Techniques for replacing logic circuits in modules with configurable circuits

A method for protecting a circuit design for an application specific integrated circuit, the method comprising:

• identifying a first module of first logic circuitry for replacement in at least a portion of the circuit design;
• and
• generating a transformed circuit design for the application specific integrated circuit using a logic circuit replacement tool by replacing the first logic circuitry with a first configurable circuit in the first module that performs a first logic function of the first logic circuitry only when a first bitstream is stored in first storage circuits in the first configurable circuit and configures the first configurable circuit to perform the first logic function, wherein the transformed circuit design comprises the first configurable circuit comprising the first storage circuits in the first module.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a first module comprising a first configurable circuit that performs a first logic function of first logic circuitry when a first bitstream stored in first storage circuits in the first configurable circuit configures the first configurable circuit to perform the first logic function, wherein the first configurable circuit cannot perform the first logic function without the first bitstream stored in the first storage circuits,
• wherein a logic circuit replacement tool replaces the first logic circuitry in the first module in at least a portion of a circuit design for the integrated circuit with the first configurable circuit to generate a transformed circuit design for the integrated circuit, wherein the transformed circuit design comprises the first configurable circuit comprising the first storage circuits, and wherein the integrated circuit is an application specific integrated circuit.