I/O and memory bus system for DFPS and units with two- or multi-dimensional programmable cell architectures

• US 7,650,448 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2008
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scientia Sol Mentis AG (PACT XPP Schweiz AG)
• Original Assignee: Pact XPP Technologies, AG
• Inventors: Vorbach, Martin, Munch, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): AUVE, GLENN ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US12/008,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20080222329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 710/100, 710/305, 710/316, 710/8, 710/72, 716/16, 712/11, 712/14, 712/18
• US Class Current: 710/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7867 with reconfigurable architecture
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/10 Input/output [I/O] data interface arrangements, e.g. I/O data control circuits, I/O data buffers

Abstract

A general bus system is provided which combines a number of internal lines and leads them as a bundle to the terminals. The bus system control is predefined and does not require any influence by the programmer. Any number of memories, peripherals or other units can be connected to the bus system (for cascading).

Claims

1. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based configurable data processing integrated circuit, comprising:

a high level configuration load unit;

a plurality of configurable cells arranged in a two dimensional array;

configurable individual lines interconnecting the configurable cells within the array; and

at least one interface unit that;

at least one of is coupled to and combines the individual lines and thereby defines a device internal bus system;

comprises a self-contained external bus interfacing to at least one of external memories and external peripherals;

is implemented as a dedicated hardwired interface unit separate from the plurality of configurable cells;

is configurable by at least one of the high level configuration load unit and at least some of the plurality of configurable cells, and while the FPGA operates at runtime; and

at least one of;

(i) receives processing data, the processing data to be processed by the FPGA according to a configuration defined by configuration data; and

(ii) transmits data processed by the FPGA, the processing by the FPGA being in accordance with the configuration defined by the configuration data.

2. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of cells are coarse-grained units.

3. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 2, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address arrangement to generate addresses for memories connected to the at least one interface unit.

4. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 2, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address arrangement to generate addresses for an external module.

5. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein at least some cells are Arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs).

6. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 5, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises a protocol arrangement to generate protocols for at least one of an external module and an external bus.

7. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 5, wherein at least some cells are reconfigurable at runtime without disturbing other cells, so that processing by the other cells continues during the reconfiguration.

8. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 7, wherein the at least one interface unit provides a protocol arrangement to generate protocols for at least one of an external module and an external bus.

9. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein at least some cells are reconfigurable at runtime without disturbing other cells, so that processing by the other cells continues during the reconfiguration.

10. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 9, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises a protocol arrangement to generate protocols for at least one of an external module and an external bus.

11. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address arrangement to generate addresses for an external module.

12. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address arrangement to generate addresses for memories connected to the at least one interface unit.

13. The data processing integrated circuit of any one of claims 3, 4, 11, and 12, wherein the address arrangement is configured to indicate an end of a data transfer via a signal on at least one of the internal and external bus.

14. The data processing integrated circuit of any one of claims 3, 4, 11, and 12, wherein the address arrangement has an initializable counter.

15. The data processing integrated circuit of any one of claims 3, 4, 11, and 12, wherein the address arrangement is configured to indicate an end of a data transfer via a signal on a bus.

16. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises a protocol arrangement to generate protocols for at least one of an external module and an external bus.

17. The data processing integrated circuit of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises a protocol arrangement to generate protocols for an external module.

18. The data processing integrated circuit of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises a protocol arrangement to generate protocols for the external bus.

19. The data processing integrated circuit of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9, further comprising:

at least one state machine for controlling the at least one interface unit.

20. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 19, wherein the state machine is located within the dedicated hardwired interface unit.

21. The data processing integrated circuit of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9, further comprising:

a cache system configured to cache at least one of reads from and writes to at least one of the external bus, a peripheral, and an external memory.

22. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein the cache system is configured to cache reads from the external bus.

23. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein the cache system is configured to cache reads from the peripheral.

24. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein the cache system is configured to cache reads from the external memory.

25. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein the cache system is configured to cache writes to the external bus.

26. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein the cache system is configured to cache writes to the peripheral.

27. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein the cache system is configured to cache writes to the external memory.

28. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 21, wherein the cache system is:

communicatively arranged between (a) the internal bus and (b) the external bus; and

configured to cache data to be requested via the external bus; and

configured to provide a connection to the external bus, the connection being provided only for data that is one of not cached and not cacheable.

29. The data processing integrated circuit of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9, further comprising:

a synchronization arrangement to synchronize the cell arrangement with at least one of an external module and the external bus.

30. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 29, wherein the synchronization arrangement is adapted to synchronize the cell arrangement with the external module.

31. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 29, wherein the synchronization arrangement is adapted to synchronize the cell arrangement with the external bus.

32. The data processing integrated circuit of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9, further comprising:

at least one of(a) a plurality of internal buses and (b) a plurality of external buses; and

an arrangement configured to connect a selected internal bus of the plurality of internal buses to a selected external bus of the plurality of external buses;

wherein a number of the plurality of external buses is smaller than a number of the plurality of internal buses.

33. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a bus master coupled to the plurality of individual lines for controlling the bus system; and

a plurality of slave units in communication with the bus master.

34. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 33, wherein a bus control is transferred dynamically between one of the plurality of slave units to another of the plurality of slave units.

35. The data processing integrated circuit of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9, further comprising:

a register indicating whether data is stored in the at least one interface unit; and

at least one register coupled to a first bus for managing and controlling the bus system.

36. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 29, wherein the synchronization arrangement is located within the dedicated hardwired interface unit.

37. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the interface unit comprises an address generator.

38. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 37, wherein the address generator is located within the dedicated hardwired interface unit.

39. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 2, wherein the data processing integrated circuit operates as one of an arithmetic processor and an arithmetic coprocessor.

40. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 39, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address arrangement to generate addresses for an external module, and the address arrangement is assigned to at least one of an internal bus system and a group of lines and is configured to address at least one memory.

41. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 39, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address arrangement to generate addresses for the external bus.

42. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 2, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address management for managing addresses transferred between the external bus and the at least one interface unit.

43. The data processing integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address management for managing addresses transferred between the external bus and the at least one interface unit.

44. The data processing integrated circuit of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises a protocol arrangement to generate protocols for the internal bus.

45. The data processing integrated circuit of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9, further comprising:

at least one state machine for controlling the at least one of the internal and external bus.

46. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Integrated Circuit, comprising:

a configurable at least two-dimensional cell structure including configurable cells arranged in a two-dimensional array and including configurable internal individual lines interconnecting the configurable cells within the array; and

at least one interface unit adapted for transferring via an external bus and at runtime;

data to be processed, the data to be processed being transferred into the configurable cell structure from at least one external device; and

processed data out of the configurable cell structure to said at least one external device;

wherein the at least one interface unit is a dedicated hardwired unit separate from the configurable cells and includes;

more than one internal data input for data transfer from said individual lines;

more than one internal data output for data transfer to said individual lines;

external connections for at least one external input and at least one external output; and

a state machine.

47. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 46, wherein the FPGA Integrated Circuit is dynamically programmable.

48. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to any one of claims 46 and 47, wherein the at least one interface unit allows for transmitting data while the FPGA operates as one of an arithmetic processor or an arithmetic coprocessor.

49. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to any one of claims 46 and 47, wherein the at least one interface unit allows for transmitting data while the FPGA is processing algorithms.

50. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 49, wherein the at least one interface unit supports a connection of external memory.

51. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 50, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address generator.

52. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to any one of claims 46 and 47, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises a protocol generator for at least one of the internal individual lines and the external bus.

53. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 49, wherein the at least one interface unit supports connecting peripherals.

54. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 53, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address generator.

55. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 49, wherein the at least one interface unit supports a connection of other processing devices.

56. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 55, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address generator.

57. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 49, wherein the at least one interface unit is connected to an internal cache.

58. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 49, wherein the at least one interface unit supports a connection to a cache.

59. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Integrated Circuit comprising:

a cell structure including (a) configurable cells arranged in a two-dimensional array and (b) a configurable internal interconnection connecting the configurable cells; and

at least one interface unit that;

is adapted for transferring via an external bus and at runtime;

data to be processed, the data to be processed being transferred into the cell structure and from at least one external device; and

processed data out of the cell structure to said at least one external device;

has more than one internal data input for data transfer from said configurable internal interconnection, more than one internal data output for data transfer to said configurable internal interconnection, and external connections for at least one external input and at least one external output;

is a dedicated hardwired unit separate from the plurality of configurable cells; and

interfaces the configurable interconnection with the external bus via a plurality of terminals of the integrated circuit.

60. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 59, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises a state machine.

61. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 60, wherein the state machine controls internal data transfer.

62. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 60, wherein the state machine controls external data transfer.

63. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to any one of claims 59 and 60, wherein the at least one interface unit allows for transmitting data while the FPGA Integrated Circuit operates as one of an arithmetic processor and an arithmetic coprocessor.

64. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to any of claims 59 and 60, wherein the at least one interface unit allows for transmitting data while the FPGA Integrated Circuit is processing algorithms.

65. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 64, wherein the at least one interface unit supports connection of external memory.

66. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 65, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address generator.

67. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 59, wherein all signals to or from the external bus are transferred solely through the interface unit.

68. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 59, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises a protocol generator for at least one of the internal and external bus.

69. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 65, wherein the at least one interface unit supports connection of peripherals.

70. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 69, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address generator.

71. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 65, wherein the at least one interface unit supports connection of other processing devices.

72. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 71, wherein the at least one interface unit comprises an address generator.

73. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 65, wherein the at least one interface unit is connected to an internal cache.

74. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 65, wherein the at least one interface unit supports a connection to a cache.

75. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 59, wherein:

the at least one interface unit allows for transmitting data while the FPGA Integrated Circuit is processing algorithms;

the at least one interface unit supports connection of external memory; and

the at least one interface unit comprises a state machine controlling data transfer.

76. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 59, wherein:

the at least one interface unit allows for transmitting data while the FPGA Integrated Circuit is processing algorithms;

the at least one interface unit supports connection of peripherals; and

the at least one interface unit comprising a state machine controlling the data transfer.

77. The FPGA Integrated Circuit according to claim 59, wherein:

the at least one interface unit allows for transmitting data while the FPGA Integrated Circuit is processing algorithms;

the at least one interface unit supports connection of other processing devices; and

the at least one interface unit comprising a state machine controlling the data transfer.

78. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based configurable data processing integrated circuit, comprising:

a high level configuration load unit;

a two dimensional array of a plurality of configurable cells;

configurable individual lines interconnecting the configurable cells within the array; and

at least one interface unit that;

at least one of is coupled to and combines the individual lines and thereby defines a device internal bus system;

comprises a self-contained external bus interfacing to at least one of external memories and external peripherals;

is implemented as a dedicated hardwired interface unit separate from the array;

is configurable by at least one of the high level configuration load unit and at least some of the plurality of configurable cells; and

receives data from the array while the FPGA operates at runtime.