Integrated circuit with field programmable and application specific logic areas
First Claim
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1. A monolithic integrated circuit comprising:
- an array of field programmable gates selectively interconnected by programmable switch matrices, said gates and said switch matrices being selectively programmable after manufacture in accordance with desired gate functions and connection relationships;
an array of mask-defined gates having permanent customized functions and connection relationships;
a plurality of input/output pads providing externally accessible signal connections to said arrays of programmable gates and mask-defined gates; and
a plurality of first interconnections between said arrays of programmable gates and mask-defined gates, said first interconnect ions comprising arrays of programmable and mask-defined interconnections.
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Abstract
A heterogeneous integrated circuit device comprising a field programmable gate array (FPGA) programmably connected to a mask-defined application specific logic area (ASLA) on an integrated circuit thus providing a flexible low cost alternative to a homogeneous device of one type or the other. By integrating both on a single monolithic IC, the user benefits from both low cost and flexibility. Routing of signals between gate arrays and between the gate arrays and input/output (I/O) circuits is also implemented as a combination of mask-defined and programmably-configured interconnections.
373 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A monolithic integrated circuit comprising:
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an array of field programmable gates selectively interconnected by programmable switch matrices, said gates and said switch matrices being selectively programmable after manufacture in accordance with desired gate functions and connection relationships; an array of mask-defined gates having permanent customized functions and connection relationships; a plurality of input/output pads providing externally accessible signal connections to said arrays of programmable gates and mask-defined gates; and a plurality of first interconnections between said arrays of programmable gates and mask-defined gates, said first interconnect ions comprising arrays of programmable and mask-defined interconnections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An integrated circuit chip comprising:
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a field-configured array of logic blocks having logic functions and being interconnected in accordance with user provided data which may be modified to alter the field-configured array of logic blocks to have different respective logic functions and interconnections; a mask-defined array of logic blocks having respective logic functions and being interconnected in accordance with selected metal masks which, once selected, cannot be modified; and an interconnect structure for connecting said field-configured array to said mask-defined array, said interconnect structure comprising arrays of field-configured and mask-defined interconnections. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrated circuit configured as a monolithic chip and comprising:
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a plurality of logic blocks the logic functions of which may be configured after packaging of said chip, said blocks being interconnected by configurable interconnects in the form of paths which may also be configured after packaging of said chip; and an array of mask-defined logic gates the logic functions of which are selected before packaging of said chip, said gates being interconnected by paths selected before packaging of said chip, said paths comprising an interconnect-element array; said logic blocks and said gates being interconnected by paths at least some of which may be configured after packaging of said chip.
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18. A method of fabricating an integrated circuit with field programmable and application specific logic areas, the method comprising the following steps:
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a) providing an array of mask defined logic gates; b) providing an array of field programmable logic gates; c) programming unalterable logic functions of said mask defined logic gates; d) providing a structure for programming alterable logic functions of said field programmable logic gates; and e) providing and programming arrays of field-configured and mask-defined interconnections between said mask defined logic gates and said field programmable logic gates.
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19. A monolithic integrated circuit comprising:
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an array of field programmable gates selectively interconnected by programmable switch matrices, said gates and said switch matrices being selectively programmable after manufacture in accordance with desired gate functions and connection relationships; an array of mask-defined gates having permanent customized functions and connection relationships; a plurality of input/output pads providing externally accessible signal connections to said arrays of programmable gates and mask-defined gates; and a plurality of first interconnections between said arrays of programmable gates and mask-defined gates, said first interconnections comprising programmable interconnections dedicated to the function of interconnecting the field programmable gates to the mask-defined gates.
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20. An integrated circuit chip comprising:
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a field-configured array of logic blocks having logic functions and being interconnected in accordance with user provided data which may be modified to alter the field-configured array of logic blocks to have different respective logic functions and interconnections; a mask-defined array of logic blocks having respective logic functions and being interconnected in accordance with selected metal masks which, once selected, cannot be modified; and an interconnect structure for connecting said field-configured array to said mask-defined array, said interconnect structure comprising programmable interconnections dedicated to the function of interconnecting the field programmable gates to the mask-defined gates.
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Specification