Multi-row block supporting row level redundancy in a pld
AssigneeAltera Corporation
InventorDavid Lewis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a multi-row block that has internal logic connections between rows has redundant internal connections between rows to replace the internal logic connections when a fault occurs. The redundant internal logic connections extend through a row, linking the row above a defective row with a row below the defective row. Elements in a multi-row block are configurable to perform a default function and a function of an element in a neighboring row, if the functions are different.
Claims19
A programmable logic device comprising:
- a plurality of rows of elements interconnected by configurable connections;
- a plurality of row-redundancy circuits that replace defective rows with non-defective rows;
- a multi-row block of elements that includes elements in each of a first row, a second row, and a third row, an internal logic connection between a first element of the first row and a second element of the second row;
- and
- internal redundant connections in the multi-row block, the internal redundant connections including an internal redundant logic connection between the first element and a third element in a third row to replace the internal logic connection between the first element and the second element when the second element is defective.
A method of operating a multi-row programmable logic device containing a multi-row block, comprising:
- determining that a row of the programmable logic device is defective;
- rerouting input signals to and output signals from the defective row to an adjacent row;
- in the multi-row block that extends across the defective row and the adjacent row, replacing internal logic connections between the defective row and neighboring rows with internal logic connections between the adjacent row and the neighboring rows;
- and
- reconfiguring the elements of the adjacent row to perform functions of the defective row.
A programmable logic device comprising:
- a plurality of rows of elements;
- a plurality of row-redundancy circuits to replace a defective row with a non-defective row;
- a multi-row digital signal processing block that extends through the plurality of rows, the multi-row digital signal processing block performing different functions, using physically different elements, in different rows in the multi-row block;
- and
- a plurality of internal logic connections between rows within the multi-row block, the multi-row block having a plurality of redundant internal logic connections to replace the plurality of internal logic connections when a row of the plurality of rows is replaced by the row-redundancy circuits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.