Embedded programmable logic for logic stacking on application processor

• US 8,954,622 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Wang, Yongjiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Alrobaye, Idriss N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yimer, Getente A
• Application Number:
  US13/351,763
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 710/14, 710/10, 710/18, 710/63, 710/64
• US Class Current: 710/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A system includes a programmable interface module located on an integrated circuit (IC), the programmable interface module configured to be programmed to operate in a plurality of modes, and communicate with at least one device external to the IC based on a selected one of the plurality of modes. Each of the plurality of modes corresponds to at least one of a type of peripheral feature, a type of communication interface, and a protocol type. An interface configuration module is configured to receive an indication of the selected one of the plurality of modes and program the programmable interface module to operate in the selected one of the plurality of modes in response to the indication.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an integrated circuit comprising

a data bus, and

a programmable interface module configured to be programmed to operate in a plurality of different modes, wherein the programmable interface module is configured to, based on a selected one of the plurality of different modes, provide communication between the data bus of the integrated circuit and a device external to the integrated circuit, wherein each of the plurality of different modes corresponds to a different type of a serial communication interface relative to that corresponding to other ones of the plurality of different modes, and wherein the different types of the serial communication interface include two or more of a universal serial bus interface, a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter interface, a security support provider interface, a secure digital input output interface, an I²C interface, and a serial peripheral interface; and

an interface configuration module configured to receive an indication of the selected one of the plurality of different modes, and program the programmable interface module to operate in the selected one of the plurality of different modes in response to the indication,

wherein the interface configuration module is configured to receive the indication from a user interface module, and

wherein the user interface module is configured to receive, from a user, a desired one of the plurality of different modes corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of different modes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a system on a chip.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface module is external to the integrated circuit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable interface module includes:

a programmable logic module configured to operate in the one of the plurality of different modes, wherein the interface configuration module is configured to program the programmable logic module in response to the indication; and

at least one common module configured to operate in one of the plurality of different modes, wherein the common module is common to the plurality of different modes, and wherein the interface configuration module does not program the at least one common module.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the programmable logic module includes a tile logic block (TLB) array.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmable interface module is a first programmable interface module, wherein the plurality of different modes correspond to a first plurality of different modes, and wherein the system further comprises a second programmable interface module configured to operate in one of the first plurality of different modes or one of a second plurality of different modes, wherein each of the second plurality of different modes is different than each of the first plurality of different modes.

7. A method for providing communication between a data bus of an integrated circuit and a device external to the integrated circuit via a programmable interface module, wherein the integrated circuit comprises programmable interface module configured to be programmed to operate in a plurality of different modes, the method comprising:

providing communication between a data bus of the integrated circuit and at least one device external to the integrated circuit based on a selected one of the plurality of modes, wherein each of the plurality of modes corresponds to a different type of a serial communication interface relative to that corresponding to other ones of the plurality of different modes, and wherein the different types of the serial communication interface include two or more of a universal serial bus interface, a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter interface, a security support provider interface, a secure digital input output interface, an I²C interface, and a serial peripheral interface;

receiving, from a user, a desired one of the plurality of different modes corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of different modes,

providing, from a user interface module, an indication of the selected one of the plurality of different modes in response to the desired one of the plurality of different modes being received from the user,

receiving the indication of the selected one of the plurality of different modes; and

programming the programmable interface module to operate in the selected one of the plurality of different modes in response to the indication.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the integrated circuit includes a system on a chip.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the user interface module is external to the integrated circuit.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

operating a programmable logic module in the one of the plurality of different modes;

programming the programmable logic module in response to the indication; and

operating at least one common module configured in the plurality of modes, wherein the common module is common to the plurality of different modes.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the programmable logic module includes a tile logic block (TLB) array.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the programmable interface module is a first programmable interface module and the plurality of different modes corresponds to a first plurality of different modes, and further comprising:

providing a second programmable interface module configured to operate in one of the first plurality of different modes or one of a second plurality of different modes, wherein each of the second plurality of different modes is different than each of the first plurality of different modes.