Patents Assigned to Actel Corporation
  • Publication number: 20070210829
    Abstract: An FPGA architecture has top, middle and low levels. The top level is an array of B16×16 tiles enclosed by I/O blocks. The routing resources in the middle level are expressway routing channels including interconnect conductors. At the lowest level, there are block connect routing channels, local mesh routing channels, and direct connect interconnect conductors to connect the logic elements to further routing resources. Each B1 block includes four clusters of devices. Each of the clusters includes first and second LUT3s, a LUT2, and a DFF. Each of the LUT3s have three inputs and one output. Each of the LUT2s have two inputs and one output. Each DFF has a data input and a data output. In each of the clusters the outputs of the LUT3s are multiplexed to the input of DFF, and symmetrized with the output of the DFF to form two outputs of each of the clusters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: ACTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sinan Kaptanoglu
  • Patent number: 7268585
    Abstract: An aggregation interconnect scheme for a programmable logic device provides low-skew routing of high fan-out signals by aggregating regional routing resources, which provide low-skew routing utilizing under-utilized global routing resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventor: Alan B. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7269814
    Abstract: The present invention comprises apparatus and a method for simultaneously programming multiple antifuses in a multiple tile field programmable gate array (FPGA). The invention comprises an FPGA having a plurality of logic modules with programmable elements. The logic modules are partitioned into a plurality of individually programmable groups and an isolation device may be coupled between the individually programmable groups of logic modules such that each of the programmable elements in each of the plurality of individually programmable logic modules may be programmed concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Shin-Nan Sun, Wayne W. Wong
  • Patent number: 7268589
    Abstract: An address transition detector circuit includes an input node, an output node, a bandgap reference node, and Pbias and Nbias nodes having voltages derived from the bandgap reference node. First through fifth cascaded inverters are each powered by a p-channel and n-channel MOS bias transistors having their gates coupled respectively to the Pbias node and the Nbias node. The input of the first inverter is coupled to the input node. First and second capacitors are coupled respectively to ground from the outputs of the first and fourth cascaded inverters. A NAND gate has a first input coupled to the input node, a second input coupled the output of the fifth cascaded inverter, and an output coupled to the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Poongyeub Lee, Ming-Chi Liu
  • Publication number: 20070205803
    Abstract: An aggregation interconnect scheme for a programmable logic device provides low-skew routing of high fan-out signals by aggregating regional routing resources, which provide low-skew routing utilizing under-utilized global routing resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: ACTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alan Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20070189062
    Abstract: First and second complimentary static random-access-memory cell bit lines are coupled to first and second bit nodes through first and second access transistors controlled by a word line. A first inverter has an input coupled to the first bit node and an output coupled to the second bit node. A second inverter has an input coupled to the second bit node and an output coupled to the first bit node through a first transistor switch. A transistor switch is coupled between the output of a non-volatile memory cell and the first bit node. A control circuit coupled to the gate of the transistor switch. Either the drive level of the non-volatile memory cell is selected to overpower the output of the second inverter or the second inverter is decoupled from the first bit node while the output of the non-volatile memory cell is coupled to the first bit node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: ACTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: William Plants
  • Patent number: 7256610
    Abstract: A programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device includes a programmable logic block, at least one user non-volatile memory block, and temperature sensing and control analog and digital circuits on a single semiconductor integrated circuit chip or a flip chip, face-to-face, or other multiple die configuration. The programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit with temperature measuring and control circuitry performs temperature measurement and control functions and can be used to create an on-chip temperature log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Rabindranath Balasubramanian, Limin Zhu, Gregory Bakker
  • Publication number: 20070182600
    Abstract: An SRAM bus architecture includes pass-through interconnect conductors. Each of the pass-through interconnect conductors is connected to routing channels of the general interconnect architecture of the FPGA through an element which includes a pass transistor connected in parallel with a tri-state buffer. The pass transistors and tri-state buffers are controlled by configuration SRAM bits. Some of the pass-through interconnect conductors are connected by programmable elements to the address, data and control signal lines of the SRAM blocks, while other pass through the SRAM blocks with out being further connected to the SRAM bussing architecture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Actel Corporation
    Inventor: William Plants
  • Publication number: 20070182446
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a field programmable gate array that has a plurality of dedicated first-in/first-out memory logic components. The field programmable gate array includes a plurality of synchronous random access memory blocks that are coupled to a plurality of dedicated first-in/first-out memory logic components and a plurality of random access memory clusters that are programmably coupled to the plurality of dedicated first-in/first-out memory logic components and to the plurality of synchronous random access memory blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: ACTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Elftmann, Theodore Speers, Arunangshu Kundu
  • Publication number: 20070184635
    Abstract: A metal interconnect structure formed over a substrate in an integrated circuit that traverses a scribe-line boundary between a first die and a second die includes at least one metal interconnect line that traverses the scribe-line boundary. A switch is coupled between the at least one metal interconnect line and the substrate, the switch having a control element coupled to a scribe-cut control line. The control line turns the switch on if the two dice are separated into individual dice and turns the switch off if the two dice are to remain physically connected so that the interconnect line may be used to make connections between circuits on the two dice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: ACTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: John McCollum
  • Publication number: 20070176631
    Abstract: A programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device comprises a programmable logic block, a non-volatile memory block, an analog sub-system, an analog input/output circuit block, and a digital input/output circuit block. A programmable interconnect architecture includes programmable elements and interconnect conductors. Ones of the programmable elements are coupled to the programmable logic block, the non-volatile memory block, the analog sub-system, the analog input/output circuit block, the digital input/output circuit block, and to the interconnect conductors, such that inputs and outputs of the programmable logic block, the non-volatile memory block, the analog sub-system, the analog input/output circuit block, and the digital input/output circuit block can be programmably coupled to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: ACTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Greg Bakker, Khaled El-Ayat, Theodore Speers, Limin Zhu, Brian Schubert, Rabindranath Balasubramanian, Kurt Kolkind, Thomas Barraza, Venkatesh Narayanan, John McCollum, William Plants
  • Patent number: 7248094
    Abstract: A circuit for programming an antifuse coupled between a first node and a second node includes at least one transistor for supplying a programming potential VPP to the first node. A first transistor has a source coupled to a third node switchably coupleable between a potential of VPP/2 and ground potential, a drain, and a gate. A second transistor has a source coupled to the drain of the first transistor, a drain coupled to the second node, and a gate. Programming circuitry is coupled to the gate of the first transistor and the gate of the second transistor and configured to in a programming mode apply a potential of either zero volts or VPP/2 to the gate of the first transistor and to apply a potential of VPP/2 to the gate of the second transistor. The first and second transistors have a BVDss rating of not more than about VPP/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventor: John McCollum
  • Publication number: 20070164786
    Abstract: A multi-directional routing repeater has a plurality of buffers, each of the plurality of buffers has an input and an output. The output of each of the plurality of buffers is connected to a separate routing line for transmitting a signal in a separate direction of a first set of routing lines, and the input of each of the plurality of buffers is connected to one of a first set of programmable switches, one of a second set of programmable switches, one of a third set of programmable switches, and one of a fourth set of programmable switches, and each one of the first set of programmable switches is connected to a separate one of the second set of programmable switches and a separate one of the second set of programmable switches, none of which are connected to an input of a same one of the plurality of buffers. Each one of the first set of programmable switches is connected to a separate routing line for transmitting a signal in a separate direction of a second set of routing lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Actel Corporation
    Inventor: Volker Hecht
  • Patent number: 7244633
    Abstract: A carrier for a semiconductor die has a substrate with a cavity formed in the substrate. The cavity has a bottom and sidewalls, and the sidewalls have a stepped tier. Electrically conductive contacts are disposed on an underside of the substrate. Electrically conductive tabs are disposed on the stepped tier, and electrically conductive external bond terminals are disposed on an edge of the substrate. Electrically conductive paths are formed in the substrate and electrically coupled between the electrically conductive tabs, the electrically conductive contacts, and the electrically conductive external bond terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond Kuang
  • Patent number: 7245535
    Abstract: A non-volatile programmable memory cell suitable for use in a programmable logic array includes a non-volatile MOS transistor of a first conductivity type in series with a volatile MOS transistor of a second conductivity type. The non-volatile MOS transistor may be a floating gate transistor, such as a flash transistor, or may be another type of non-volatile transistor such as a floating charge-trapping SONOS, MONOS transistor, or a nano-crystal transistor. A volatile MOS transistor, an inverter, or a buffer may be driven by coupling its gate or input to the common connection between the non-volatile MOS transistor and the volatile MOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: John McCollum, Hung-Sheng Chen, Frank Hawley
  • Publication number: 20070139998
    Abstract: In an integrated circuit, a radiation tolerant static random access memory device comprising a first inverter having an input and an output, a second inverter having an input and an output. A first resistor is coupled between the output of the first inverter and the input of the second inverter. A second resistor is coupled between the output of the second inverter and the input of the first inverter. A first write transistor is coupled to the output of the first inverter and has a gate coupled to a source of a first set of write-control signals and a second write transistor is coupled to the output of the second inverter and has a gate coupled to said source of a second set of write-control signals. Finally, a pass transistor has a gate coupled to the output of on of the first and second inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: ACTEL CORPORATION, a California Corporation
    Inventor: John McCollum
  • Patent number: 7233167
    Abstract: An FPGA architecture has top, middle and low levels. The top level is an array of B16×16 tiles enclosed by I/O blocks. The routing resources in the middle level are expressway routing channels including interconnect conductors. At the lowest level, there are block connect routing channels, local mesh routing channels, and direct connect interconnect conductors to connect the logic elements to further routing resources. Each B1 block includes four clusters of devices. Each of the clusters includes first and second LUT3s, a LUT2, and a DFF. Each of the LUT3s have three inputs and one output. Each of the LUT2s have two inputs and one output. Each DFF has a data input and a data output. In each of the clusters the outputs of the LUT3s are multiplexed to the input of DFF, and symmetrized with the output of the DFF to form two outputs of each of the clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventor: Sinan Kaptanoglu
  • Patent number: 7227380
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a field programmable gate array that has a plurality of dedicated first-in/first-out memory logic components. The field programmable gate array includes a plurality of synchronous random access memory blocks that are coupled to a plurality of dedicated first-in/first-out memory logic components and a plurality of random access memory clusters that are programmably coupled to the plurality of dedicated first-in/first-out memory logic components and to the plurality of synchronous random access memory blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Elftmann, Theodore Speers, Arunangshu Kundu
  • Patent number: 7224603
    Abstract: First and second complimentary static random-access-memory cell bit lines are coupled to first and second bit nodes through first and second access transistors controlled by a word line. A first inverter has an input coupled to the first bit node and an output coupled to the second bit node. A second inverter has an input coupled to the second bit node and an output coupled to the first bit node through a first transistor switch. A transistor switch is coupled between the output of a non-volatile memory cell and the first bit node. A control circuit coupled to the gate of the transistor switch. Either the drive level of the non-volatile memory cell is selected to overpower the output of the second inverter or the second inverter is decoupled from the first bit node while the output of the non-volatile memory cell is coupled to the first bit node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventor: William C. Plants
  • Patent number: 7224042
    Abstract: A metal interconnect structure formed over a substrate in an integrated circuit that traverses a scribe-line boundary between a first die and a second die includes at least one metal interconnect line that traverses the scribe-line boundary. A switch is coupled between the at least one metal interconnect line and the substrate, the switch having a control element coupled to a scribe-cut control line. The control line turns the switch on if the two dice are separated into individual dice and turns the switch off if the two dice are to remain physically connected so that the interconnect line may be used to make connections between circuits on the two dice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventor: John McCollum