Programmable logic device integrated circuits with wireless programming

• US 7,398,379 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Altera Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Altera Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Wong, Brian Yung Fun
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Nitin C.
• Application Number:
  US11/120,575
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 326/37, 326/38, 326/39, 438/800
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/34 for reconfigurable circuits, e.g. field programmable gate arrays [FPGA] or programmable logic devices [PLD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for conveying configuration data to a programmable logic device integrated circuit. When the configuration data is loaded into configuration memory on the programmable logic device integrated circuit, the programmable logic device integrated circuit performs custom logic functions. The programmable logic device integrated circuit or an associated configuration device integrated circuit may be provided with power conversion circuitry and transceiver circuitry. The power conversion circuitry converts received radio-frequency signals into power. The power from the power conversion circuitry is provided to the transceiver, loading, and configuration memory circuitry. The transceiver circuitry is connected to an antenna that receives wirelessly-transmitted configuration data and is used to transmit confirmation messages following successful loading of the configuration data into the configuration memory.

Claims

1. A method for using configuration data loading equipment to wirelessly provide programmable logic device configuration data to an integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit is one of a plurality of integrated circuits that share a batch address, comprising:

at the configuration data loading equipment, wirelessly transmitting the programmable logic device configuration data to the integrated circuit;

at the integrated circuit, using power conversion circuitry to convert received radio-frequency (RF) signals into direct current (DC) power that powers receiver circuitry;

at the integrated circuit, using the receiver circuitry powered by the power conversion circuitry to receive the wirelessly transmitted configuration data; and

using the batch address to wirelessly transmit the configuration data to the plurality of integrated circuits in parallel.

2. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

at the integrated circuit, loading the configuration data into programmable elements using power generated by the power conversion circuitry; and

at the integrated circuit, using transmitter circuitry powered by the power conversion circuitry to transmit a confirmation to the configuration data loading equipment indicating that the configuration data has been loaded.

3. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a configuration device integrated circuit, the method further comprising storing the configuration data in non-volatile memory on the configuration device integrated circuit using power generated by the power conversion circuitry.

4. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a programmable logic device integrated circuit, the method further comprising using loading circuitry connected to the receiver circuitry to load the configuration data into configuration memory on the programmable logic device integrated circuit using power generated by the power conversion circuitry.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit comprises first and second antennas, the method further comprising using the first antenna to provide the RF signals to the power conversion circuitry and using the second antenna to provide the wirelessly transmitted configuration data to the transceiver circuitry and to transmit a configuration confirmation through the transceiver circuitry.

6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit contains only a single antenna, the method further comprising using the single antenna to provide the RF signals to the power conversion circuitry and using the single antenna to provide the wirelessly transmitted configuration data to the transceiver circuitry and to transmit a configuration confirmation through the transceiver circuitry.

7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a configuration device integrated circuit, the method further comprising:

using loading circuitry on the configuration device integrated circuit to load the configuration data into configuration memory on a programmable logic device integrated circuit over a wired communications path between the configuration device integrated circuit and the programmable logic device integrated circuit.

9. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit is contained in a finished goods container, the method further comprising:

using the power conversion circuitry to power transmitter circuitry in the integrated circuit while the integrated circuit is contained in the finished goods container;

at the integrated circuit in the finished goods container, loading the configuration data into programmable elements; and

at the integrated circuit in the finished goods container, using the transmitter circuitry powered by the power conversion circuitry to transmit a confirmation to the configuration data loading equipment indicating that the configuration data has been loaded.

10. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit is contained in a manufactured product and wherein using the receiver circuitry powered by the power conversion circuitry to receive the wirelessly transmitted configuration data comprises using the receiver circuitry powered by the power conversion circuitry to receive the wirelessly transmitted configuration data while the integrated circuit is contained in the manufactured product.

8. A method for using configuration data loading equipment to wirelessly provide programmable logic device configuration data to an integrated circuit, comprising:

at the configuration data loading equipment, wirelessly transmitting the programmable logic device configuration data to the integrated circuit;

at the integrated circuit, using power conversion circuitry to convert received radio-frequency (RF) signals into direct current (DC) power that powers receiver circuitry; and

at the integrated circuit, using the receiver circuitry powered by the power conversion circuitry to receive the wirelessly transmitted configuration data, wherein the integrated circuit is contained in a finished goods container and wherein using the receiver circuitry powered by the power conversion circuitry to receive the wirelessly transmitted configuration data comprises using the receiver circuitry powered by the power conversion circuitry to receive the wirelessly transmitted configuration data while the integrated circuit is contained in the finished goods container.

11. A configuration device integrated circuit that loads configuration data into configuration memory in a programmable logic device integrated circuit that is separate from the configuration device integrated circuit, the configuration device integrated circuit comprising:

at least one antenna;

power conversion circuitry and transceiver circuitry connected to the antenna, wherein the power conversion circuitry converts radio-frequency (RF) signals received through the antenna into direct current (DC) power for the transceiver circuitry and wherein the transceiver circuitry receives wirelessly-transmitted configuration data;

memory in which the power conversion circuitry and transceiver circuitry store the wirelessly-transmitted configuration data, wherein the memory is powered by the power conversion circuitry; and

loading circuitry that loads the configuration data from the memory into the configuration memory of the programmable logic device integrated circuit, wherein the transceiver transmits confirmation of successful loading of the configuration data through the antenna.

12. The configuration device integrated circuit defined in claim 11 wherein the at least one antenna comprises first and second antennas, wherein the first antenna is connected to the power conversion circuitry and the second antenna is connected to the transceiver circuitry.

13. The configuration device integrated circuit defined in claim 11 wherein the antenna comprises a single antenna connected to both the power conversion circuitry and the transceiver circuitry.

14. The configuration device integrated circuit defined in claim 11 wherein the antenna comprises a conductive spiral mounted on top of the configuration device integrated circuit.

15. The configuration device integrated circuit defined in claim 11 further comprising a backfill layer on the configuration device integrated circuit, wherein the antenna comprises a conductive spiral mounted on top of the backfill layer.

16. The programmable logic device integrated circuit defined in claim 11 further comprising a plurality of metal layers including a top metal layer and a second-to-top metal layer, wherein the at least one antenna is formed from metal in the top metal layer and the second-to-top metal layer.