Tile-based modular routing resources for high density programmable logic device
First Claim
1. A semiconductor device having an array of configurable logic blocks each having programmable logic elements and programmable routing resources, said semiconductor device comprising:
- a first plurality of coupled modular routing resource tiles having a plurality of conductive segments for coupling to a first set of configurable logic blocks, each of said first plurality of modular routing resource tiles positioned proximate to a first edge of a corresponding one of said configurable logic blocks of said first set, said first plurality of tiles having programmable circuitry for selectively coupling to the routing resources of said configurable logic blocks of said first set;
a second plurality of coupled modular routing resource tiles having a plurality of conductive segments for coupling to a second set of configurable logic blocks, each of said second plurality of modular routing resource tiles positioned proximate to a second edge of a corresponding one of said configurable logic blocks of said second set, said second plurality of tiles having programmable circuitry for selectively coupling to the routing resources of said configurable logic blocks of said second set; and
interconnecting circuitry for interconnecting said first and second modular routing resource tiles.
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Abstract
Signal routing resource tiles that can be manipulated as circuit "cells" in that they can be readily characterized and implemented on a programmable logic device, e.g., a field programmable gate array (FPGA). In one embodiment, vertical placement and horizontal placement routing resource tiles are provided. Routing resources tiles may be selectively added in areas of the programmable logic device determined to be prone to high signal congestion, e.g., the central portions of the array, and along the array perimeter. The additional routing resource tiles simplify routing for complex logic functions and increase utilization of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) forming the array. The tiles can be positioned within the array in any position horizontally or vertically within the CLB array. Specifically, placement can be either in the core of the chip or along the periphery with each tile providing programmable connections to the existing routing resources (e.g., input/output ports) within the CLBs. A corner tile is also provided that permits interconnection between horizontal and vertical tiles. The tiles are modular in nature so the number of tiles provided within an array and their placement are determined based on the array'"'"'s particular need for routing resources, e.g., an array can have one, two or more tiles associated with a row or column of CLBs in areas of the chip where congestion is typically encountered. Each tile of the present invention can also include a plurality of switch matrices, buffers, or other active gates to facilitate signal routing.
379 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A semiconductor device having an array of configurable logic blocks each having programmable logic elements and programmable routing resources, said semiconductor device comprising:
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a first plurality of coupled modular routing resource tiles having a plurality of conductive segments for coupling to a first set of configurable logic blocks, each of said first plurality of modular routing resource tiles positioned proximate to a first edge of a corresponding one of said configurable logic blocks of said first set, said first plurality of tiles having programmable circuitry for selectively coupling to the routing resources of said configurable logic blocks of said first set; a second plurality of coupled modular routing resource tiles having a plurality of conductive segments for coupling to a second set of configurable logic blocks, each of said second plurality of modular routing resource tiles positioned proximate to a second edge of a corresponding one of said configurable logic blocks of said second set, said second plurality of tiles having programmable circuitry for selectively coupling to the routing resources of said configurable logic blocks of said second set; and interconnecting circuitry for interconnecting said first and second modular routing resource tiles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A field programmable gate array integrated circuit device comprising:
a plurality of configurable logic blocks each comprising; programmable logic elements for implementing logic functions; a programmable interconnect structure of horizontal and vertical signal lines; and
at least one switch matrix for interconnecting individual signal lines of said horizontal and vertical signal lines; anda plurality of intercoupled modular routing resource tiles each comprising a plurality of conductive segments and programmable circuitry coupled thereto for selectively coupling said plurality of conductive segments to individual signal lines of said horizontal and vertical signal lines, said plurality of modular routing resource tiles coupled together and disposed in areas of said field programmable gate array expected to have routing resource congestion attributed to dense concentrations of said configurable logic blocks. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A field programmable gate array integrated circuit device comprising:
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a plurality of configurable logic blocks each comprising;
programmable logic elements for implementing logic functions;
a programmable interconnect structure of horizontal and vertical signal lines; and
at least one switch matrix for interconnecting individual signal lines of said horizontal and vertical signal lines; anda plurality of horizontal modular routing resource tiles each comprising a plurality of conductive segments and programmable circuitry coupled thereto for selectively coupling said plurality of conductive segments to individual signal lines of said vertical signal lines of said configurable logic blocks; a plurality of vertical modular routing resource tiles each comprising a plurality of conductive segments and programmable circuitry coupled thereto for selectively coupling said plurality of conductive segments to individual signal lines of said horizontal signal lines of said configurable logic blocks; and a plurality of corner modular routing resource tiles for coupling individual horizontal modular routing resource tiles to one another to form horizontal lines, for coupling individual vertical modular routing resource tiles to one another to form vertical lines, and for coupling individual vertical modular routing resource tiles to individual horizontal modular routing resource tiles. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for increasing the routing resources of a field programmable gate array integrated circuit device, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) placing a plurality of configurable logic blocks in a plurality of rows and columns of an array, each of said configurable logic blocks having programmable logic elements and programmable routing resources; b) placing a plurality of modular vertical routing resource tiles between selected columns of said plurality of columns of configurable logic blocks; c) placing a plurality of modular horizontal routing resource tiles between selected rows of said plurality of rows of configurable logic blocks; and d) placing a plurality of modular corner tiles at intersections of said plurality of vertical routing resource tiles and said plurality of horizontal routing resource tiles, such that said plurality of modular horizontal, vertical and corner tiles are disposed within areas of said array to relieve routing resource congestion. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A semiconductor device having an array of configurable logic blocks each having programmable logic elements and programmable routing resources, said semiconductor device comprising:
a first plurality of coupled modular routing resource tiles having a plurality of conductive segments for coupling to a first set of configurable logic blocks, each of said first plurality of modular routing resource tiles positioned proximate to a first edge of a corresponding one of said configurable logic blocks of said first set, said first plurality of tiles having programmable circuitry for selectively coupling to the routing resources of said configurable logic blocks of said first set.
Specification