Communication Scheme Between Programmable Sub-Cores in an Emulation Environment
AssigneeMentor Graphics Corporation
InventorsPeer Schmitt, Philippe Diehl, Charles Selvidge
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Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for communicating in a programmable core. The programmable core is within a single integrated circuit and is divided into multiple independent sub-cores. The sub-cores are coupled together using a multiplexer based network. In another aspect, the multiplexer-based network includes multiplexers associated with some of the sub-cores for sending data and demultiplexers associated with other sub-cores for receiving data. In yet another aspect, a clock is included in the multiplexer-based network for synchronizing communication between the multiplexers and demultiplexers.
Claims17
In an emulation environment, a communication scheme in a programmable core used to emulate a hardware design of a user, comprising:
- multiple programmable sub-cores within the programmable core, the programmable core being within a single integrated circuit;
- and
- a network, within the same integrated circuit, coupled between the programmable sub-cores for communication there between, the network including at least one multiplexer associated with a first of the programmable sub-cores and at least one demultiplexer associated with a second of the programmable subcores.
A method of communicating in a programmable core of an emulation environment, comprising:
- programming multiple programmable sub-cores in a single integrated circuit with a user design to be emulated;
- and
- communicating between the multiple programmed sub-cores over a multiplexer-based network.
A system for emulating a user design, comprising:
- means for programming multiple programmable sub-cores in a single integrated circuit with a user design to be emulated;
- and
- means for communicating between the multiple programmed sub-cores using a multiplexer-based network.
The system of emulating a user design wherein the means for communicating includes multiplexer means and demultiplexer means.
An emulator, comprising:
- multiple printed circuit boards coupled together through a mid-plane or back-plane;
- multiple integrated circuits positioned on each of the printed circuit boards;
- an FPGA core within at least one of the integrated circuits;
- multiple sub-cores within the FPGA core, the sub-cores including a programmable portion;
- a network coupled between the multiple sub-cores, the network including a multiplexer associated with one of the sub-cores and a corresponding demultiplexer coupled to the multiplexer on another of the sub-cores.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.