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US 6,636,936 B2Granted
Programming circuits and techniques for programmable logic
AssigneeAltera Corporation
InventorsRichard Shaw Terrill, Robert Richard Noel Bielby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for configuring a plurality of programmable logic devices which include the steps of providing a source of configuration data and transferring the configuration data directly from the source to each of the programmable logic devices. In some embodiments, the methods permit the programmable logic devices to configure themselves without the intervention of an intelligent host such as a CPU, a microcontroller, or other types of intelligent logic. In other embodiments, configuration data files are used in conjunction with an intelligent host to configure the programmable logic devices. Configuration is performed at power-up or, alternatively, under user or software control.
Claims33
A method of programming a plurality of programmable logic devices, comprising:
- providing a source of configuration data;
- generating a plurality of clock signals from the source of configuration data, each of the plurality of clock signals coupled to a respective one of the plurality of programmable logic devices;
- transferring the configuration data to the plurality of programmable logic devices, each in response to the respective one of the plurality of clock signals;
- and
- configuring the plurality of programmable logic devices with the configuration data, wherein a first set of the configuration data used to configure a first programmable logic device of the plurality of programmable logic devices is different from a second set of the configuration data used to configure a second programmable logic device of the plurality of programmable logic devices.
2 more elements
A method of programming a plurality of programmable logic devices comprising:
- providing a source of configuration data;
- generating a plurality of control signals;
- selectively transferring configuration data to each of the plurality of programmable logic devices, wherein each programmable logic device is selectable using a respective one of the plurality of control signals;
- and
- configuring the plurality of programmable logic devices with the configuration data, wherein a first set of the configuration data used to configure a first programmable logic device of the plurally of programmable logic devices is different from a second set of the configuration data used to configure a second programmable logic device of the plurality of programmable logic device.
2 more elements
A method of configuring a plurality of programmable logic devices comprising:
- providing a microprocessor;
- transferring a first set of configuration data using a first path from a first pin of the microprocessor to a first programmable logic device;
- configuring at least a portion of the first programmable logic device with the first set of configuration data;
- transferring a second set of configuration data using a second path from a second pin of the microprocessor to a second programmable logic device;
- and
- configuring at least a portion of the second programmable logic device with the second set of configuration data.
3 more elements
A method for configuring a plurality of programmable logic devices, comprising:
- providing a source of configuration data, wherein the source comprises a digital processor;
- generating a first clock signal from the digital processor;
- generating a second clock signal from the digital processor;
- retrieving configuration data into the digital processor;
- in response to the first clock signal generated by the digital processor, transferring via a first direct data path a first set of configuration data from the digital processor to a first programmable logic device;
- configuring at least a portion of the first programmable logic device with the first set of configuration data;
- in response to the second clock signal generated by the digital processor, transferring via a second direct data path a second portion of the first set of configuration data from the digital processor to a second programmable logic device;
- and
- configuring at least a portion of the second programmable logic device with the second portion of the first set of configuration data.
6 more elements
A method for configuring a plurality of programmable logic devices, comprising:
- providing a source of configuration data;
- transferring in parallel a first set of configuration data directly from the source to a first programmable logic device;
- configuring at least a portion of the first programmable logic device with the first set of configuration data;
- transferring in parallel a second set of configuration data directly from the source to a second programmable logic device;
- and
- configuring at least a portion of the second programmable logic device with the second set of the configuration data,
- wherein the configuring at least a portion of the first programmable logic device is interleaved with the configuring at least a portion of the second programmable logic device, and the first programmable logic device may be partially configured when the second programmable logic device is partially configured.
4 more elements
A method for configuring a plurality of programmable logic devices, comprising:
- providing a source of configuration data;
- transferring in parallel, a first set of the configuration data from the source to a first programmable logic device;
- configuring at least a portion of the first programmable logic device with the first set of configuration data;
- transferring in parallel a second set of configuration data directly from the source to a second programmable logic device;
- and
- configuring at least a portion of the second programmable logic device with the second set of the configuration data,
- wherein the transferring the configuration data to a first programmable logic device is interleaved with the transferring the configuration data to a second programmable logic device, and the first programmable logic device may be partially configured when the second programmable logic device is partially configured.
4 more elements
A method for configuring a plurality of programmable logic devices, comprising:
- providing a source of configuration data, wherein the source comprises a digital processor;
- retrieving configuration data into the digital processor;
- serially transferring via a first direct data path a first set of configuration data, from a first data port of the digital processor to a first programmable logic device;
- configuring at least a portion of the first programmable logic device with the first set of configuration data;
- serially transferring via a second direct data path, a second set of configuration data, from a second data port of the digital processor to a second programmable logic device;
- and
- configuring at least a portion of the second programmable logic device with the second set of configuration data.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.