Programmable logic with lower internal voltage circuitry
AssigneeALTERA CORPORATION, a corporation of Delaware
InventorsRakesh H. Patel, John E. Turner, John D. Lam, Wilson Wong
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Abstract
A technique provides an on-chip voltage to a core portion of a programmable logic integrated circuit by way of a conversion transistor. The on-chip voltage may be a reduced internal voltage, less than the VCC of the integrated circuit. In an embodiment, the layout (or physical structure) of the conversion transistor is distributed surrounding the core portion. By providing the core with a reduced voltage, the integrated circuit may interface with other integrated circuits compatible with different voltage levels.
Claims20
A programmable logic integrated circuit comprising:
- a logic array block, programmably configurable to perform logical functions;
- an output driver circuit coupled to a first voltage supply;
- a voltage down converter circuit, coupled to a second voltage supply to generate a third voltage supply having a voltage level below the second voltage supply, wherein the logic array block is coupled to the third voltage supply and the voltage down converter comprises:
- a conversion transistor coupled between the second voltage supply and the third voltage supply;
- and
- an amplifier circuit coupled to receive the third voltage supply and feed back a control signal to the conversion transistor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.