Interface control logic for embedding a microprocessor in a gate array

• US 5,347,181 A
• Filed: 04/29/1992
• Issued: 09/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Steininger, Franz, Ashby, Laurin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Application Number:
  US07/875,508
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 307/443, 307/465, 307/475, 307/473, 395/800, 364/490-491
• US Class Current: 326/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7867 with reconfigurable architecture

Abstract

An interface circuit (14) that allows for a flexible three-way interface between a microprocessor (12), an ASIC cell block (16), and the external world has been provided wherein the microprocessor and the ASIC cell block are fabricated within a gate array (10). The interface circuit provides circuitry for each I/O pin (22, 23, 24) of the microprocessor to allow it to readily interface with the customer designed ASIC cell block or external devices via the ASIC I/O pads (20). The interface circuit also allows isolated testing of only the microprocessor, of only the ASIC cell block, or of both the microprocessor and the ASIC cell block. The interface circuit and the microprocessor are fully diffused and fixed-placed within the gate array while the ASIC cell block may be utilized by a customer to design a circuit to perform a customer defined function.

Claims

1. A logic circuit for providing a flexible interface between a microprocessor, an ASIC cell block and the external world, the microprocessor circuit and the ASIC cell block being located within a gate array where the microprocessor circuit is fully diffused and fixed-placed within the gate array, the logic circuit comprising a plurality of circuits for providing an interface between a plurality of microprocessor I/O pads to the ASIC cell block and to the external world, said logic circuit being fixed-placed within the gate array, said ASIC cell block being utilized to provide customer defined predetermined functions.

2. A gate array having a plurality of I/O pads, comprising:

a microprocessor circuit having a plurality of microprocessor I/O pads and being fully diffused and fixed-placed within the gate array;

an ASIC cell block for providing customer defined predetermined functions; and

an interface circuit for providing a flexible interface between said microprocessor I/O pads of said microprocessor circuit, said ASIC cell block and the plurality of I/O pads of the gate array, said interface circuit being fixed-placed within the gate array.

3. The gate array according to claim 2 further including bus mastership signals such that a portion of the plurality of I/O pads which correspond to said plurality of microprocessor pads may be redefined as inputs or outputs of the gate array.

4. The gate array according to claim 2 wherein said interface circuit utilizes cells from said ASIC cell block.

5. The gate array according to claim 2 further including first means for actively pulling outputs of said microprocessor circuit to a predetermined logic level, said first means including a tri-state buffer having an input, an output and a control input, said input of said tri-state buffer being coupled to receive a power down signal, said output of said tristate buffer being coupled to an output of said microprocessor circuit, and said control input of said tri-state buffer being coupled to receive a tri-state control signal from said microprocessor circuit.

6. The gate array according to claim 5 further including second means for actively pulling inputs of said microprocessor circuit to a predetermined logic level, said second means including an AND gate having first and second inputs and an output, said first input of said AND gate being coupled to receive said power down signal, said second input of said AND gate being coupled to receive a signal from said ASIC cell block, said output of said AND gate being coupled to an input of said microprocessor circuit.

7. The gate array circuit according to claim 2 wherein said interface circuit includes a first circuit for providing an interface for a tri-state output of said microprocessor circuit, said first circuit including:

a multiplexer circuit having first and second inputs, a select input and an output, said first input being coupled to receive a signal from said microprocessor circuit, said second input being coupled to receive a signal from said ASIC cell block;

a logic circuit being responsive to a plurality of control signals for providing first and second output signals, said first output signal of said logic circuit being provided to said select input of said multiplexer circuit;

a tri-state buffer having a input and an output and a control input, said input of said tri-state buffer being coupled to said output of said multiplexer, said control input of said tri-state buffer being coupled to receive said second signal of said logic circuit, said output of said tri-state buffer being coupled to one of the plurality of IO pads of the gate array; and

a buffer circuit having an input coupled to said output of said tri-state buffer and an output for providing a signal to said ASIC cell block.

8. The gate array circuit according to claim 2 wherein said interface circuit includes a first circuit for providing an interface for a bi-directional output of said microprocessor circuit, said first circuit including;

a multiplexer having first and second inputs, a select input and an output, said first input of said multiplexer being coupled to receive a signal from said microprocessor circuit, said second input of said multiplexer being coupled to receive a signal from said ASIC cell block;

a logic circuit responsive to a plurality of control signals for providing first and second output signals, said first output signal being provided to said select input of said multiplexer;

a first tri-state buffer having an input, an output and a control input, said input of said first tri-state buffer being coupled to said output of said multiplexer, said control input of said first tri-state buffer being coupled to receive said second output signal of said logic circuit, said output of said first tri-state buffer being coupled to one of the plurality of IO pads of the gate array;

a first buffer having an input and an output, said input of said first buffer being coupled to said output of said first tri-state buffer;

a second tri-state buffer having an input, and output and a control input, said input of said second tri-state buffer being coupled to said output of said first buffer, said output of said second tri-state buffer being coupled to provide a signal to said microprocessor circuit, and said control input of said second tri-state buffer being coupled to receive a tri-state signal from said microprocessor circuit; and

a second buffer having an input and an output, said input of said second buffer being coupled to said output of said first buffer, said output said second buffer being coupled to provide a signal to said ASIC cell block.

9. The gate array circuit according to claim 2 wherein said interface circuit includes a first circuit for providing an interface for synchronizing input signals to an internal clock of said microprocessor circuit, said first circuit including:

a first buffer having an input and an output, said input of said first buffer being responsive to a signal to be synchronized to the internal clock of said microprocessor circuit, said output of said first buffer providing an output signal to said ASIC cell block;

a first resistor having first and second terminals, said first terminal of said resistor being coupled to said input of said first buffer, said second terminal of said resistor being coupled to a first supply voltage terminal;

a first flip-flop circuit having a data input, a clock input and an output, said data input of said first flip-flop circuit being coupled to said output of said first buffer, said dock input of said first flip-flop circuit being coupled to receive the inversion of the internal clock signal of said microprocessor circuit;

a second flip-flop circuit having a data input, a clock input and first and second outputs, said data input of said second flip-flop circuit being coupled to said output of said first flip-flop circuit, said clock input of said second flip-flop circuit being coupled to receive the internal clock signal of said microprocessor circuit, said first and second outputs of said second flip-flop circuit respectively providing synchronized signals to said microprocessor circuit and said ASIC cell block.

10. The gate array circuit according to claim 9 further including a multiplexer being coupled between said first and second flip-flop circuits, said multiplexer having first and second inputs, a select input and an output, said first input of said multiplexer being coupled to receive a signal from said ASIC cell block, said second input of said multiplexer being coupled to said output of said first flip-flop circuit, said output of said multiplexer being coupled to said data input of said second flip-flop circuit, and said select input of said multiplexer being coupled to receive a control signal from said ASIC cell block.

11. The gate array circuit according to claim 2 further including signature logic means for testing said interface circuit when said microprocessor circuit is being tested.