmeans for being configured by said data from said controller and means for configuring said slave configurable logic arrays. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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21. A programmable circuit comprising:
- a plurality of configurable logic elements, each configurable logic element having a plurality of input leads and at least one output lead and having a programming means to cause said configurable logic element to perform a selected logic function;
a plurality of input/output ports; a group of interconnect lines; means for programmably connecting each of said input leads of each of said configurable logic elements to at least one of said interconnect lines; means for programmably connecting said at least one output lead of each of said configurable logic elements to at least one of said interconnect lines; means for programmably connecting each of said input/output ports to at least one of said interconnect lines; and means for programmably connecting each one of said interconnect lines to at least one other of said interconnect lines; whereby each of said input leads and each of said at least one output lead of each of said configurable logic elements can be connected directly or indirectly to each of said input/output ports and to each other, and whereby each of said configurable logic elements can be programmed to perform a selected one of a plurality of logic functions, and said configurable logic elements can be connected to each other and to said input/output ports in a selectable manner. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- a plurality of configurable logic elements, each configurable logic element having a plurality of input leads and at least one output lead and having a programming means to cause said configurable logic element to perform a selected logic function;
Specification