Patents by Inventor Naihui Liao

Naihui Liao has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080238477
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an FPGA, which includes a first FPGA tile including a plurality of FGs, a first, second, and third set of routing conductors, and a plurality of IGs. The FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each FG being configured to receive tertiary and regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The third set of routing conductors is coupled to the first set of output ports of the FGs and configured to receive signals, route signals within the FPGA tile, and provide input signals to the third set of input ports of the FGs. The IGs surround the FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column. Each IG is coupled to the third set of routing conductors and configured to transfer signals from the third set of routing conductors to outside the first FPGA tile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng Feng, Jung-Cheun Lien, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao, Weidong Xiong
  • Patent number: 7426665
    Abstract: A method for testing FPGA routing circuitry having a plurality of first sets of tracks having programmably connectable individual track segments includes providing a global control signal to simultaneously turn on all of the programmable elements in at least two of the first sets of tracks, defining individual test inputs to apply to the first end of each of the at least two of the first sets of tracks, determining an expected logic result for a selected logical combination of the individual test inputs, applying the individual test inputs to the first end of each of the at least two of the first sets of tracks, performing the selected logical combination on the second ends of the at least two of the first sets of tracks to generate an actual logic result, and flagging an error if the actual result is not identical with the expected logic result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Jung-Cheun Lien, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Zili Zhang, Sheng Feng, Eddy C. Huang, Naihui Liao
  • Patent number: 7342416
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an FPGA, which includes a first FPGA tile including a plurality of FGs, a first, second, and third set of routing conductors, and a plurality of IGs. The FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each FG being configured to receive tertiary and regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The third set of routing conductors is coupled to the first set of output ports of the FGs and configured to receive signals, route signals within the FPGA tile, and provide input signals to the third set of input ports of the FGs. The IGs surround the FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column. Each IG is coupled to the third set of routing conductors and configured to transfer signals from the third set of routing conductors to outside the first FPGA tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng Feng, Jung-Cheun Lien, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao, Weidong Xiong
  • Publication number: 20070089082
    Abstract: A freeway routing system for connecting input and output ports of interface groups of tiles in a field programmable gate array. The freeway system has a first set of routing conductors configured to transfer signals between the input ports of interface groups in a first tile of the field programmable gate array and the output ports of interface groups of other tiles in the field programmable gate array. The first set conductors include vertical conductors that form intersections with horizontal conductors and programmable interconnect elements located at the intersections of the vertical conductors and horizontal conductors in a diagonal orientation to connect each of the horizontal conductors to one of the vertical conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Applicant: ACTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tong Liu, Jung-Cheun Lien, Sheng Feng, Eddy Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Naihui Liao, Weidong Xiong
  • Publication number: 20070075742
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an FPGA, which includes a first FPGA tile including a plurality of FGs, a first, second, and third set of routing conductors, and a plurality of IGs. The FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each FG being configured to receive tertiary and regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The third set of routing conductors is coupled to the first set of output ports of the FGs and configured to receive signals, route signals within the FPGA tile, and provide input signals to the third set of input ports of the FGs. The IGs surround the FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column. Each IG is coupled to the third set of routing conductors and configured to transfer signals from the third set of routing conductors to outside the first FPGA tile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: ACTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sheng Feng, Jung-Cheun Lien, Eddy Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao, Weidong Xiong
  • Patent number: 7157938
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an FPGA, which includes a first FPGA tile including a plurality of FGs, a first, second, and third set of routing conductors, and a plurality of IGs. The FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each FG being configured to receive tertiary and regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The third set of routing conductors is coupled to the first set of output ports of the FGs and configured to receive signals, route signals within the FPGA tile, and provide input signals to the third set of input ports of the FGs. The IGs surround the FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column. Each IG is coupled to the third set of routing conductors and configured to transfer signals from the third set of routing conductors to outside the first FPGA tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng Feng, Jung-Cheun Lien, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao, Weidong Xiong
  • Patent number: 7137095
    Abstract: A freeway routing system that connects interface groups in said field programmable gate array. The freeway system has a first set of routing conductors configured to transfer signals to the input ports of at least one interface group in a first tile of the field programmable gate array and configured to transfer signals from the output ports of other tiles in the field programmable gate array. The first set of conductors include vertical conductors that form intersections horizontal conductors and programmable interconnect elements located at the intersections of the vertical conductors and horizontal conductors in a diagonal orientation to connect each of horizontal conductors to one of the vertical conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Tong Liu, Jung-Cheun Lien, Sheng Feng, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Naihui Liao, Weidong Xiong
  • Publication number: 20060114024
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an FPGA, which includes a first FPGA tile including a plurality of FGs, a first, second, and third set of routing conductors, and a plurality of IGs. The FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each FG being configured to receive tertiary and regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The third set of routing conductors is coupled to the first set of output ports of the FGs and configured to receive signals, route signals within the FPGA tile, and provide input signals to the third set of input ports of the FGs. The IGs surround the FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column. Each IG is coupled to the third set of routing conductors and configured to transfer signals from the third set of routing conductors to outside the first FPGA tile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Sheng Feng, Jung-Cheun Lien, Eddy Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao, Weidong Xiong
  • Patent number: 7015719
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an FPGA, which includes a first FPGA tile including a plurality of FGs, a first, second, and third set of routing conductors, and a plurality of IGs. The FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each FG being configured to receive tertiary and regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The third set of routing conductors is coupled to the first set of output ports of the FGs and configured to receive signals, route signals within the FPGA tile, and provide input signals to the third set of input ports of the FGs. The IGs surround the FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column. Each IG is coupled to the third set of routing conductors and configured to transfer signals from the third set of routing conductors to outside the first FPGA tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng Feng, Jung-Cheun Lien, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao, Weidong Xiong
  • Patent number: 6888375
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The FPGA includes a first FPGA tile, and the first FPGA tile includes a plurality of functional groups (FGs), a third set of routing conductors, in addition to a first set of routing conductors and a second set of routing conductors and a plurality of interface groups (IGs). The plurality of FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each of the FGs being configured to receive tertiary input signals as well as regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The third set of routing conductors is coupled to the first set of output ports of the FGs and configured to receive signals, route signals within the first FPGA tile, and provide input signals to the third set of input ports of the FGs. The plurality of IGs surround the plurality of FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng Feng, Jung-Cheun Lien, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao, Weidong Xiong
  • Patent number: 6870396
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The FPGA includes a first FPGA tile, and the first FPGA tile includes a plurality of functional groups (FGs), a regular routing structure, and a plurality of interface groups (IGs). The plurality of FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each of the FGs being configured to receive regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The regular routing structure is coupled to the FGs and configured to receive the regular output signals, route signals within the first FPGA tile, and provide the regular input signals to the FGs. The routability of the regular routing structure is maximized by depositing switches according to designators. This novel designation method provides the same routability with approximately half the switches. Thus, further reduction in routing area is achieved. The plurality of IGs surround the plurality of FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Jung-Cheun Lien, Sheng Feng, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao
  • Patent number: 6744278
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The FPGA includes a first FPGA tile, and the first FPGA tile includes a plurality of functional groups (FGs), a third set of routing conductors, in addition to a first set of routing conductors and a second set of routing conductors and a plurality of interface groups (IGs). The plurality of FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each of the FGs being configured to receive tertiary input signals as well as regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The third set of routing conductors is coupled to the first set of output ports of the FGs and configured to receive signals, route signals within the first FPGA tile, and provide input signals to the third set of input ports of the FGs. The plurality of IGs surround the plurality of FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Tong Liu, Jung-Cheun Lien, Sheng Feng, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Naihui Liao
  • Patent number: 6731133
    Abstract: A field-programmable gate array (FPGA), comprising: a first FPGA tile, the first FPGA tile comprising a plurality of functional groups (FGs), a regular routing structure, and a plurality of interface groups (IGs). The plurality of FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each of the FGs being configured to receive regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The regular routing structure is coupled to the FGs and configured to receive the regular output signals, route signals within the first FPGA tile, and provide the regular input signals to the FGs. The plurality of IGs surround the plurality of FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column. Each of the IGs is coupled to the regular routing structure and configured to transfer signals from the regular routing structure to outside of the first FPGA tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng Feng, Jung-Cheun Lien, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao
  • Patent number: 6700404
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The FPGA includes a first FPGA tile, and the first FPGA tile includes a plurality of functional groups (FGs), a third set of routing conductors, in addition to a first set of routing conductors and a second set of routing conductors and a plurality of interface groups (IGs). The plurality of FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each of the FGs being configured to receive tertiary input signals as well as regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The third set of routing conductors is coupled to the first set of output ports of the FGs and configured to receive signals, route signals within the first FPGA tile, and provide input signals to the third set of input ports of the FGs. The plurality of IGs surround the plurality of FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng Feng, Jung-Cheun Lien, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao, Weidong Xiong
  • Publication number: 20030218479
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The FPGA includes a first FPGA tile, and the first FPGA tile includes a plurality of functional groups (FGs), a third set of routing conductors, in addition to a first set of routing conductors and a second set of routing conductors and a plurality of interface groups (IGs). The plurality of FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each of the FGs being configured to receive tertiary input signals as well as regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The third set of routing conductors is coupled to the first set of output ports of the FGs and configured to receive signals, route signals within the first FPGA tile, and provide input signals to the third set of input ports of the FGs. The plurality of IGs surround the plurality of FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: Actel Corporation, a California Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng Feng, Jung-Cheun Lien, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao, Weidong Xiong
  • Publication number: 20030201795
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The FPGA includes a first FPGA tile, and the first FPGA tile includes a plurality of functional groups (FGs), a regular routing structure, and a plurality of interface groups (IGs). The plurality of FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each of the FGs being configured to receive regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The regular routing structure is coupled to the FGs and configured to receive the regular output signals, route signals within the first FPGA tile, and provide the regular input signals to the FGs. The routability of the regular routing structure is maximized by depositing switches according to designators. This novel designation method provides the same routability with approximately half the switches. Thus, further reduction in routing area is achieved. The plurality of IGs surround the plurality of FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Jung-Cheun Lien, Sheng Feng, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao
  • Patent number: 6611153
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The FPGA includes a first FPGA tile, and the first FPGA tile includes a plurality of functional groups (FGs), a regular routing structure, and a plurality of interface groups (IGs). The plurality of FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each of the FGs being configured to receive regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The regular routing structure is coupled to the FGs and configured to receive the regular output signals, route signals within the first FPGA tile, and provide the regular input signals to the FGs. The routability of the regular routing structure is maximized by depositing switches according to designators. This novel designation method provides the same routability with approximately half the switches. Thus, further reduction in routing area is achieved. The plurality of IGs surround the plurality of FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Jung-Cheun Lien, Sheng Feng, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao
  • Patent number: 6476636
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The FPGA includes a first FPGA tile, and the first FPGA tile includes a plurality of functional groups (FGs), a regular routing structure, and a plurality of interface groups (IGs). The plurality of FGs are arranged in rows and columns with each of the FGs being configured to receive regular input signals, perform a logic operation, and generate regular output signals. The regular routing structure is coupled to the FGs and configured to receive the regular output signals, route signals within the first FPGA tile, and provide the regular input signals to the FGs. The plurality of IGs surround the plurality of FGs such that one IG is positioned at each end of each row and column. Each of the IGs is coupled to the regular routing structure and configured to transfer signals from the regular routing structure to outside of the first FPGA tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Jung-Cheun Lien, Sheng Feng, Eddy C. Huang, Chung-Yuan Sun, Tong Liu, Naihui Liao