Altera Corporation

Intel Corporation

Bee Yee Ng

Boon Jin Ang

Hee Kong Phoon

Gaik Ming Chan

Ilya K Ganusov

Jun Pin Tan

Thow Pang Chong

Teik Hong Ooi

Guan Hoe Oh

Herman Henry Schmit

Dana How

Ping-Chen Liu

Wei Yee Koay

Jeffrey Christopher Chromczak

Thien Le

Yi Peng

Choong Kit Wong

Eng Huat Lee

Kim Pin Tan

Tat Mun Lui

Yu Fong Tan

Teng Kuan Koay

Beng Lee Ooi

An integrated circuit includes first and second data storage circuits, first, second, and third shadow storage circuits, and first, second, and third multiplexer circuits. The first multiplexer circuit is configurable to provide a state of a data signal from the first data storage circuit to the first shadow storage circuit in a snapshot mode. The second multiplexer circuit is coupled between an output of the second data storage circuit and an input of the second shadow storage circuit. The third multiplexer circuit is coupled to the second multiplexer circuit. The third multiplexer circuit is configurable to provide a state of an output signal of the first shadow storage circuit to an input of the third shadow storage circuit in a scan mode bypassing the second shadow storage circuit.

Circuits and methods for configurable scan chains

Systems and methods described herein may relate to burst sampling of an integrated circuit device. Such a system may include a first logic access block including a data register and a second logic access block including a memory column. The memory column may be configurable to operate as a First In, First Out (FIFO), user lookup table (LUT) mode, or as user random access memory (RAM). The memory column may store data sampled from the data register for any number of clock cycles and the data may be sampled at the speed of a clock of a device under test (DUT).

At-speed burst sampling for user registers

Systems and methods for non-destructive readback and writeback of an integrated circuit system are provided. Such a system may include an adaptive logic element including a first register pair. The first register pair may include a first register operating at a first frequency and a second register operating at a second frequency. The second frequency may be equal to or lower than the first frequency. The second register may store data from the first register. The adaptive logic element may also include a first clock providing a first clock signal to the first register and a second clock providing a second clock signal. The adaptive logic element may also include a multiplexer that may select the first clock signal or the second clock signal as a clock source for the second register.

Non-destructive readback and writeback for integrated circuit device

An FPGA includes a number of logic elements in a core fabric. Each logic element includes a number of registers and each register includes a registered circuit path and a combinatorial circuit path. The registered and combinatorial circuit paths are in parallel. Each register includes a DFT circuit path that comprises an input in the registered circuit path and an output in the registered circuit path. The DFT circuit path is not in series with the registered circuit path and is not in series with the combinatorial circuit path. Each register includes a CE time-borrowing circuit path. Each the CE time-borrowing circuit path includes an input in the registered circuit path and an output that is coupled to the input of the registered circuit path. The CE time-borrowing circuit path is not in series with the registered circuit path and is not in series with the combinatorial circuit path.

Quick configurable universal register for a configurable integrated circuit die

A programmable integrated circuit with lookup table circuitry is provided. The lookup table (LUT) circuitry may be formed using multiplexers. A multiplexer in the lookup table circuitry may be implemented using only tristate inverting circuits. Each tristate inverting circuit may include a first set of n-channel and p-channel transistors that receive a static control bit from a memory element and a second set of n-channel and p-channel transistors that receive true and complementary versions of a user signal. The first and second sets of transistors may be coupled in series between a positive power supply terminal and a ground power supply terminal. A LUT multiplexer implemented in this way need not include separate transmission gates at the output of each tristate inverting circuit and may exhibit minimal subthreshold leakage.

Power gated lookup table circuitry

An integrated circuit device includes a first memory cell that stores data representative of configuration data when operating in a first mode, wherein the first memory cell stores data representative of user-accessible data when operating in a second mode. The integrated circuit device also includes a second memory cell that stores a value indicating whether the first memory cell is operating in the first mode or is operating in the second mode. The integrated circuit device further includes a switch coupled to the first memory cell and controlled by the second memory cell, wherein the switch provides a defined value to be read in place of the stored data of the first memory cell when the second memory cell stores the value indicating that the first memory cell is operating in the second mode.

Lutram dummy read scheme during error detection and correction

Integrated circuits may include dual mode memory cells. Dual mode memory cells may be operated in a lookup-table mode or a memory mode. A dual mode memory cell may have configuration ports for supporting a configuration operation and user ports for supporting a user mode operation. When performing configuration operations in the memory mode, the configuration ports may be gated off to prevent existing user data from being accessed. Each column of memory cells may be arranged into groups. Each group of memory cells in a column may be connected to a respective local data line, which is connected to a global data line via a switch. The switch may be selectively activated to short the local data line to the global data line. Configured in this hierarchical data line architecture, leakage at the global data line can dramatically be reduced, and the memory cell read margin is improved.

Circuitry for reducing leakage current in configuration memory

An integrated circuit includes a delay circuit, a buffer circuit, and a storage circuit. The delay circuit delays a first timing signal to generate a second timing signal. The buffer circuit generates a third timing signal for transmission to an external device. The third timing signal is generated based on the first timing signal. The external device provides data to the integrated circuit based on the third timing signal. The storage circuit captures the data transmitted from the external device in response to the second timing signal.

Timing signal adjustment for data storage

An integrated circuit device such as a structured ASIC includes a mask-programmable portion and a post-fabrication-programmable portion. The mask-programmable portion includes circuitry that is able to read information from the post-fabrication-programmable portion and use that information to affect operation of other componentry of the mask-programmable portion. Signal timing is an example of the kind of operation that may be affected by the above-mentioned information, which may allow post-fabrication timing tuning of the device.

Programmable control of mask-programmable integrated circuit devices

A circuit includes a clock routing network. The clock routing network includes first and second clock paths. The first clock path routes a first clock signal to sub-circuits in the circuit. The first clock path has first buffers that buffer the first clock signal at the sub-circuits and first conductors in a first conductive layer of the circuit that transmit the first clock signal. The second clock path routes a second clock signal to the sub-circuits. The second clock path has second buffers that buffer the second clock signal at the sub-circuits, second conductors in the first conductive layer that transmit the second clock signal, and third conductors in a second conductive layer of the circuit. The second clock signal is routed through the third conductors at overlaps between the first clock path and the second clock path.

Techniques for reducing clock skew in clock routing networks

In circuitry such as a programmable logic device ('PLD'), each of several multiplier blocks includes partial products generation circuitry and partial products addition circuitry. Two such multiplier blocks can be used together to provide multiply-accumulate ('MAC') capability. The partial products addition circuitry in one of the paired blocks is used to add each successive product produced by the other paired block to a previous accumulation of products in the first-mentioned paired block. Provisions are also made for accumulating any overflow from operation of the partial products addition circuitry in the first-mentioned paired block.

Circuitry for facilitating performance of multiply-accumulate operations in programmable logic devices

A system generates memory unit designs tailored to requirements. The system receives a set of specifications for one or more memory units. The set of specifications includes the memory type, the number of memory access ports, and the data width. The system assembles a memory unit schematic from a library of schematic modules defining memory unit components, including memory cells, address decoders, registers, drivers, sense amplifiers, and optionally self-testing components. The system creates a layout for the memory unit from a library of layout modules corresponding to the library of schematic modules. The library of layout modules includes memory unit floorplans specifying the location of layout modules within a memory unit. The system selects from different memory unit floorplans to create an optimized memory unit layout. The memory unit schematic can be validated using functional testing methods. The system processes the memory unit layout to produce a device configuration.

Programmable soft macro memory using gate array base cells

Methods and apparatus are provided for performing pre-emphasis of signals using buffer circuitry that is not dedicated to LVDS transmission. In an embodiment of the invention, pre-emphasis circuitry is provided to enable unused transistors of the buffer circuitry to increase the current that can be driven onto output signal lines, resulting in sharper signal transitions and improved signal integrity. In addition, circuitry can be provided that limits the duration of the pre-emphasis to a selected period of time, thereby conserving power and limiting the differential voltage between a given pair of transmitted signals.

LVDS output buffer pre-emphasis methods and apparatus

Techniques are provided for improving signal timing characteristics of differential input/output (IO) circuits on programmable logic integrated circuits. A differential buffer receives differential signals applied to differential input pins. The output signals of the differential buffer are routed to two hard IO decoder blocks that are located in two adjacent rows/columns of programmable logic elements. Each IO decoder block has a data-in register that receives output signals of the differential buffer. The data-in registers in two adjacent IO decoder blocks support a double clocking technique. IO decoder blocks of the present invention have reduced setup times, hold times, and sampling windows relative to soft DDIO blocks, and have a minimal impact on die area.

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Pahang, Malaysia

Bee Yee Ng