Programming programmable logic devices using hidden switches
First Claim
1. A method for representing programming for a programmable logic device (PLD), comprising the steps of:
- (a) storing a software representation of the PLD; and
(b) generating, based on the software representation of the PLD, a graphical display representing a hidden-switch connection between first and second functional elements in the PLD, wherein, in the graphical display, the hidden-switch connection is represented by a curve from a first jumper wire at a pin of the first functional element to a second jumper wire at a pin of the second functional element, wherein each jumper wire is represented as being connected to the corresponding pin of the corresponding functional element at a first end of the jumper wire and unconnected at a second end of the jumper wire.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A programming tool for programmable logic devices (PLDs), such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), supports the display of hidden-switch connections, in addition to the display of conventional placed-switch, switch-box, and pseudo-arc connections. A hidden-switch connection between two functional elements in the PLD is represented in graphical displays generated by the programming tool as a curve (e.g., a diagonal straight line) from a jumper wire on the first functional element to another jumper wire on the second functional element, where a jumper wire is represented in the graphical display as a wire connected at one end to an pin of the corresponding functional element and unconnected at the other end. A programming tool that supports hidden-switch connections can be used to program FPGAs and other PLDs having architectures that were not previously supported by conventional programming tools that do not support hidden-switch connections.
45 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method for representing programming for a programmable logic device (PLD), comprising the steps of:
-
(a) storing a software representation of the PLD; and
(b) generating, based on the software representation of the PLD, a graphical display representing a hidden-switch connection between first and second functional elements in the PLD, wherein, in the graphical display, the hidden-switch connection is represented by a curve from a first jumper wire at a pin of the first functional element to a second jumper wire at a pin of the second functional element, wherein each jumper wire is represented as being connected to the corresponding pin of the corresponding functional element at a first end of the jumper wire and unconnected at a second end of the jumper wire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
the PLD is an FPGA;
the curve is a diagonal straight line interconnecting the first and second jumper wires; and
each jumper wire is represented as either a horizontal or vertical line segment.
-
-
3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the hidden-switch connection is represented in the graphical display without explicitly representing any particular physical switch device that would provide a corresponding physical connection in the PLD.
-
4. The invention of claim 1, wherein, when the hidden-switch connection is not selected to be displayed, the graphical display retains representations of the first and second jumper wires.
-
5. The invention of claim 1, wherein jumper wires are represented in the graphical display only if the PLD program has a corresponding hidden-switch connection.
-
6. The invention of claim 1, wherein the first and second jumper wires do not intersect in the graphical display and do not terminate at a single common functional element.
-
7. The invention of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second functional elements has a greater number of pins than can be represented in the graphical display using conventional wires in which one each conventional wire is terminated at a different pin.
-
8. The invention of claim 1, wherein:
-
the PLD is an FPGA;
the curve is a diagonal straight line interconnecting the first and second jumper wires;
each jumper wire is represented as either a horizontal or vertical line segment;
the hidden-switch connection is represented in the graphical display without explicitly representing any particular physical switch device that would provide a corresponding physical connection in the PLD;
when the hidden-switch connection is not selected to be displayed, the graphical display retains representations of the first and second jumper wires;
jumper wires are represented in the graphical display only if the PLD program has a corresponding hidden-switch connection;
the first and second jumper wires do not intersect in the graphical display and do not terminate at a single common functional element; and
at least one of the first and second functional elements has a greater number of pins than can be represented in the graphical display using conventional wires in which one each conventional wire is terminated at a different pin.
-
-
9. A machine-readable medium, having encoded thereon program code, wherein, when the program code is executed by a machine, the machine implements a method for representing programming for a programmable logic device (PLD), comprising the steps of:
-
(a) storing a software representation of the PLD; and
(b) generating, based on the software representation of the PLD, a graphical display representing a hidden-switch connection between first and second functional elements in the PLD, wherein, in the graphical display, the hidden-switch connection is represented by a curve from a first jumper wire at a pin of the first functional element to a second jumper wire at a pin of the second functional element, wherein each jumper wire is represented as being connected to the corresponding pin of the corresponding functional element at a first end of the jumper wire and unconnected at a second end of the jumper wire. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
the PLD is an FPGA;
the curve is a diagonal straight line interconnecting the first and second jumper wires; and
each jumper wire is represented as either a horizontal or vertical line segment.
-
-
11. The invention of claim 9, wherein the hidden-switch connection is represented in the graphical display without explicitly representing any particular physical switch device that would provide a corresponding physical connection in the PLD.
-
12. The invention of claim 9, wherein, when the hidden-switch connection is not selected to be displayed, the graphical display retains representations of the first and second jumper wires.
-
13. The invention of claim 9, wherein jumper wires are represented in the graphical display only if the PLD program has a corresponding hidden-switch connection.
-
14. The invention of claim 9, wherein the first and second jumper wires do not intersect in the graphical display and do not terminate at a single common functional element.
-
15. The invention of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second functional elements has a greater number of pins than can be represented in the graphical display using conventional wires in which one each conventional wire is terminated at a different pin.
-
16. The invention of claim 9, wherein:
-
the PLD is an FPGA;
the curve is a diagonal straight line interconnecting the first and second jumper wires;
each jumper wire is represented as either a horizontal or vertical line segment;
the hidden-switch connection is represented in the graphical display without explicitly representing any particular physical switch device that would provide a corresponding physical connection in the PLD;
when the hidden-switch connection is not selected to be displayed, the graphical display retains representations of the first and second jumper wires;
jumper wires are represented in the graphical display only if the PLD program has a corresponding hidden-switch connection;
the first and second jumper wires do not intersect in the graphical display and do not terminate at a single common functional element; and
at least one of the first and second functional elements has a greater number of pins than can be represented in the graphical display using conventional wires in which one each conventional wire is terminated at a different pin.
-
Specification