WO1990013982A1 - Programmable logic device with ganged output pins - Google Patents

Programmable logic device with ganged output pins Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1990013982A1
WO1990013982A1 PCT/US1990/002562 US9002562W WO9013982A1 WO 1990013982 A1 WO1990013982 A1 WO 1990013982A1 US 9002562 W US9002562 W US 9002562W WO 9013982 A1 WO9013982 A1 WO 9013982A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
programmable
array
functional units
lines
input
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1990/002562
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Cecil H. Kaplinsky
Original Assignee
Plus Logic, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Plus Logic, Inc. filed Critical Plus Logic, Inc.
Publication of WO1990013982A1 publication Critical patent/WO1990013982A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H03ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03KPULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K19/00Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits
    • H03K19/02Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components
    • H03K19/173Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components using elementary logic circuits as components
    • H03K19/177Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components using elementary logic circuits as components arranged in matrix form
    • H03K19/17704Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components using elementary logic circuits as components arranged in matrix form the logic functions being realised by the interconnection of rows and columns
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H03ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03KPULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K19/00Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits
    • H03K19/02Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components
    • H03K19/173Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components using elementary logic circuits as components
    • H03K19/177Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components using elementary logic circuits as components arranged in matrix form
    • H03K19/17704Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components using elementary logic circuits as components arranged in matrix form the logic functions being realised by the interconnection of rows and columns
    • H03K19/17708Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components using elementary logic circuits as components arranged in matrix form the logic functions being realised by the interconnection of rows and columns using an AND matrix followed by an OR matrix, i.e. programmable logic arrays
    • H03K19/17712Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components using elementary logic circuits as components arranged in matrix form the logic functions being realised by the interconnection of rows and columns using an AND matrix followed by an OR matrix, i.e. programmable logic arrays one of the matrices at least being reprogrammable
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H03ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03KPULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K19/00Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits
    • H03K19/02Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components
    • H03K19/173Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components using elementary logic circuits as components
    • H03K19/177Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components using elementary logic circuits as components arranged in matrix form
    • H03K19/17736Structural details of routing resources
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H03ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03KPULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K19/00Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits
    • H03K19/02Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components
    • H03K19/173Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components using elementary logic circuits as components
    • H03K19/177Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output; Inverting circuits using specified components using elementary logic circuits as components arranged in matrix form
    • H03K19/1778Structural details for adapting physical parameters
    • H03K19/17792Structural details for adapting physical parameters for operating speed
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q3/00Selecting arrangements
    • H04Q3/42Circuit arrangements for indirect selecting controlled by common circuits, e.g. register controller, marker
    • H04Q3/52Circuit arrangements for indirect selecting controlled by common circuits, e.g. register controller, marker using static devices in switching stages, e.g. electronic switching arrangements
    • H04Q3/521Circuit arrangements for indirect selecting controlled by common circuits, e.g. register controller, marker using static devices in switching stages, e.g. electronic switching arrangements using semiconductors in the switching stages

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a class of integrated circuits known as programmable logic devices, whether mask programmable, fusible, ultraviolet erasable reprogrammable or electrically erasable reprogrammable, and in particular to architectures for programmable logic devices for optimizing speed and functional flexibility.
  • PLDs Programmable logic devices
  • PLDs are inte ⁇ grated circuits which increasingly are being used to provide the logic for electronic systems.
  • these devices may be used as "glue" to electrically con ⁇ nect and control the interaction of the major parts of a microcomputer system.
  • PLDs include a set of input pins, two arrays of logic gates, i.e. an AND array followed by an OR array, and a set of output pins.
  • flip-flops following the OR array together with feedback lines are also included in order to provide registered output and sequential logic capabilities in ⁇ stead of the combinatorial logic provided by the AND/OR arrays alone.
  • PLD architec ⁇ tures are available.
  • programmable logic elements PLEs
  • the AND array is fixed and the OR array is pro ⁇ grammable.
  • PLEs are useful in applications requiring most or all possible input combinations, such as lookup tables and character generators.
  • the array size must be doubled for each additional input, PLEs are limited by cost and performance constraints to a small number of inputs.
  • Programmable logic arrays PLAs
  • PAL Programmable array logic
  • PLA and PAL architectures have advantages. Because both arrays are programmable, PLAs offer a high degree of functional flexibility.
  • PALs are faster, be ⁇ cause a programmable OR array is slower than dedicated OR gates.
  • the PLA's flexibility is useful for complex state-machine and sequence applications, while most other applications not requiring a high degree of flexibility take advantage of the PAL's speed.
  • a VLSI chip contains 50-200 standard logic func ⁇ tional blocks of SSI/MSI level integration performing various kinds of functions, such as inverters, NORs, NANDs, flip-flops, shift registers, counters, multipli ⁇ ers, ALUs, etc.
  • Each of these fixed functional units may be connected to other functional units by means of an EEPROM switch matrix.
  • the switch matrix provides flexi ⁇ bility and can easily be reprogrammed, but a large number of standard functional blocks must be anticipated to pro ⁇ vide true flexibility, most of which would be unused for any given chip function.
  • An object of the present invention is to pro ⁇ vide a programmable logic device architecture which makes good use of chip area, and combines functional flexibili ⁇ ty with speed.
  • a program- mable logic device having a plurality of programmable functional units, each of which is similar to a PLA.
  • any of the in ⁇ put pins can be programmed to connect to any input of any functional unit.
  • Each of the output pins is directly connected or ganged to an output of a functional unit.
  • Each interconnection matrix selectively con ⁇ nects the lines for each output of a functional unit to the lines for each input of the same or other functional unit.
  • Each functional unit may be configured like a conventional PLA with a number of inputs and outputs, AND and OR arrays, and possibly feedback lines, dedicated units and registers, edge trig ⁇ gered or enabled by a level.
  • the OR array may be only partially populated with programming links.
  • Some of the functional units can be PALs, an EPROM memory, a dis ⁇ crete-logic comparator and the like.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic showing the basic struc ⁇ ture of a programmable logic device of the present inven ⁇ tion.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic of a functional unit in the device of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic of an interconnection matrix in the device of Fig. 1.
  • a programmable logic device includes a plurality of functional units 20-28.
  • the functional units 20-28 are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns.
  • 9 functional units are shown, but the actual number may vary from device to device.
  • Each functional unit in ⁇ cludes a set of inputs 29 and a set of outputs 30.
  • each functional unit 20-28 has 12 inputs and 9 outputs.
  • the number of inputs and outputs from the functional units may vary from device to device or within a device from functional unit to func ⁇ tional unit.
  • Each functional unit performs one or more logic functions which when combined with logic functions from itself and other functional units produces the more complex function of the overall programmable logic device.
  • the programmable logic device also includes a first set of conductive lines, represented by the verti ⁇ cal lines 31 of multiplicity 9, which are permanently connected to the outputs 30 of functional units 20-28.
  • the device includes a second set of conductive lines, represented by the horizontal dashed lines 32 of multiplicity 12, which are permanently connected to the input lines 29 of functional units 20-28. Since each of the conductive lines either of the first set 31 or of the second set 32, is connected to the outputs or inputs of a particular functional unit, the multiplicity of these lines exactly matches the number of inputs or outputs of each functional unit.
  • multiplicity we mean that each of the lines and dashed lines represented in Fig.
  • 1 is in actuality a collection of conductive lines whose number is indicated by the multiplicity.
  • the vertical solid line indicated by reference numeral 31 actually represents 9 conductive lines, each of which is connected to an output line 30 from functional unit 20.
  • the horizontal dashed line indicated by reference numeral 32 is in actuality 12 conductive lines each permanently connected to an input 29 of functional unit 20. The actual multiplicity of each of the lines will depend on the number of inputs and outputs for each functional unit 20-28.
  • the two sets of conductive lines 31 and 32 cross at various areas of the programmable logic device to form programmable interconnection matrices 33.
  • programmable interconnection matrices 33 In the example given in Fig. 1, since one set of lines has a multiplicity of 9 and the other set of lines has a multi ⁇ plicity of 12 the intersection of these two sets of lines forms matrices with 12 x 9 or 108 programmable crossings.
  • Each of the crossings may be programmed to conduct or not conduct from one line to another by switches from one of a number of technologies.
  • each crossing into an interconnection matrix may be mask programmed at a Fab facility in accordance with a user's instructions by forming VIAs between two levels of crossing lines.
  • the interconnection matrices may be field programmable by providing conductive fuses which may be broken by a user.
  • the interconnec ⁇ tion matrices are field programmable and erasable by providing EPROM or EEPROM switch transistors.
  • the programmable logic device also includes a set of input pins 34a and 34b.
  • pins we mean not only DIP-type pins but also other input and output con- structions known in the art, such as the metallized con ⁇ tacts of flat chip carriers. In the example in Fig. 1, 16 input pins are provided. However, the number of input pins may vary from device to device.
  • the sets of input pins 34a and 34b are permanently connected to conductive input lines 36a and 36b disposed to cross the second set of conductive lines 32. The crossings of input lines 36a and 36b with conductive lines 32 form programmable inter ⁇ connection matrices 38.
  • each of the intercon- nection matrices 38 is a 12 by 8 matrix of line crossings which may be made conductive by mask programming, fuse programming or switch programming with EPROMs or EEPROMs.
  • each of the input pins 34a and 34b is se ⁇ lectively connected to any of the inputs 29 of functional units 20-28.
  • the programmable logic device also includes sets of output pins 40a through 4Oh.
  • the number of out ⁇ put pins in each set may vary from set to set and from device to device. However, any number from 4 to about 9 pins per set is typical.
  • Each of the output pins 40a and 40b is directly connected to an output line 30 of a func ⁇ tional unit 20-28. Input and output pins need not be distinct, as represented by line 47 connecting the pair of pins 34a and 40a. Accordingly pins 40a are input/- output pin.
  • some or all of the functional units 20-28 in Fig. 1 may be programmable logic arrays.
  • a programmable logic array includes a programmable AND array 48 and a programmable OR array 50. These two arrays 48 and 50 combine to provide a two-step combinatorial logic.
  • the PLA has a plurality of input lines 29a, 29b . . . , 291 and a plurality of output lines 30a, 30b, . . . , 30i.
  • the number of input lines is 12 and the number of output lines is 9, but the actual num ⁇ ber may vary from device to device and from functional unit to functional unit.
  • the number of input and output lines is however considerably smaller than that of prior programmable logic devices using a single AND array and a single OR array for performing complex logic functions, since the programmable logic device architecture of the present invention breaks down the complex function into a number of simpler functions carried out by each program ⁇ mable functional unit.
  • Each input line 29a-l passes through a pair of gates 52 and 54 which provide complementary signals.
  • EAch horizontal dashed line represents an AND gate, called a "product line”.
  • Each product line 56 is selec ⁇ tively connected to AND gate inputs 57 through program ⁇ mable links 58. Links 58 may be mask programmed, fuse programmable or switch programmable.
  • Each of the product lines 56 intersects OR input lines 60 leading to EXOR gates 62.
  • Each intersection of a product line 56 and an OR input line 60 forms a programmable link 63 which again may be mask programmed, fuse programmable or switch programmable.
  • the output from EXOR gates 62 may be either directly connected to output lines 30a-i or connected through a flip-flop 64, the selection being made with a switch 63.
  • Flip-flop 64 is a D-type flip-flop whose clock signal is determined by one of the product lines 56 connected via clock line 66. D-type flip-flops are commonly used in programmable logic devices to provide registered outputs. Other types of flip-flops and latches may also be used as well as feed ⁇ back lines to either the AND array 48 or to input lines 29a-l. While functional units are preferably of the programmable logic array type, with both programmable AND and programmable OR arrays, they may also be of the other programmable logic device types with either fixed AND or fixed OR arrays.
  • OR arrays are useful because they allow two- stage logic to be used. PALs, with fixed ORs, also do this but at the expense of not being able to use product terms for multiple ORs. Product terms of PALs are com ⁇ mitted to specific ORs and a product term not used in one AND/OR function cannot be used in another which may need extra ORs. A fixed OR is however faster and thus PALs trade off function for speed. Programmable OR terms in PLAs are slow because of the capacitance of the switches. In the OR array 50 of Fig. 2, the product lines
  • OR gate input lines 60 connect to subsets only of OR gate input lines 60.
  • the input lines 60 are only partially popu ⁇ lated with programmable links 63 to product lines 56.
  • programmable links 63 to product lines 56.
  • a typical arrangement for an AND/OR array in- eludes 12 AND input lines, 44 product terms, 27 OR gate input lines (including input lines to latches or flip- flops 64) and 9 output lines.
  • the OR gate input lines are grouped into threes, with two lines leading to an EXOR gate 62 and the third line serving as a clock for latch 64.
  • One possible arrangement of partially popu ⁇ lated programmable links staggers the programmable links so that the first 12 product terms are connectable to the first group of three groups of three OR input lines, pro ⁇ duct terms 5-16 are connectable to the second group of OR input lines, product terms 9-20 are connectable to the third group of three groups of three OR input lines, and so forth, with the last 12 product terms 33-44 connect ⁇ able to the ninth group of three groups of three OR input lines.
  • Other partially populated arrangements of pro- grammable links can also be constructed.
  • Functional units 22-28 for providing complex control logic need not comprise only programmable logic arrays like that seen in Fig. 2.
  • an EPROM memory with a set of inputs for address, write and enable and the like, as well as a set of outputs for data, may be connected to the same sets of conductive lines 31 and 32 as other functional units.
  • dedicated logic structures such as an arithmetic logic unit with inputs for operands and operators, and outputs for operation results or a byte comparator circuit, may be connected in the same manner.
  • Such an arrangement could, for example, integrate central processing units with their glue logic on the same chip.
  • only a few of the functional units should be logic or memory circuits instead of PLAs or PALs.
  • Fig. 3 shows an interconnection matrix 33.
  • Interconnection matrices 38 and 44 in Fig. 1 are of similar construction.
  • Any of the first set of conductive lines 31, i.e., the conductive lines permanently con ⁇ nected to outputs 30 of functional units, shown in Fig. 3 as solid vertical lines 31a-i can be connected to any of the first set of conductive lines 32 i.e. those lines permanently connected to inputs 29 of functional units and shown as dashed horizontal lines 32a-l.
  • Connection is made usually by closing a switch. In some cases, for example with fuses, the switch is closed until it is ex ⁇ plicitly opened while with other switches such as EPROMs and EEPROMs the switch is open until it is explicitly closed.
  • switches 66 One hundred and eight switches 66 are shown in Fig.3. The number of switches will vary from intercon ⁇ nection matrix to interconnection matrix, depending on the multiplicity of conductive lines 31 and 32.
  • the programmable logic device architecture of the present invention achieves a large amount of functional flexibility combined with high speed and low cost by providing individually programmable functional units, with a fixed set of wiring forming interconnection matrices which also can be individually programmed.

Abstract

A programmable logic device architecture having a matrix of smaller functional units (20-28), each of which being a programmable logic array, and a set of fixed conductive lines (31, 32) connected to the functional unit inputs (29) and outputs (30), the conductive lines (31, 32) forming programmable interconnection matrices (33). The input pins (34a, 34b) can be programmably connected to any input (29) of any functional unit (20-28), and the outputs (30) of functional units (20-28) can be programmably connected to any input (29) of any functional unit. Output pins (40a-40h) connect directly to outputs (30) of functional units (20-28). The interconnection matrices (38) may be a simple array of crossing conductive lines with crossings connected by EPROM, or EEPROM switches.

Description

Description
Programmable Logic Device With Ganged Output Pins
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a class of integrated circuits known as programmable logic devices, whether mask programmable, fusible, ultraviolet erasable reprogrammable or electrically erasable reprogrammable, and in particular to architectures for programmable logic devices for optimizing speed and functional flexibility.
Background Art Programmable logic devices (PLDs) are inte¬ grated circuits which increasingly are being used to provide the logic for electronic systems. For example, these devices may be used as "glue" to electrically con¬ nect and control the interaction of the major parts of a microcomputer system. Typically, PLDs include a set of input pins, two arrays of logic gates, i.e. an AND array followed by an OR array, and a set of output pins. Fre¬ quently, flip-flops following the OR array together with feedback lines are also included in order to provide registered output and sequential logic capabilities in¬ stead of the combinatorial logic provided by the AND/OR arrays alone.
Presently, several basic types of PLD architec¬ tures are available. In programmable logic elements (PLEs) , the AND array is fixed and the OR array is pro¬ grammable. PLEs are useful in applications requiring most or all possible input combinations, such as lookup tables and character generators. However, because the array size must be doubled for each additional input, PLEs are limited by cost and performance constraints to a small number of inputs. Programmable logic arrays (PLAs) have both a programmable AND array and a programmable OR array. Programmable array logic (PAL) devices have a programmable AND array, but a fixed OR array. Both the PLA and PAL architectures have advantages. Because both arrays are programmable, PLAs offer a high degree of functional flexibility. However, PALs are faster, be¬ cause a programmable OR array is slower than dedicated OR gates. The PLA's flexibility is useful for complex state-machine and sequence applications, while most other applications not requiring a high degree of flexibility take advantage of the PAL's speed.
Some attempts have been made to combine both functional flexibility and speed in a PLD architecture. In Monolithic Memories1 series of MEGAPALS, the size of the AND array was increased and a fixed number of AND product terms were allowed to be shared amongst two out¬ puts. Altera's EP1200 chip is segmented into "sub-PALs" with only four outputs, the outputs of a particular seg¬ ment being usable as inputs for only some of the sub- PALs. In each case, all of the inputs are available to all of the AND terms simultaneously, resulting in AND arrays with 64 inputs, most of which remaining unused for any given product term. Because of their fixed product terms, there are 16 product terms per OR gate. In prac¬ tice, few sets of logic need so many inputs to an OR gate.
In U.S. patent 4,207,556, Sugiyama et al. dis¬ closes a programmable logic array arrangement having a plurality of cell units, each comprising a plurality of electronic elements, such as resistors, diodes and tran- sistors, a wiring matrix of row and column lines, and an array unit having a group of switching elements for se¬ lectively interconnecting the various row and column lines, and electronic elements. The arrangement sacri¬ fices density and speed for functionality by including a large number of electronic elements with variable wiring in each unit.
In Ikawa et al. , "A One Day Chip: An Innova¬ tive IC Construction Approach. . .", IEEE Journal of Sol- id-State Circuits, vol. Sc-21, No. 2, April 1986, pp. 223-227, a VLSI chip contains 50-200 standard logic func¬ tional blocks of SSI/MSI level integration performing various kinds of functions, such as inverters, NORs, NANDs, flip-flops, shift registers, counters, multipli¬ ers, ALUs, etc. Each of these fixed functional units may be connected to other functional units by means of an EEPROM switch matrix. The switch matrix provides flexi¬ bility and can easily be reprogrammed, but a large number of standard functional blocks must be anticipated to pro¬ vide true flexibility, most of which would be unused for any given chip function.
An object of the present invention is to pro¬ vide a programmable logic device architecture which makes good use of chip area, and combines functional flexibili¬ ty with speed.
Disclosure of the Invention
The above objects have been met with a program- mable logic device having a plurality of programmable functional units, each of which is similar to a PLA. Two fixed sets of conductive lines, one set permanently con¬ nected to the outputs of functional units, the other set permanently connected to the inputs of functional units, form programmable interconnection matrices where the two sets of conductive lines cross. Further, any of the in¬ put pins can be programmed to connect to any input of any functional unit. Each of the output pins is directly connected or ganged to an output of a functional unit. Each interconnection matrix selectively con¬ nects the lines for each output of a functional unit to the lines for each input of the same or other functional unit. Typically, lines are connected by closing a switch, such as an EPROM or EEPROM. Each functional unit may be configured like a conventional PLA with a number of inputs and outputs, AND and OR arrays, and possibly feedback lines, dedicated units and registers, edge trig¬ gered or enabled by a level. The OR array may be only partially populated with programming links. Some of the functional units can be PALs, an EPROM memory, a dis¬ crete-logic comparator and the like.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a schematic showing the basic struc¬ ture of a programmable logic device of the present inven¬ tion.
Fig. 2 is a schematic of a functional unit in the device of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a schematic of an interconnection matrix in the device of Fig. 1.
Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention With reference to Fig. 1, a programmable logic device includes a plurality of functional units 20-28. Preferably, the functional units 20-28 are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. In the example given in Fig. 1, 9 functional units are shown, but the actual number may vary from device to device. Each functional unit in¬ cludes a set of inputs 29 and a set of outputs 30. In the example in Fig. 1, each functional unit 20-28 has 12 inputs and 9 outputs. However, the number of inputs and outputs from the functional units may vary from device to device or within a device from functional unit to func¬ tional unit. Each functional unit performs one or more logic functions which when combined with logic functions from itself and other functional units produces the more complex function of the overall programmable logic device.
The programmable logic device also includes a first set of conductive lines, represented by the verti¬ cal lines 31 of multiplicity 9, which are permanently connected to the outputs 30 of functional units 20-28. Similarly, the device includes a second set of conductive lines, represented by the horizontal dashed lines 32 of multiplicity 12, which are permanently connected to the input lines 29 of functional units 20-28. Since each of the conductive lines either of the first set 31 or of the second set 32, is connected to the outputs or inputs of a particular functional unit, the multiplicity of these lines exactly matches the number of inputs or outputs of each functional unit. By the term "multiplicity" we mean that each of the lines and dashed lines represented in Fig. 1 is in actuality a collection of conductive lines whose number is indicated by the multiplicity. Thus the vertical solid line indicated by reference numeral 31 actually represents 9 conductive lines, each of which is connected to an output line 30 from functional unit 20. Likewise the horizontal dashed line indicated by reference numeral 32 is in actuality 12 conductive lines each permanently connected to an input 29 of functional unit 20. The actual multiplicity of each of the lines will depend on the number of inputs and outputs for each functional unit 20-28.
The two sets of conductive lines 31 and 32 cross at various areas of the programmable logic device to form programmable interconnection matrices 33. In the example given in Fig. 1, since one set of lines has a multiplicity of 9 and the other set of lines has a multi¬ plicity of 12 the intersection of these two sets of lines forms matrices with 12 x 9 or 108 programmable crossings. Each of the crossings may be programmed to conduct or not conduct from one line to another by switches from one of a number of technologies. For example, each crossing into an interconnection matrix may be mask programmed at a Fab facility in accordance with a user's instructions by forming VIAs between two levels of crossing lines.
Alternatively the interconnection matrices may be field programmable by providing conductive fuses which may be broken by a user. Preferably, however, the interconnec¬ tion matrices are field programmable and erasable by providing EPROM or EEPROM switch transistors.
The programmable logic device also includes a set of input pins 34a and 34b. By "pins", we mean not only DIP-type pins but also other input and output con- structions known in the art, such as the metallized con¬ tacts of flat chip carriers. In the example in Fig. 1, 16 input pins are provided. However, the number of input pins may vary from device to device. The sets of input pins 34a and 34b are permanently connected to conductive input lines 36a and 36b disposed to cross the second set of conductive lines 32. The crossings of input lines 36a and 36b with conductive lines 32 form programmable inter¬ connection matrices 38. In Fig. 1, each of the intercon- nection matrices 38 is a 12 by 8 matrix of line crossings which may be made conductive by mask programming, fuse programming or switch programming with EPROMs or EEPROMs. In this manner each of the input pins 34a and 34b is se¬ lectively connected to any of the inputs 29 of functional units 20-28.
The programmable logic device also includes sets of output pins 40a through 4Oh. The number of out¬ put pins in each set may vary from set to set and from device to device. However, any number from 4 to about 9 pins per set is typical. Each of the output pins 40a and 40b is directly connected to an output line 30 of a func¬ tional unit 20-28. Input and output pins need not be distinct, as represented by line 47 connecting the pair of pins 34a and 40a. Accordingly pins 40a are input/- output pin.
With reference to Fig. 2, some or all of the functional units 20-28 in Fig. 1 may be programmable logic arrays. As is known in the art a programmable logic array includes a programmable AND array 48 and a programmable OR array 50. These two arrays 48 and 50 combine to provide a two-step combinatorial logic. The PLA has a plurality of input lines 29a, 29b . . . , 291 and a plurality of output lines 30a, 30b, . . . , 30i. In the present example, the number of input lines is 12 and the number of output lines is 9, but the actual num¬ ber may vary from device to device and from functional unit to functional unit. The number of input and output lines is however considerably smaller than that of prior programmable logic devices using a single AND array and a single OR array for performing complex logic functions, since the programmable logic device architecture of the present invention breaks down the complex function into a number of simpler functions carried out by each program¬ mable functional unit.
Each input line 29a-l passes through a pair of gates 52 and 54 which provide complementary signals. EAch horizontal dashed line represents an AND gate, called a "product line". Each product line 56 is selec¬ tively connected to AND gate inputs 57 through program¬ mable links 58. Links 58 may be mask programmed, fuse programmable or switch programmable. Each of the product lines 56 intersects OR input lines 60 leading to EXOR gates 62. Each intersection of a product line 56 and an OR input line 60 forms a programmable link 63 which again may be mask programmed, fuse programmable or switch programmable.
In the functional unit in Fig. 2 the output from EXOR gates 62 may be either directly connected to output lines 30a-i or connected through a flip-flop 64, the selection being made with a switch 63. Flip-flop 64 is a D-type flip-flop whose clock signal is determined by one of the product lines 56 connected via clock line 66. D-type flip-flops are commonly used in programmable logic devices to provide registered outputs. Other types of flip-flops and latches may also be used as well as feed¬ back lines to either the AND array 48 or to input lines 29a-l. While functional units are preferably of the programmable logic array type, with both programmable AND and programmable OR arrays, they may also be of the other programmable logic device types with either fixed AND or fixed OR arrays.
OR arrays are useful because they allow two- stage logic to be used. PALs, with fixed ORs, also do this but at the expense of not being able to use product terms for multiple ORs. Product terms of PALs are com¬ mitted to specific ORs and a product term not used in one AND/OR function cannot be used in another which may need extra ORs. A fixed OR is however faster and thus PALs trade off function for speed. Programmable OR terms in PLAs are slow because of the capacitance of the switches. In the OR array 50 of Fig. 2, the product lines
56 connect to subsets only of OR gate input lines 60. In other words, the input lines 60 are only partially popu¬ lated with programmable links 63 to product lines 56. For example, a typical arrangement for an AND/OR array in- eludes 12 AND input lines, 44 product terms, 27 OR gate input lines (including input lines to latches or flip- flops 64) and 9 output lines. The OR gate input lines are grouped into threes, with two lines leading to an EXOR gate 62 and the third line serving as a clock for latch 64. One possible arrangement of partially popu¬ lated programmable links staggers the programmable links so that the first 12 product terms are connectable to the first group of three groups of three OR input lines, pro¬ duct terms 5-16 are connectable to the second group of OR input lines, product terms 9-20 are connectable to the third group of three groups of three OR input lines, and so forth, with the last 12 product terms 33-44 connect¬ able to the ninth group of three groups of three OR input lines. Other partially populated arrangements of pro- grammable links can also be constructed.
There are some frequently used arithmetic and logic functions which cannot easily or quickly be done with a small number of product terms using an AND/OR ar¬ ray. Addition and testing a result for zero are two examples. Consider, for example, the addition of two numbers A and B to obtain a sum S. The nth bit of the sum Sn is Sn = (An * Bn.OR. An.Bn) .EXOR. Cn_._, where Cn_1 =
__n-l*Bn-l .OR. An-l*,cn-2 *0R> Bn-l*cn-2 ~-s - 1-- carrY --n from a previous computation stage. The carry term can be calculated sequentially, i.e. by a "ripple carry", by feeding the previous carry term back into the array. To help carry out this calculation without using up large numbers product terms or considerably slowing the func- tional unit, specialized units with dedicated logic may be included at the output of the sum terms. Such special¬ ized units would only be used where needed and be pro- grammably linked to the remainder of the AND/OR array by EPROM switches or the like.
Functional units 22-28 for providing complex control logic need not comprise only programmable logic arrays like that seen in Fig. 2. For example, an EPROM memory with a set of inputs for address, write and enable and the like, as well as a set of outputs for data, may be connected to the same sets of conductive lines 31 and 32 as other functional units. Similarly, dedicated logic structures, such as an arithmetic logic unit with inputs for operands and operators, and outputs for operation results or a byte comparator circuit, may be connected in the same manner. Such an arrangement could, for example, integrate central processing units with their glue logic on the same chip. However, to prevent a reduction in device flexibility only a few of the functional units should be logic or memory circuits instead of PLAs or PALs.
Fig. 3 shows an interconnection matrix 33. Interconnection matrices 38 and 44 in Fig. 1 are of similar construction. Any of the first set of conductive lines 31, i.e., the conductive lines permanently con¬ nected to outputs 30 of functional units, shown in Fig. 3 as solid vertical lines 31a-i can be connected to any of the first set of conductive lines 32 i.e. those lines permanently connected to inputs 29 of functional units and shown as dashed horizontal lines 32a-l. Connection is made usually by closing a switch. In some cases, for example with fuses, the switch is closed until it is ex¬ plicitly opened while with other switches such as EPROMs and EEPROMs the switch is open until it is explicitly closed. One hundred and eight switches 66 are shown in Fig.3. The number of switches will vary from intercon¬ nection matrix to interconnection matrix, depending on the multiplicity of conductive lines 31 and 32. The programmable logic device architecture of the present invention achieves a large amount of functional flexibility combined with high speed and low cost by providing individually programmable functional units, with a fixed set of wiring forming interconnection matrices which also can be individually programmed.

Claims

Clai s
1. A programmable logic device comprising, a plurality of functional units, each func¬ tional unit having a set of inputs and a set of outputs, each functional unit being individually programmable for carrying out one or more specified logic functions, each functional unit being a programmable logic device with an AND array and an OR array connected to the AND array, a first set of conductive lines, each line of said first set being permanently connected to an output from an OR array of one of said functional units, a second set of conductive lines, each line of said second set being permanently connected to an input to an AND array of one of said functional units, wherein said second set of conductive lines cross said first set of conductive lines, areas where said first and second sets of conductive lines cross forming at least one programmable interconnection matrix, said at least one matrix including programmable links at the intersections of each conductive line of the first set with a conductive line of the second set, each of said links being selectively openable and closable so as to connect any output of any functional unit to any input of any functional unit, a plurality of input pins, each input pin being selectively connectable to at least one conductive line of said second set, and a plurality of output pins, each output pin being permanently connected directly to one conductive line of said first set.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said functional units comprise programmable logic arrays, both said AND arrays and said OR arrays of said functional units being programmable.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said programmable logic devices further include registers programmably connected between said OR array and said set of outputs.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said functional units and said interconnective matrices are switch programmable and erasable.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said OR array is connected to said AND array via product lines leading from said AND array, said product lines being connectable to subsets of OR gate input lines of said programmable OR array.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of functional units are arranged as a matrix of functional units.
7. A programmable logic device comprising, a plurality of functional units, each func¬ tional unit being programmable to perform a portion of an overall logic function, each functional unit having a set of inputs, an AND array connected to said set of inputs, an OR array connected to said AND array, and a set of outputs connected to said OR array, a matrix of conductive lines, said conductive lines including a first and second set of lines which cross one another at programmable interconnection points, each interconnection point having a selectively openable and closable link so as to connect a line of said first set to a line of said second set, each line of said first set being permanently connected to an output of one of said functional units, each line of said second set being permanently connected to an input of one of said func¬ tional units, whereby said plurality of functional units are programmably connectable to one another through said interconnection points to combine said portions of said overall logic function, a plurality of input pins, each input pin being selectively connectable to at least one conductive line of said second set, and a plurality of output pins, groups of said out¬ put pins being ganged to said sets of outputs of said functional units.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein both of said AND and OR arrays in said functional units are programmable.
9. The device of claim 7 wherein said functional units and said links at each interconnection point of said matrix are switch programmable and erasable.
10. The device of claim 7 wherein said OR arrays in said functional units are only partially populated with programmable links.
PCT/US1990/002562 1989-05-09 1990-05-08 Programmable logic device with ganged output pins WO1990013982A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/349,581 US5023606A (en) 1988-01-13 1989-05-09 Programmable logic device with ganged output pins
US349,581 1989-05-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1990013982A1 true WO1990013982A1 (en) 1990-11-15

Family

ID=23373034

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1990/002562 WO1990013982A1 (en) 1989-05-09 1990-05-08 Programmable logic device with ganged output pins

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US5023606A (en)
WO (1) WO1990013982A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001063766A2 (en) * 2000-02-25 2001-08-30 Lightspeed Semiconductor Corporation Programmable logic array embedded in mask-programmed asic
US6769109B2 (en) 2000-02-25 2004-07-27 Lightspeed Semiconductor Corporation Programmable logic array embedded in mask-programmed ASIC
US7055125B2 (en) 2000-09-08 2006-05-30 Lightspeed Semiconductor Corp. Depopulated programmable logic array

Families Citing this family (42)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5451887A (en) * 1986-09-19 1995-09-19 Actel Corporation Programmable logic module and architecture for field programmable gate array device
US5367208A (en) 1986-09-19 1994-11-22 Actel Corporation Reconfigurable programmable interconnect architecture
US5477165A (en) * 1986-09-19 1995-12-19 Actel Corporation Programmable logic module and architecture for field programmable gate array device
US5212652A (en) * 1989-08-15 1993-05-18 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Programmable gate array with improved interconnect structure
US5349691A (en) * 1990-07-03 1994-09-20 Xilinx, Inc. Programming process for 3-level programming logic devices
US5087838A (en) * 1991-02-07 1992-02-11 Banner Engineering Corporation Sourcing or sinking output circuit
US5220214A (en) * 1991-04-22 1993-06-15 Altera Corporation Registered logic macrocell with product term allocation and adjacent product term stealing
US5861760A (en) 1991-04-25 1999-01-19 Altera Corporation Programmable logic device macrocell with improved capability
US5412260A (en) * 1991-05-03 1995-05-02 Lattice Semiconductor Corporation Multiplexed control pins for in-system programming and boundary scan state machines in a high density programmable logic device
US5237218A (en) * 1991-05-03 1993-08-17 Lattice Semiconductor Corporation Structure and method for multiplexing pins for in-system programming
US5412261A (en) * 1992-04-14 1995-05-02 Aptix Corporation Two-stage programmable interconnect architecture
US5350954A (en) * 1993-03-29 1994-09-27 Altera Corporation Macrocell with flexible product term allocation
US5497107A (en) * 1993-05-13 1996-03-05 Texas Instruments Incorporated Multiple, selectable PLAS having shared inputs and outputs
US5504439A (en) * 1994-04-01 1996-04-02 Xilinx, Inc. I/O interface cell for use with optional pad
US5689195A (en) * 1995-05-17 1997-11-18 Altera Corporation Programmable logic array integrated circuit devices
US5909126A (en) * 1995-05-17 1999-06-01 Altera Corporation Programmable logic array integrated circuit devices with interleaved logic array blocks
GB2300946B (en) * 1995-05-17 1999-10-20 Altera Corp Tri-statable input/output circuitry for programmable logic
US5963049A (en) * 1995-05-17 1999-10-05 Altera Corporation Programmable logic array integrated circuit architectures
US5648732A (en) * 1995-10-04 1997-07-15 Xilinx, Inc. Field programmable pipeline array
US5642058A (en) * 1995-10-16 1997-06-24 Xilinx , Inc. Periphery input/output interconnect structure
US5744980A (en) * 1996-02-16 1998-04-28 Actel Corporation Flexible, high-performance static RAM architecture for field-programmable gate arrays
US5694058A (en) * 1996-03-20 1997-12-02 Altera Corporation Programmable logic array integrated circuits with improved interconnection conductor utilization
US5872463A (en) * 1996-04-04 1999-02-16 Altera Corporation Routing in programmable logic devices using shared distributed programmable logic connectors
US5835998A (en) * 1996-04-04 1998-11-10 Altera Corporation Logic cell for programmable logic devices
US5880597A (en) * 1996-09-18 1999-03-09 Altera Corporation Interleaved interconnect for programmable logic array devices
US6300794B1 (en) 1996-10-10 2001-10-09 Altera Corporation Programmable logic device with hierarchical interconnection resources
US5977793A (en) * 1996-10-10 1999-11-02 Altera Corporation Programmable logic device with hierarchical interconnection resources
US5999016A (en) * 1996-10-10 1999-12-07 Altera Corporation Architectures for programmable logic devices
US5982195A (en) * 1997-02-20 1999-11-09 Altera Corporation Programmable logic device architectures
US5999015A (en) * 1997-02-20 1999-12-07 Altera Corporation Logic region resources for programmable logic devices
US7148722B1 (en) 1997-02-20 2006-12-12 Altera Corporation PCI-compatible programmable logic devices
US6127844A (en) 1997-02-20 2000-10-03 Altera Corporation PCI-compatible programmable logic devices
US6184710B1 (en) 1997-03-20 2001-02-06 Altera Corporation Programmable logic array devices with enhanced interconnectivity between adjacent logic regions
US6130555A (en) * 1997-10-13 2000-10-10 Altera Corporation Driver circuitry for programmable logic devices
US6084427A (en) * 1998-05-19 2000-07-04 Altera Corporation Programmable logic devices with enhanced multiplexing capabilities
US6121790A (en) * 1997-10-16 2000-09-19 Altera Corporation Programmable logic device with enhanced multiplexing capabilities in interconnect resources
US6107824A (en) * 1997-10-16 2000-08-22 Altera Corporation Circuitry and methods for internal interconnection of programmable logic devices
US6107825A (en) 1997-10-16 2000-08-22 Altera Corporation Input/output circuitry for programmable logic devices
US6507216B1 (en) 1998-11-18 2003-01-14 Altera Corporation Efficient arrangement of interconnection resources on programmable logic devices
US6215326B1 (en) 1998-11-18 2001-04-10 Altera Corporation Programmable logic device architecture with super-regions having logic regions and a memory region
US6407576B1 (en) * 1999-03-04 2002-06-18 Altera Corporation Interconnection and input/output resources for programmable logic integrated circuit devices
US20080209169A1 (en) * 2005-06-30 2008-08-28 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc Output Stage Circuit Apparatus for a Processor Device and Method Therefor

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4207556A (en) * 1976-12-14 1980-06-10 Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Public Corporation Programmable logic array arrangement
US4763020A (en) * 1985-09-06 1988-08-09 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Programmable logic device having plural programmable function cells

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4034356A (en) * 1975-12-03 1977-07-05 Ibm Corporation Reconfigurable logic array
US4124899A (en) * 1977-05-23 1978-11-07 Monolithic Memories, Inc. Programmable array logic circuit
US4314349A (en) * 1979-12-31 1982-02-02 Goodyear Aerospace Corporation Processing element for parallel array processors
US4431928A (en) * 1981-06-22 1984-02-14 Hewlett-Packard Company Symmetrical programmable logic array
US4422072A (en) * 1981-07-30 1983-12-20 Signetics Corporation Field programmable logic array circuit
US4442508A (en) * 1981-08-05 1984-04-10 General Instrument Corporation Storage cells for use in two conductor data column storage logic arrays
US4670749A (en) * 1984-04-13 1987-06-02 Zilog, Inc. Integrated circuit programmable cross-point connection technique
US4609986A (en) * 1984-06-14 1986-09-02 Altera Corporation Programmable logic array device using EPROM technology
US4642487A (en) * 1984-09-26 1987-02-10 Xilinx, Inc. Special interconnect for configurable logic array
US4935734A (en) * 1985-09-11 1990-06-19 Pilkington Micro-Electronics Limited Semi-conductor integrated circuits/systems
US4847612A (en) * 1988-01-13 1989-07-11 Plug Logic, Inc. Programmable logic device

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4207556A (en) * 1976-12-14 1980-06-10 Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Public Corporation Programmable logic array arrangement
US4763020A (en) * 1985-09-06 1988-08-09 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Programmable logic device having plural programmable function cells
US4763020B1 (en) * 1985-09-06 1997-07-08 Ricoh Kk Programmable logic device having plural programmable function cells

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001063766A2 (en) * 2000-02-25 2001-08-30 Lightspeed Semiconductor Corporation Programmable logic array embedded in mask-programmed asic
WO2001063766A3 (en) * 2000-02-25 2002-04-25 Lightspeed Semiconductor Corp Programmable logic array embedded in mask-programmed asic
US6694491B1 (en) 2000-02-25 2004-02-17 Lightspeed Semiconductor Corporation Programmable logic array embedded in mask-programmed ASIC
US6769109B2 (en) 2000-02-25 2004-07-27 Lightspeed Semiconductor Corporation Programmable logic array embedded in mask-programmed ASIC
US7043713B2 (en) 2000-02-25 2006-05-09 Lightspeed Semiconductor Corp. Implementing programmable logic array embedded in mask-programmed ASIC
US7055125B2 (en) 2000-09-08 2006-05-30 Lightspeed Semiconductor Corp. Depopulated programmable logic array

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US5023606A (en) 1991-06-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5023606A (en) Programmable logic device with ganged output pins
US4847612A (en) Programmable logic device
USRE34444E (en) Programmable logic device
US5563529A (en) High speed product term allocation structure supporting logic iteration after committing device pin locations
US4963768A (en) Flexible, programmable cell array interconnected by a programmable switch matrix
US5594366A (en) Programmable logic device with regional and universal signal routing
US5260611A (en) Programmable logic array having local and long distance conductors
US4609986A (en) Programmable logic array device using EPROM technology
US5015884A (en) Multiple array high performance programmable logic device family
US6018490A (en) Programmable logic array integrated circuits
US5436575A (en) Programmable logic array integrated circuits
JP3325657B2 (en) Integrated circuit
US7256614B2 (en) Scalable non-blocking switching network for programmable logic
US4967107A (en) Programmable logic expander
US4918641A (en) High-performance programmable logic device
JPH07504797A (en) Macrocell with cascade of logical product terms and improved use of flip-flops
US6897679B2 (en) Programmable logic array integrated circuits
JP3325662B2 (en) Integrated circuit
US5012135A (en) Logic gates with a programmable number of inputs
US5883850A (en) Programmable logic array integrated circuits
US3313926A (en) Microelectronic cellular array
US5969539A (en) Product term exporting mechanism and method improvement in an EPLD having high speed product term allocation structure
US6759870B2 (en) Programmable logic array integrated circuits
JP2977831B2 (en) Programmable logic unit
JP2968256B2 (en) Programmable logic unit

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): JP

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB IT LU NL SE