US 5,656,950 A · Interconnect lines including tri-directional buffer circuits

Abstract

A metal interconnect line for conducting a first signal from a first line segment of a field programmable gate array to a second line segment. The metal interconnect line substantially spans across the width of the field programmable gate array and has at least one bi-directional buffer that separates the metal interconnect line into a plurality of independent segments. Each of these segments can conduct signals independently from the other segments when the bidirectional buffer is in a tristate mode. Alternatively, a single signal may be routed through the entire length of the metal line in one or the other direction, and repowered along the way. One or more of the bi-directional buffers are used to actively drive the signal(s) onto later segments of the metal interconnect line.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A field programmable interconnect structure comprising:

a long line;
and
at least one buffer circuit placed into said long line, thereby dividing said long line into a first input/output conductor and a second input/output conductor, wherein said at least one buffer circuit includes:
a first input line;
means for selecting between a first signal on said first input/output conductor and a second signal on said first input line:
a driver circuit coupled to said first input/output conductor, said means for selecting, and said second input/output conductor;
means for enabling said driver circuit to provide an output signal of said means for selecting to said second input/output conductor;
and
means for enabling said driver circuit to provide a third signal on said second input/output conductor to said first input/output conductor.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interconnect lines including tri-directional buffer circuits

Life of this patent

Interconnect lines including tri-directional buffer circuits

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13