High speed programming of programmable logic devices

Abstract

A programmable logic device that receives and stores configuration data in configurable random-access-memory has differential signal input buffer circuitry for receiving the configuration data from a configuration device in differential signal form at high speeds. The programmable logic device may have clock and data recovery circuitry that receives a reference clock and that generates a corresponding internal clock that is used for receiving the configuration data. Error detection circuitry may be used to detect errors occurring during data transmission. The configuration device may have a serializer that serializes parallel configuration data received from memory and differential signal output driver circuitry that provides the configuration data in differential signal form to the programmable logic device.