US 5,497,108 A · BICMOS repeater circuit for a programmable logic device

Abstract

A programmable logic device includes a plurality of logic cells in which logic functions are performed, a plurality of input lines for supplying signals to be processed by the logic cells, a plurality of output lines for receiving signals that have been processed by the logic cells, and a plurality of repeater circuits combining bipolar and CMOS transistor technologies for transferring data from one point in the PLD to another point. Unidirectional repeater circuits transfer data from a first data bus in the PLD to a second data bus in the PLD. Bidirectional repeater circuits maintain signal integrity by transferring data along the length of a single PLD data bus. The bipolar technology in the repeater circuits provides superior speed in data transfer, while the CMOS technology limits power consumption of the repeater circuits.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A programmable logic device comprising:

a plurality of logic cells in which logic functions are performed;
a plurality of input lines for supplying signals to the plurality of logic cells;
a plurality of output lines for receiving signals from the plurality of logic cells;
a first potential source coupled to the plurality of logic cells;
a second potential source coupled to the plurality of logic cells;
and
a plurality of repeater circuits coupling the output lines to the input lines, the plurality of repeater circuits including bipolar and CMOS transistors.

4 more elements

In a programmable logic device, a bidirectional repeater circuit for producing an output signal from an input signal on a differential data bus, the bidirectional repeater circuit comprising:

a first input/output terminal for receiving the input signal and providing the output signal;
a second input/output terminal for receiving the input signal and providing the output signal;
a third input/output terminal for receiving the input signal and providing the output signal;
a fourth input/output terminal for receiving the input signal and providing the output signal;
a first programmable controllable input terminal for receiving a first direction control signal;
a second programmable controllable input terminal for receiving a second direction control signal;
a first BiCMOS unidirectional repeater circuit coupled to the first input/output terminal;
a second BiCMOS unidirectional repeater circuit coupled to the second input/output terminal;
a third BiCMOS unidirectional repeater circuit coupled to the third input/output terminal;
a fourth BiCMOS unidirectional repeater circuit coupled to the fourth input/output terminal;
and
a CML amplifier coupled the first, second, third and fourth BiCMOS unidirectional repeater circuits having a first and second input and a first and second output.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

BICMOS repeater circuit for a programmable logic device

Life of this patent

BICMOS repeater circuit for a programmable logic device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16