Configurable circuits, IC's, and systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An integrated circuit (IC) that has an interface rate for exchanging signals in at least one direction with a circuit outside of the IC, the IC comprising:
- a plurality of reconfigurable circuits;
wherein at least one of the reconfigurable circuits is for reconfiguring faster than the interface rate;
wherein a reconfigurable circuit reconfigures when configuration data that specifies an operation of the reconfigurable circuit changes from a first configuration data set stored in the IC to a second configuration data set stored in the IC; and
a plurality of interface circuits for communicating with a set of circuits outside of the IC,wherein the interface rate is faster than an operational rate of at least one interface circuit, but slower than an operational rate of another interface circuit.
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Abstract
Some embodiments of the invention provide configurable integrated circuit (IC) that has a first interface rate for exchanging signals with a circuit outside of the configurable IC. The configurable IC has an array of configurable circuits. The array includes several configurable logic and interconnect circuits. Each configurable logic circuit can configurably perform a set of functions. The configurable interconnect circuits can configurably couple the logic circuits. At least several of the configurable circuits can be reconfigured faster than the first rate.
195 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit (IC) that has an interface rate for exchanging signals in at least one direction with a circuit outside of the IC, the IC comprising:
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a plurality of reconfigurable circuits; wherein at least one of the reconfigurable circuits is for reconfiguring faster than the interface rate; wherein a reconfigurable circuit reconfigures when configuration data that specifies an operation of the reconfigurable circuit changes from a first configuration data set stored in the IC to a second configuration data set stored in the IC; and a plurality of interface circuits for communicating with a set of circuits outside of the IC, wherein the interface rate is faster than an operational rate of at least one interface circuit, but slower than an operational rate of another interface circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An integrated circuit (IC) that has an interface rate for exchanging signals in at least one direction with a circuit outside of the IC, the IC comprising:
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a plurality of reconfigurable circuits; wherein at least one of the reconfigurable circuits is for reconfiguring faster than the interface rate; wherein a reconfigurable circuit reconfigures when configuration data that specifies an operation of the reconfigurable circuit changes from a first configuration data set stored in the IC to a second configuration data set stored in the IQ; and a signal generator for generating a configuration signal for selecting configuration data for the plurality of reconfigurable circuits, wherein said interface rate defines an interface cycle, wherein the signal generator is a sub-cycle signal generator that generates a sub-cycle signal that has more than one cycle during an interface cycle.
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13. An electronics system comprising:
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an integrated circuit (IC) that has a first interface rate for exchanging signals in at least one direction with a circuit outside of the IC, the IC comprising at least a first reconfigurable circuit, wherein the first reconfigurable circuit is reconfigured at a second rate faster than said first interface rate, wherein a reconfigurable circuit reconfigures when configuration data that specifies an operation of the reconfigurable circuit changes from a first configuration data set stored in the IC to a second configuration data set stored in the IC; and a plurality of interface circuits for communicating with circuitry outside of the IC, wherein the first interface rate is faster than an operational rate of at least one interface circuit, but slower than an operational rate of another interface circuit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification