Programmable integrated circuit with voltage domains
First Claim
1. A programmable integrated circuit, comprising:
- a plurality of voltage domains each including logic circuitry powered by a respective power network;
wherein a voltage magnitude of the respective power network of each voltage domain is independently selectable for specifying a tradeoff between performance and power consumption of the logic circuitry in the voltage domain;
a plurality of level shifters;
wherein each level shifter couples a first and second one of the voltage domains, couples a first port of the logic circuitry of the first voltage domain to a second port of the logic circuitry of the second voltage domain, and shifts from a first signaling protocol of the first port to a second signaling protocol of the second port, the first signaling protocol referenced to the voltage magnitude of the respective power network powering the logic circuitry of the first voltage domain and the second signaling protocol referenced to the voltage magnitude of the respective power network powering the second voltage domain; and
a control circuit coupled to the logic circuitry in each of the plurality of voltage domains, the control circuit configured and arranged to independently control the voltage magnitude of the respective power network of each of the voltage domains.
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Abstract
A programmable integrated circuit having a plurality of individually controlled voltage domains. Each voltage domain includes logic circuitry powered by a respective power network. The voltage magnitude of each power network is independently selectable. Each of a plurality of level shifters couples a first and second one of the voltage domains, couples a first port of the logic circuitry of the first voltage domain to a second port of the logic circuitry of the second voltage domain, and shifts from a first signaling protocol of the first port to a second signaling protocol of the second port. The first signaling protocol is referenced to the voltage magnitude of the first voltage domain, and the second signaling protocol is referenced to the voltage magnitude of the second voltage domain. Means are disclosed for controlling the voltage magnitude of the respective power network of one or more of the voltage domains.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A programmable integrated circuit, comprising:
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a plurality of voltage domains each including logic circuitry powered by a respective power network; wherein a voltage magnitude of the respective power network of each voltage domain is independently selectable for specifying a tradeoff between performance and power consumption of the logic circuitry in the voltage domain; a plurality of level shifters; wherein each level shifter couples a first and second one of the voltage domains, couples a first port of the logic circuitry of the first voltage domain to a second port of the logic circuitry of the second voltage domain, and shifts from a first signaling protocol of the first port to a second signaling protocol of the second port, the first signaling protocol referenced to the voltage magnitude of the respective power network powering the logic circuitry of the first voltage domain and the second signaling protocol referenced to the voltage magnitude of the respective power network powering the second voltage domain; and a control circuit coupled to the logic circuitry in each of the plurality of voltage domains, the control circuit configured and arranged to independently control the voltage magnitude of the respective power network of each of the voltage domains. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A programmable integrated circuit, comprising:
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a plurality of semiconductor dies including a plurality of respective voltage domains each including logic circuitry powered by a respective power network; wherein a voltage magnitude of the respective power network of each voltage domain is independently selectable for specifying a tradeoff between performance and power consumption of the logic circuitry in the voltage domain; a plurality of level shifters; wherein each level shifter couples a first and second one of the voltage domains, couples a first port of the logic circuitry of the first voltage domain to a second port of the logic circuitry of the second voltage domain, and shifts from a first signaling protocol of the first port to a second signaling protocol of the second port, the first signaling protocol referenced to the voltage magnitude of the respective power network powering the logic circuitry of the first voltage domain and the second signaling protocol referenced to the voltage magnitude of the respective power network powering the second voltage domain; and a semiconductor interposer coupling the plurality of semiconductor dies, the semiconductor interposer providing a plurality of power ports for independently controlling the voltage magnitude of the respective power network of each voltage domain. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A programmable integrated circuit, comprising:
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a plurality of voltage domains each including logic circuitry powered by a respective power network; wherein a voltage magnitude of the respective power network of each voltage domain is independently selectable for specifying a tradeoff between performance and power consumption of the logic circuitry in the voltage domain; a plurality of level shifters; wherein each level shifter couples a first and second one of the voltage domains, couples a first port of the logic circuitry of the first voltage domain to a second port of the logic circuitry of the second voltage domain, and shifts from a first signaling protocol of the first port to a second signaling protocol of the second port, the first signaling protocol referenced to the voltage magnitude of the respective power network powering the logic circuitry of the first voltage domain and the second signaling protocol referenced to the voltage magnitude of the respective power network powering the second voltage domain; a configuration device specifying at least one power state for the voltage domains, each power state independently selected from a plurality of power states including at least a powered state and a non-powered state; and a selector coupled to at least one of the voltage domains and the configuration device; wherein, for each voltage domain that is coupled to the selector, the selector selects the voltage magnitude corresponding to the at least one power state to the respective power network of the voltage domain. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification