Field-programmable module for interface bridging and input/output expansion
AssigneeATI Technologies ULC
InventorsBehrooz K. Kakolaki, Darlington C. Opara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more specialized field programmable modules (e.g. CPLD and FPGA blocks) and their programming interface are embedded into a processing system (e.g. a CPU, GPU, APU and/or chipset). The field programmable modules are in-system programmable, in contrast to the application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) modules that perform the core functions of the processing system. The programmable flexibility of the field programmable modules can have various benefits during different stages of the integrated circuit life cycle for the processing system, such as reconfigurable interface bridging and two-way I/O expansion.
Claims21
A method, comprising:
- programming, at processing system, a field programmable module to have a programmable configuration that adjusts at least one parameter of input/output signaling of the processing system;
- and
- communicating, at the processing system, with a peripheral device using the adjusted input/output signaling, the peripheral device selected from a group consisting of:
- a display interface, wireless radio, audio device interface, and a bus interface of the processing system.
A method, comprising:
- programming, at a processing system, a field programmable module to have a programmable configuration;
- and
- authorizing, at a processing system, a peripheral device to access a register of the processing system in response to determining based on the programmable configuration at the field programmable module of the processing system that the peripheral device has permission to access the register.
A processing system, comprising:
- a field programmable module having a programmable configuration to adjust input/output signaling of the processing system, the processing system to communicate with a peripheral device with the adjusted input/output signaling, the peripheral device selected from the group consisting of:
- a display interface, wireless radio, audio device interface, and a bus interface of the processing system.
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing code to adapt at least one computer system to perform a portion of a process to fabricate at least part of a processing system, the processing system comprising:
- a field programmable module having a programmable configuration that adjusts input/output signaling of the processing system, the processing system to communicate with a peripheral device with the adjusted input/output signaling, the peripheral device selected from the group consisting of:
- a display interface, wireless radio, audio device interface, and a bus interface of the processing system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.