Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Lois D. Carter
  • Patent number: 6566907
    Abstract: An unclocked, digital sequencer circuit having flexibly ordered leading and trailing edges on the output signals. The sequencer circuit of the invention includes a dual-input latch that detects only leading edges on a first input terminal and only trailing edges on a second input terminal. A delay line provides successively delayed input signals. Two delayed input signals are coupled to the first and second input terminals of each of two or more dual-input latches that provide a set of sequencer output signals. The sequence of the output signal edges depends on which delayed input signals are selected to drive each dual-input latch. In one embodiment, the selection of delayed input signals to drive the first and second input terminals of the dual-input latches is programmable. Thus, the sequence of the leading edges on the output signals is programmable, and the sequence of the trailing edges is independently programmable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6457164
    Abstract: The invention provides parametric modules called Self Implementing Modules (SIMs) for use in programmable logic devices such as FPGAS. The invention further provides tools and methods for generating and using SIMs. SIMs implement themselves at the time the design is elaborated, targeting a specified FPGA according to specified parameters. In one embodiment, a SIM references or includes one or more floorplanners each of which may employ one or more placement algorithms. Such placement algorithms might include, for example: a linear ordering algorithm that places datapath logic bitwise in a regular linear pattern; a rectangular mesh algorithm that implements memory in a grid pattern in distributed RAM; a columnar algorithm for counters and other arithmetic logic; or a simulated annealing algorithm for random logic such as control logic. Therefore, a design including more than one SIM can utilize a plurality of placement algorithms at the same or different levels of hierarchy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: L. James Hwang, Eric F. Dellinger, Sujoy Mitra, Sundararajarao Mohan, Cameron D. Patterson, Ralph D. Wittig
  • Patent number: 6208163
    Abstract: A logic/memory circuit (LMC) utilized in a configurable logic block (CLB) of a programmable logic device (PLD) that implements an eight-input lookup table (LUT) using an array of programmable elements arranged in rows and columns. A decoder is used to read bit values from one column (e.g., sixteen programmable elements) of the array. In one embodiment, a separate read bit line is provided to facilitate faster read operations. A sixteen-to-one multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit is used to pass selected bit values to an output terminal. The array of programmable elements is programmable both from configuration lines during a configuration mode, and by data transmitted on the interconnect resources through the multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit. In one embodiment, the programmable elements of the array are connected in pairs to product term generation circuitry, and input signals to the array are routed onto bit lines that are also connected to the product term generation circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph D. Wittig, Sundararajarao Mohan, Richard A. Carberry