Programmable logic device with ferroelectric configuration memories

A programmable logic device which performs logic functions according to given configuration data, comprising:

• a programmable logic block which provides a logic function as programmed;
• a configuration memory composed of non-volatile ferroelectric memory cells which stores configuration data;
• a memory, composed of at least one non-volatile ferroelectric memory cell, which stores information that indicates whether said configuration memory has already been loaded with the configuration data;
• and
• a control circuit which disables outputs of said programmable logic block when the information in said memory indicates that said configuration memory has not been loaded.

A programmable logic device, comprising:

• a programmable logic block which provides a logic function as programmed;
• a configuration memory composed of non-volatile ferroelectric memory cells which stores configuration data that defines the logic function of said programmable logic block;
• a security data storage area which is provided as part of said configuration memory to store a security identifier;
• and
• an authentication processor which authenticates a request related to said configuration memory by using the security data stored in said security data storage area.

A programmable logic device which performs logic functions according to given configuration data, comprising:

• a programmable logic block which provides a logic 20 function as programmed;
• a plurality of configuration memories, each composed of non-volatile ferroelectric memory cells, which store a plurality of configuration data sets;
• a data selector which selects one of the plurality of configuration data sets for use in said programmable logic block to define the logic function thereof, whereby said programmable logic block operates in various ways,
• a security data storage area which is provided as part of said configuration memories to store a security identifier;
• and
• an authentication processor which authenticates a request related to said configuration memories by using the security identifier stored in said security data storage area.

A programmable logic device, comprising:

• a programmable logic block which provides a logic function as programmed;
• a configuration memory composed of non-volatile ferroelectric memory cells which stores configuration data that defines the logic function of said programmable logic block;
• a supply voltage monitor which produces a detection signal when a supply voltage has reached a predetermined threshold voltage;
• and
• a memory controller which supplies power to said ferroelectric memory cells after applying a high-level voltage to a plate line of said ferroelectric memory cells in response to the detection signal from said supply voltage monitor.

A programmable logic device, comprising:

• a programmable logic block which provides a logic function as programmed;
• a configuration memory composed of non-volatile ferroelectric memory cells which stores configuration data that defines the logic function of said programmable logic block;
• a supply voltage monitor which produces a detection signal when a supply voltage has fallen below a predetermined threshold voltage;
• and
• a memory controller which removes power from said ferroelectric memory cells, after applying a first plate line voltage to a plate line of said ferroelectric memory cells in response to the detection signal from said supply voltage monitor and then applying thereto a second plate line voltage, so as to store the configuration data in said ferroelectric memory cells.

A programmable logic device which performs logic functions according to given configuration data, comprising:

• a programmable logic block which provides a logic function as programmed;
• a plurality of configuration memories, each composed of non-volatile ferroelectric memory cells, which store a plurality of configuration data sets;
• and
• a data selector which selects one of the plurality of configuration data sets for use in said programmable logic block to define the logic function thereof, whereby said programmable logic block operates in various ways, depending on which configuration data is selected;
• wherein said data selector changes the selection to another configuration data set in response to an event signal that is produced by said programmable logic block in operation or supplied from an external source while said programmable logic block is in operation.

A programmable logic device which performs logic functions according to given configuration data, comprising:

• a programmable logic block which provides a logic function as programmed;
• a plurality of configuration memories, each composed of non-volatile ferroelectric memory cells, which store a plurality of configuration data sets;
• a data selector which selects one of the plurality of configuration data sets for use in said programmable
• logic block to define the logic function thereof, whereby said programmable logic block operates in various ways, depending on which configuration data is selected;
• and
• a read-only memory controller which enables said programmable logic block to make access to one of said configuration memories for reference as a read-only memory.

A programmable logic device which performs logic functions according to given configuration data, comprising:

• a programmable logic block which provides a logic function as programmed;
• a plurality of configuration memories, each composed of non-volatile ferroelectric memory cells, which store a plurality of configuration data sets;
• and
• a data selector which selects one of the plurality of configuration data sets for use in said programmable logic block to define the logic function thereof, whereby said programmable logic block operates in various ways, depending on which configuration data is selected;
• wherein:
• said plurality of configuration memories are divided into a plurality of groups;
• and
• said plurality of groups of configuration memories receive or output a plurality of configuration data streams concurrently.

A programmable logic device which performs logic functions according to given configuration data, comprising:

• a programmable logic block which provides a logic function as programmed;
• composed of non-volatile ferroelectric memory cells, which store a plurality of configuration data sets;
• and
• a data selector which selects one of the plurality of configuration data sets for use in said programmable logic block to define the logic function thereof, whereby said programmable logic block operates in various ways, depending on which configuration data is selected;
• wherein:
• said configuration memories are divided into a plurality of groups;
• and
• at least one of said plurality of groups of configuration memories receives a configuration data stream from an external source in the background.