Configuration in a configurable system on a chip
First Claim
1. A method of initializing a configurable system on a chip (CSoC), the CSoC including configurable system logic (CSL), the method comprising:
- checking for one of a serial and a parallel output device external to the CSoC and coupled to a memory interface unit (MIU) in the CSoC;
setting the MIU to a first mode of communicating with the output device, wherein the first mode comprises one of a serial mode and a parallel mode;
searching for a header of a configuration file in the output device;
switching the MIU to a second mode of communicating with the output device if a header of a configuration file is not found, wherein the second mode comprises the other of the serial mode and the parallel mode;
determining if the output device is accessible if a header of a configuration file is not found after the MIU is switched to the second mode;
powering down the CSoC if the output device is determined to be accessible and a header of a configuration file is not found after the MIU is switched to the second mode; and
configuring the CSL if a header of a configuration file is found.
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Abstract
The present invention allows a user to customize the configuration sequence of a configurable system on a chip (CSoC), thereby adding considerable flexibility to the configuration process. The present invention also provides certain features, transparent to the user, which optimize system resources and ensure the correct initialization of the CSoC. The CSoC leverages an on-chip central processing unit (CPU) to control the configuration process of the configurable system logic (CSL). Advantageously, the CSL configuration memory cells as well as other programmable locations in the CSoC are addressable as part of a system bus address space. The system bus is a multi-use structure that can be used for both configuring and reading of memory cells. In this manner, the CSoC optimizes system resources.
132 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of initializing a configurable system on a chip (CSoC), the CSoC including configurable system logic (CSL), the method comprising:
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checking for one of a serial and a parallel output device external to the CSoC and coupled to a memory interface unit (MIU) in the CSoC; setting the MIU to a first mode of communicating with the output device, wherein the first mode comprises one of a serial mode and a parallel mode; searching for a header of a configuration file in the output device; switching the MIU to a second mode of communicating with the output device if a header of a configuration file is not found, wherein the second mode comprises the other of the serial mode and the parallel mode; determining if the output device is accessible if a header of a configuration file is not found after the MIU is switched to the second mode; powering down the CSoC if the output device is determined to be accessible and a header of a configuration file is not found after the MIU is switched to the second mode; and configuring the CSL if a header of a configuration file is found. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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3. A system for initializing a configurable system on a chip (CSoC), comprising;
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configurable system logic (CSL); a memory interface unit; and an output device external to the CSoC and coupled to the memory interface unit, wherein the memory interface unit is set to a first mode based on the output device, wherein the first mode comprises one of a serial mode and a parallel mode, and the CSL is configured if a header of a configuration file is found in the output device, and wherein the memory interface unit is set to a second mode if a header of a configuration file is not found in the output device, wherein the second mode comprises the other of the serial mode and the parallel mode, and the CSoC is powered down if a header of a configuration file is not found in the output device after the memory interface unit is set to a second mode and the output device is determined to be accessible. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of initializing a configurable system on a chip (CSoC), the CSoC including configurable system logic (CSL), the method comprising:
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checking for one of a serial and a parallel memory device external to the CSoC and coupled to a memory interface unit (MIU) in the CSoC; setting the MIU to a first mode of communicating with the memory device, wherein the first mode comprises one of a serial mode and a parallel mode; searching for a header of a configuration file in the memory device; switching to a second mode of communicating with the memory device if a header of a configuration file is not found, wherein the second mode comprises the other of the serial mode and the parallel mode; determining if the memory device is accessible if a header of a configuration file is not found when the CSoC is in the second mode; continuing to search for a header of a configuration file when the memory device is determined to be accessible, and powering down the CSoC if the memory device is determined to be accessible and a header of a configuration file is not found after the MIU is switched to the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification