Field programmable gate array for synchronous and asynchronous operation
First Claim
1. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) having at least one logic block, each of said logic blocks having inputs for receiving a plurality of input signals and outputs for outputting a plurality of output signals, the FPGA further comprising:
- (a) at least one arbiter block, said arbiter block having inputs for receiving a plurality of input signals and outputs for outputting a plurality of output signals, and wherein said arbiter block is programmable to provide an arbiter function, an enabled arbiter function, or a synchronizer function; and
(b) interconnect resources for providing electrical communication between said inputs of either said arbiter blocks or logic blocks and the outputs of either said arbiter blocks or logic blocks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A field programmable gate array (FPGA) including both routing and logic blocks (RLBs) and routing and arbiter blocks (RABs) is disclosed. The RABs are periodically placed throughout the FPGA and operate either to arbitrate the arrival of simultaneous signals or to synchronize simultaneous signals. In addition, each of the RLBs are capable of operating in accordance with two clock signals and an asynchronous initialization. The combination of the RLBs and RABs allow the FPGA to operate synchronously and asynchronously.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) having at least one logic block, each of said logic blocks having inputs for receiving a plurality of input signals and outputs for outputting a plurality of output signals, the FPGA further comprising:
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(a) at least one arbiter block, said arbiter block having inputs for receiving a plurality of input signals and outputs for outputting a plurality of output signals, and wherein said arbiter block is programmable to provide an arbiter function, an enabled arbiter function, or a synchronizer function; and (b) interconnect resources for providing electrical communication between said inputs of either said arbiter blocks or logic blocks and the outputs of either said arbiter blocks or logic blocks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of providing a field programmable gate array (FPGA) for synchronous and asynchronous operation, said FPGA comprising a plurality of logic blocks, each of said logic blocks having inputs for receiving a plurality of input signals and outputs for outputting a plurality of output signals, said method comprising the step of:
(a) replacing at least one of said logic blocks with an arbiter block, said arbiter block having inputs for receiving a plurality of input signals and outputs for outputting a plurality of output signals. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A field programmable gate array comprising:
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(a) a plurality of forwardly propagating routing and logic blocks (FPRLBs), each of said FPRLBs having inputs for receiving a plurality of input signals and outputs for outputting a plurality of output signals; and (b) a plurality of backwardly propagating routing and logic blocks (BPRLBs), each of said BPRLBs having inputs for receiving a plurality of input signals and outputs for outputting a plurality of output signals, said BPRLBs intermeshing with said FPRLBs to form a two-dimensional checkerboard array, wherein the columns of said checkerboard array comprise a plurality of FPRLBs and BPRLBs arranged in alternating sequence and the rows of said checkerboard array comprise a plurality of FPRLBs and BPRLBs arranged in alternating sequence; wherein each of said FPRLBs not on the periphery of said checkerboard array is communicatively connected to a plurality of BPRLBs in the same column such that said input signals and said output signals may be passed therebetween, wherein each of said BPRLBs not on the periphery of said checkerboard array is communicatively connected to a plurality of FPRLBs in the same column such that said input signals and said output signals may be passed therebetween, wherein each of said FPRLBs not on the periphery of said checkerboard array is communicatively connected to a plurality of FPRLBs in the immediately adjacent leftward column such that said input signals may be received therefrom and a plurality of FPRLBs in the immediately adjacent rightward column such that said output signals may be transmitted thereto, and wherein each of said BPRLBs not on the periphery of said checkerboard array is communicatively connected to a plurality of BPRLBs in the immediately adjacent leftward column such that said output signals may be transmitted thereto and a plurality of BPRLBs in the immediately adjacent rightward column such that said input signals may be received therefrom; further wherein a predetermined ratio of said FPRLBs and BPRLBs is substituted therefore by a plurality of routing and arbiter blocks (RABs). - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification