Memory map computer control system for programmable ICS

• US 6,118,938 A
• Filed: 04/04/1997
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xilinx, Inc. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xilinx, Inc. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wasson, Stephen L., Lawman, Gary R., Linoff, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siek, Vuthe
• Application Number:
  US08/832,989
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 364/491, 364/490, 364/489, 364/488, 395/500.02, 395/500.17, 395/500.18, 395/500.19
• US Class Current: 716/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/34 for reconfigurable circuits, e.g. field programmable gate arrays [FPGA] or programmable logic devices [PLD]

Abstract

A table-based computer user interface and a method of providing design parameters are provided for configuring circuits for programmable ICs. A design database describing a circuit is displayed in table-based format on a computer screen display. The design database may include a memory map including data to be placed in bit-storage space in the target programmable IC. This design database requires no schematics or HDL description of the circuit, even for application-specific circuits and other complicated circuits. The desired parameters are entered by the user, typically using toggle buttons, pull-down menus, or keyboard entry. The selected parameters and memory map data are then entered into the design database, thereby configuring the design database in accordance with the selected parameters. In one embodiment, the user interface can also be used to display read data from a previously programmed programmable IC.

Claims

1. A computer control system comprising:

means for displaying, on a screen display in table-based format, a memory map representing a contents of at least one bit-storage space of a programmable IC configured through a design database, the programmable IC further comprising user-configurable logic;

means for receiving data specified by a user to be stored in said bit-storage space based on said memory map; and

means for entering said data in said design database, wherein said control system is dependent on a schematic entry software tool.

2. The computer control system recited in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving data comprises pull-down menus.

3. The computer control system recited in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving data comprises keyboard entry.

4. The computer control system recited in claim 1 wherein said data is specified in an alpha-numeric format other than binary.

5. The computer control system recited in claim 1 wherein said circuit comprises a PCI bus compatible interface circuit.

6. The computer control system recited in claim 5 wherein at least a portion of said bit-storage space comprises a PCI Base Address Register.

7. The computer control system recited in claim 5 wherein at least a portion of said bit-storage space comprises a PCI Configuration Space Header.

8. A computer control system comprising:

means for displaying, on a screen display in table-based format, a memory map representing a contents of at least one bit-storage space of a programmable IC configured through a design database, the programmable IC further comprising user-configurable logic;

means for receiving data specified by a user to be stored in said bit-storage space based on said memory map; and

means for entering said data in said design database,

wherein said control system is independent of any schematic entry software tool.

9. The computer control system recited in claim 8 wherein said means for receiving data comprises toggle buttons.

10. The computer control system recited in claim 8 wherein said means for receiving data comprises pull-down menus.

11. The computer control system recited in claim 8 wherein said means for receiving data comprises keyboard entry.

12. The computer control system recited in claim 8 wherein said data is specified in an alpha-numeric format other than binary.

13. The computer control system recited in claim 8 wherein said circuit comprises a PCI bus compatible interface circuit.

14. The computer control system recited in claim 13 wherein at least a portion of said bit-storage space represents a PCI Base Address Register.

15. The computer control system recited in claim 13 wherein at least a portion of said bit-storage space represents a PCI Configuration Space Header.

16. The computer control system recited in claim 8 further comprising:

means for displaying read data from a programmable IC that has been programmed to include a previously configured circuit.

17. The computer control system recited in claim 8 wherein said design database further comprises a feature selection, said control system further comprising:

means for displaying said feature selection on a screen display in table-based format;

means for receiving a selection of features from a user, said features being specified by the user based on said screen display; and

means for entering said features in said database, thereby configuring said database in accordance with said features.

18. The computer control system recited in claim 17 wherein said means for receiving a selection of features comprises toggle buttons.

19. The computer control system recited in claim 17 wherein said means for receiving a selection of features comprises pull-down menus.

20. The computer control system recited in claim 17 wherein said means for receiving a selection of features comprises keyboard entry.

21. A computer control system comprising:

means for reading data from at least one bit-storage space in an integrated circuit, said integrated circuit further including logic circuits;

means for formatting the data into a memory map representing a contents of the at least one bit-storage space; and

means for displaying said memory map on a screen display in table-based format.

22. The computer control system recited in claim 21 wherein said integrated circuit is a programmable integrated circuit.

23. The computer control system recited in claim 21, wherein the data is displayed in an alpha-numeric format other than binary.

24. The computer control system in claim 21 wherein said integrated circuit comprises a PCI bus compatible interface circuit.

25. The computer control system recited in claim 24 wherein at least a portion of said bit-storage space represents a PCI Base Address Register.

26. The computer control system recited in claim 24 wherein at least a portion of said bit-storage space represents a PCI Configuration Space Header.