Configurable cellular array
AssigneeAlgotronix, Ltd.
InventorThomas A. Kean
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A configurable cellular array is provided having a 2-dimensional array of cells in which each cell in the array has at least one input and output connection at least one bit wide to its neighbours. Each cell also has a programmable routing circuit to permit intercellular connections to be made. In one arrangement each cell contains a programmable function unit which includes a plurality of multiplexers. In a preferred arrangement the function unit and routing unit are programmable using associated Random Access Memory (RAM) areas within the cell. Each cell may be coupled to at least one global or array-crossing-signals so that all cells can be signalled simultaneously. The 2-dimensional array is rectangular and the intercell connections are orthogonal and are one bit wide.
Claims20
A configurable cellular array comprising a plurality of cells arranged in a 2-dimensional format so that, apart from those cells at the edges of the array, each cell has only four orthogonally arranged adjacent neighbouring cells to each of which it is only connected with only one input and output connection to each respective adjacent neighbour cell, each said connection being unidirectional and only one-bit wide, each cell comprising a programmable routing means having a plurality of multiplexors and a programmable logic function unit coupled to said programmable routing means, said logic function unit having a plurality of multiplexors, the logic function unit having two inputs provided by a first set of multiplexors of the programmable routing means, said logic function unit having only one output which is delivered within the cell as an input to a second set of multiplexors of the programmable routing means of the cell, said second set of multiplexors being arranged to selectively route the logic function unit output to each of said four neighbouring cells, and to route selectively the input from each neighbouring cell as a cell output to each other neighbouring cell except the cell from which the cell input is received, each multiplexor of said programmable routing means being programmable and most multiplexors of said logic function unit being programmable by bits of a control word from cell memory which control word is retained during the operation of the array.
A 2-dimensional configurable cellular array comprising:
- a plurality of configurable cells, each cell having a plurality of cell inputs and a plurality of cell outputs;
- each cell being connected to each of its neighbouring cells only in the array by one of said cell inputs and one of said cell outputs, each of said cell inputs and each of said cell outputs being at least one bit wide;
- each cell having a programmable routing means located therein, said programmable routing means being coupled to each of the cell inputs and cell outputs;
- said programmable routing means being arranged for selectively routing one of said plurality of cell inputs to any one of said plurality of cell outputs except the output from which the input came.
A 2-dimensional configurable cellular array comprising:
- a plurality of configurable cells arranged so that, apart from those cells at the edge of the array, each cell has four cell inputs and four cell outputs each cell being connected to the adjacent neighbour cell in the array by one cell output and one cell input, each cell input and each cell output being unidirectional and being at least one bit wide;
- each cell having a programmable routing means therein coupled to each of said cell inputs and to each of said cell outputs, each cell having a programmable function unit therein coupled to said programmable routing means, said programmable function unit having a plurality of multiplexors receiving function unit input signals from said programmable routing means, said programmable function unit combining said function unit input signals to provide a function unit output, said function unit output being coupled to said programmable routing means to form an input to said programmable routing means whereby said programmable routing means selectively routes one of said four cell inputs from adjacent neighbour cells and said function unit output to any one of said four cell outputs except the cell output from which the input came.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.