US 7,607,005 B1 · Virtual hardware system with universal ports using FPGA

Abstract

Particular implementations are particularly useful in providing a system in which the hardware is more easily upgradable and new hardware functionality may be added without adding any new physical hardware. Through placement of an FPGA closely associated with the CPU of a personal computer, the FPGA may be reconfigured to act as new hardware. A system for installing new virtual hardware involves loading firmware into memory associated with the FPGA and reconfiguring the FPGA through a microcontroller. Particular implementations include universal ports associated with the FPGA into which adapter plugs can be placed to quickly adapt to any device that may be added through the virtual hardware use of the FPGA. Other implementations include high density connectors into which a plurality of ports of varying configurations may be plugged for connection of external electronic equipment through the FPGA.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A microcontroller-based system comprising:

a FPGA having logic gates, said FPGA interfacing with a chipset of a CPU within the system;
and
a microcontroller and memory within the system and associated with the FPGA,
wherein the microcontroller and memory coordinate to receive and store end user initiated firmware capable of automatically reconfiguring the configuration of said logic gates within the FPGA;
wherein the FPGA is upgradable through activation of the microcontroller to reconfigure the FPGA according to the firmware stored in the memory and wherein the FPGA is configurable to be an input and output signal interface to the system;
a coprocessor;
a manual input interface controller;
a visual display output controller;
a signal processor;
a communications protocol controller and a battery charger.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Virtual hardware system with universal ports using FPGA

Life of this patent

Virtual hardware system with universal ports using FPGA

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20