Patents Assigned to Altera Corporation
  • Publication number: 20190250886
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to integrated circuits with floating-point arithmetic circuitry that handles normalized and denormalized floating-point numbers. The floating-point arithmetic circuitry may include a normalization circuit and a rounding circuit, and the floating-point arithmetic circuitry may generate a first result in form of a normalized, unrounded floating-point number and a second result in form of a normalized, rounded floating-point number. If desired, the floating-point arithmetic circuitry may be implemented in specialized processing blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Langhammer
  • Patent number: 10382013
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for voltage identification using a pulse-width modulation signal are provided. Such an integrated circuit device may include an input/output (I/O) interface and voltage identification (VID) circuitry. The VID circuitry may be coupled to the input/output interface. The voltage identification circuitry may generate a voltage identification signal that is output on the input/output interface. The voltage identification signal may include a pulsed signal having a particular duty cycle that corresponds to a specified voltage level to enable a voltage regulator that receives the voltage identification signal to provide an input voltage to the integrated circuit device at the specified voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Lai Guan Tang, Kris Dehnel, Benoit Herve
  • Patent number: 10379815
    Abstract: Integrated circuits with specialized processing blocks are provided. The specialized processing blocks may include floating-point multiplier circuits that can be configured to support variable precision. A multiplier circuit may include a first carry-propagate adder (CPA), a second carry-propagate adder (CPA), and an associated rounding circuit. The first CPA may be wide enough to handle the required precision of the mantissa. In a bridged mode, the first CPA may borrow an additional bit from the second CPA while the rounding circuit will monitor the appropriate bits to select the proper multiplier output. A parallel prefix tree operable in a non-bridged mode or the bridged mode may be used to compute multiple multiplier outputs. The multiplier circuit may also include exponent and exception handling circuitry using various masks corresponding to the desired precision width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Langhammer
  • Patent number: 10374636
    Abstract: One embodiment relates a method of receiving data from a multi-lane data link. The data is encoded with an FEC code having a block length. The data is FEC encoded at a bus width which is specified within particular constraints. One constraint is that the FEC encoder bus width in bits is an exact multiple of a number of bits per symbol in the data. Another constraint may be that the FEC code block length is an exact multiple of the FEC encoder bus width. Another constraint may be that the FEC encoder bus width is an exact multiple of a number of serial lanes of the multi-lane interface. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Haiyun Yang, Martin Langhammer, Peng Li, Divya Vijayaraghavan
  • Patent number: 10374734
    Abstract: Devices and methods to design and use network interfaces compliant with time-synchronization protocols via a multi-tier architecture are provided. This architecture allows for independent development between circuitry related to the time-synchronization protocols and circuitry responsible for channel access, reducing redundancies in the design process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ALTERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sita Rama Chandrasekhar Mallela, Seng Kuan Yeow
  • Patent number: 10372946
    Abstract: A method of dividing a set of components of an integrated circuit is disclosed. Two or more different security labels are assigned to two or more non-overlapping subsets of the set of components. A handoff file is generated based on the non-overlapping subsets and sent to the integrated circuit. The set of components of the integrated circuit is divided according to the non-overlapping subsets based on the system handoff file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Chin Liang See
  • Patent number: 10372521
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms provide a solution space visualization of bit error rates (BER) for combinations of parameter settings of transceivers. Different types of visualizations may be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ALTERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuangxia Zhu, Yongliang Lu, Zhi Y. Wong
  • Patent number: 10374609
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and deploying integrated circuit (IC) applications are provided. Partial reconfiguration functionality of an IC may be used to build reconfigurable application platforms that enable application execution on the IC. These apps may include partial reconfiguration bitstreams that allow ease of access to programming without cumbersome compilation via a set of complex tools. The apps may be acquired via a purchasing website or other mechanism, where the bitstreams may be downloaded to the IC, thus increasing usability of the IC as well providing addition revenue streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Walstrom, Mark Bourgeault
  • Patent number: 10372655
    Abstract: Systems and devices are provided for broadcasting a message to addressed logic blocks in lieu of, or in addition to, programming individual status registers of an integrated circuit. One such device may be an integrated circuit that includes a broadcast bus and addressed logic blocks. The broadcast bus may broadcast an addressed message that includes content and a target address. Each of the addressed logic blocks may receive the addressed message from the broadcast bus and use the content of the addressed message only when the target address matches an address assigned to that logic block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Perry
  • Patent number: 10367756
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a Network-On-Chip (NoC) structure on an integrated circuit for high-speed data passing. In some aspects, the NoC structure includes multiple NoC stations with a hard-IP interface having a bidirectional connection to local components of the integrated circuit. In some aspects, the NoC stations have a soft-IP interface that supports the hard-IP interface of the NoC station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Michael David Hutton, Herman Henry Schmit, Dana How
  • Patent number: 10367745
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for providing an NoC including a configurable array of nodes, where a node of the configurable array of nodes operates in a default operating mode until a replacement operating mode is triggered. For example, when an NoC is unconfigured, a latch bank may be initialized to “clear,” such that no routing decisions are stored. This may enable a default operating mode where routing logic updates the latches' values as needed to implement required routing behavior in a dynamic fashion until configuration is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Dana How, Herman Henry Schmit, Sean R. Atsatt
  • Patent number: 10366190
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to electronic design automation using high level synthesis techniques to generate circuit designs that include safety features. The algorithmic description representation can be specified in a first language and include at least one programming language construct associated with a first safety data type. Compiling the algorithmic description may involve identifying the at least one construct, accessing a first safety data type definition associated with the first safety data type, and generating a second representation of the circuit design based on the algorithmic description representation and the first safety data type definition. The second representation can be provided in a second language and include at least one safety feature for a portion of the circuit design associated with the at least one construct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: ALTERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Adam Titley
  • Patent number: 10366189
    Abstract: A method of preparing a programmable integrated circuit device for configuration using a high-level language includes compiling a plurality of virtual programmable devices from descriptions in said high-level language. That compiling includes compiling configurations of configurable routing resources from programmable resources of said programmable integrated circuit device, and compiling configurations of a plurality of complex function blocks from programmable resources of said programmable integrated circuit device. A machine-readable data storage medium may be encoded with a library of such compiled configurations. A virtual programmable device may include a stall signal network and routing switches of the virtual programmable device may include stall signal inputs and outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Doris Tzu-Lang Chen, Deshanand Singh
  • Patent number: 10359946
    Abstract: A flash memory operating circuit in an integrated circuit includes a buffer memory and a speed mode intellectual property (IP) block. The speed mode IP block is communicatively coupled to the buffer memory. The speed mode IP block performs a flash memory operation on a flash memory in the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Chung Shien Chai, Christine Siu Zhen Chuah
  • Patent number: 10361708
    Abstract: Systems and methods related to phase-locked loops circuitry and lock-detect circuitry are provided. Some of the systems and methods allow sharing of lock-detect circuitries between multiple phase-locked loops or other suitable circuitry. Others allow multiple circuitries to select from multiple lock-detect circuitries that may use different lock-detect techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: ALTERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Thomas Moore, Bo Zhou, Rajiv Kane
  • Patent number: 10361554
    Abstract: A circuit system includes a current sensor circuit, a subtractor circuit, a multiplier circuit, and a divider circuit. The current sensor circuit generates a current sense signal that indicates a current through an inductor. The circuit system generates a current value based on the current sense signal. The subtractor circuit determines a voltage difference across the inductor. The multiplier circuit multiplies the voltage difference by a time period that the voltage difference is applied across the inductor to generate a product. The divider circuit divides the product by the current value to generate an estimated inductance of the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Demski, Douglas Lopata, Ashraf Lotfi
  • Patent number: 10353457
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to systems and methods to reduce power consumption in an integrated circuit (IC) device by controlling various power consuming components of the IC device to a sleep mode when the power consuming components are not in use. The reduction in power consumption by the various power consuming components may reduce power consumption of the IC device in general. In one example, the IC device may include power consuming buffers of data input paths, data output paths, address pin paths, and a clock output path. The IC device may instruct one or more of the power consuming buffers to enter a sleep mode when functions of the one or more power consuming buffers are not in use. In this manner, the IC device may save power while performing various operations (e.g., read/write operations and memory refresh operations).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Kuan Woei Lam, Kok Kee Looi
  • Patent number: 10354706
    Abstract: For an integrated circuit (IC) that is designed to execute user defined operations after initialization, a sequencing circuitry in the IC that delays the start of the user design execution until a set of initial condition has been computed and propagated is provided. The sequencing holds the first group of circuits at an initial state while a second group of circuits computes and propagates a set of initial conditions based at least partly on the initial state of the first group of circuits. The circuits in the first group when being held disregard their inputs and do not change their outputs. The first group of circuits is released from its initial state after the second group of circuits has completed computation and propagation of the set of initial conditions. The circuits in the first group when released are freed to store or clock-in new inputs and produce new outputs in order to perform the user defined operations in conjunction with the second group of circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Ebeling, Trevis Chandler
  • Patent number: 10346331
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to a data detection and event capture circuit. Data comparator logic receives a monitored data word from a parallel data bus and generates a plurality of pattern detected signals. Any pattern detection logic receives the plurality of pattern detected signals and generates a plurality of any pattern detected signals. Sequence detection logic receives the plurality of pattern detected signals and generates a plurality of sequence detected signals. Another embodiment relates to a method of data detection and event capture. Another embodiment relates to an integrated circuit having a first data detection and event capture circuit in a receiver circuit and a second data detection and event capture circuit in a transmitter circuit. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Si Xing Saw, Seng Kuan Yeow, Kang Syn Ting
  • Patent number: 10348311
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes communication circuitry, a body bias generator, and a controller. The communication circuitry includes a physical medium attachment (PMA) and a physical coding sublayer (PCS). The body bias generator provides body bias signals to the PMA and PCS. The controller controls the body bias generator such that the body bias signals are controlled to improve a power consumption of the communication circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Curt Wortman, Keith Duwel, Michael Menghui Zheng