Dynamically reconfigurable hardware system for real-time control of processes
AssigneeMirage Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSylvain Martel, Serge R. Lafontaine, Ian W. Hunter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dynanically reconfigurable hardware system for real-time control of ,an external device. Configuration of a dynamically reconfigurable logic module is provided on the basis of a hardware configuration established in a local configuration memory by a configuration signal received over a data bus from a host processor, thereby enabling an external device to be controlled in real-time independently of the host processor.
Claims11
A dynamically reconfigurable hardware system for real-time control of an external device comprising:
- (a) a configuration memory for storing a hardware configuration;
- (b) a reconfigurable logic module, in communication with the configuration memory, for establishing the hardware configuration in the module on receipt of a configuration signal;
- (c) a controller in communication over a data bus with the reconfigurable logic module and the configuration memory for sending the configuration signal to the reconfigurable logic module independently of the real-time control of the external device and for establishing the dynamically reconfigurable hardware configuration in the configuration memory;
- and,
- (d) a communication port coupled to the reconfigurable logic module independently of signals on the data bus for controlling the external device.
A method for controlling an external device in real time, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving a configuration signal over a data bus;
- (b) storing a hardware configuration in a configuration memory based at least on the configuration signal;
- (c) providing a dynamically reconfigurable logic module in communication with the configuration memory for establishing the hardware configuration in the module;
- (d) establishing the hardware configuration in the reconfigurable logic module;
- and
- (e) utilizing the reconfigurable logic module to control the external device in real time independently of signals on the data bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.