Patents Assigned to Altera Corporation
  • Patent number: 10340904
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to a multiple-channel serializer circuit that includes a plurality of one-channel serializers. A one-channel serializer of the plurality of one-channel serializes includes a local 2× frequency clock generator with a non-divider structure. Other embodiments relate to methods of using a non-divider circuit to generate a local 2× frequency clock signal in a one-channel serializer of a multiple-channel serializer. Another embodiment relates to a local 2× frequency clock generator circuit with a non-divider structure. The local 2× frequency clock generator circuit includes a first circuit path which is selected by multiplexers for a first serialization ratio and may also include a second circuit path which is selected by the multiplexers for a second serialization ratio. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Yanjing Ke
  • Patent number: 10339022
    Abstract: A method of monitoring operations of a set of ICs. The method loads a first set of configuration data into a first IC for configuring a group of configurable circuits of the first IC to perform operations of a user design. The method receives a definition of an event based on values of a set of signals in the user design and a set of corresponding actions to take when the event occurs. The set of signals includes at least one signal received from a second IC. The method generates an incremental second set of configuration data based on the definition of the event and the set of corresponding actions. While the first IC is performing the operations of the user design, the method loads the incremental second set of configuration data into the first IC and monitors the signals received from the second IC at the first IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: ALTERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrea Olgiati, Matthew Pond Baker, Steven Teig
  • Patent number: 10339201
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating a dot product using digital signal processing units that are organized into a dot product processing unit for dot product processing using multipliers and adders of the digital signal processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Chaang Ling, Davor Capalija, Tomasz Sebastian Czajkowski, Andrei Mihai Hagiescu Miriste
  • Patent number: 10339244
    Abstract: A method for designing a system on a target device includes performing speculative register retiming with speculative changes made to a design of the system after an initial compilation of the design. A strategy is generated for an actual register retiming in response to user specified preferences on the speculative changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Gamsa, Gordon Raymond Chiu
  • Patent number: 10339241
    Abstract: Configuration data for an integrated circuit may be generated using logic design equipment to implement a logic design on the integrated circuit. The equipment may perform incremental physical synthesis, timing optimization, and legalization operations on the logic design. The equipment may identify timing and legalization constraints and logic blocks that fail the timing constraints, and may determine whether modifying and/or moving the blocks to new locations satisfy the legalization constraints while improving the timing of the design. If the legalization constraints are not satisfied, the design equipment may recursively move non-critical logic blocks to new locations while ensuring that the legalization and timing constraints are satisfied for each move such that the timing of the design is improved. This may be repeated in multiple rounds of adjustment. A netlist may be generated after the moves are performed. The configuration data may be generated based on the netlist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Mahesh A. Iyer, Robert Walker
  • Patent number: 10339074
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to an integrated circuit which includes a method of dynamically adjusting a receive buffer in an integrated circuit. A fixed-size buffer circuit of the receive buffer is used to buffer data received by way of a serial interface circuit. The performance of the serial interface circuit are monitored. The receive buffer is dynamically extended based on said performance. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Zun Yang Tan, Tat Mun Lui, Boon Jin Ang, Chiang Wei Lee, Richard Jin Guan Saw, Want Sent Khor
  • Patent number: 10339243
    Abstract: A method for designing a system on a target device is disclosed. The system is synthesized. The system is partitioned into a plurality of logical sections utilizing information derived from synthesizing the system and prior to performing placement of the system on the target device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: ALTERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott James Brissenden, Paul McHardy
  • Patent number: 10339238
    Abstract: A method for designing a system on a target device includes identifying a timing exception for a portion of a signal path. An area on the target device that includes components affected by the timing exception. Constraints are generated that prevent registers residing in the area from being used for register retiming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Salem Derisavi, Gordon Raymond Chiu, Benjamin Gamsa
  • Patent number: 10332612
    Abstract: Integrated circuits with memory interface circuitry may be provided. Prior to calibration, a number of samples may be determined by computing probability density function curves as a function of timing window edge asymmetry for different degrees of oversampling. During calibration, duty cycle distortion in data strobe signals may be corrected by selectively delaying the data strobe rising or falling edges. A data clock signal that is used for generating data signals may also suffer from duty cycle distortion. The rising and falling edges of the data clock signal may be selectively delayed to correct for duty cycle distortion. The data path through which the data signals are routed may be adjusted to equalize rising and falling transitions to minimize data path duty cycle distortion. Multi-rank calibration may be performed by calibrating to an intersection of successful settings that allow each memory rank to pass memory operation tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Fung, Valavan Manohararajah
  • Patent number: 10333535
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a signal network and a phase detector circuit. The signal network includes an adjustable delay circuit. The adjustable delay circuit is coupled at an intersection in the signal network between branches of the signal network. The signal network generates a first signal at a first leaf node of the signal network in response to a second signal. The signal network generates a third signal at a second leaf node of the signal network in response to the second signal. The phase detector circuit compares phases of the first and third signals to generate a phase detection signal. The adjustable delay circuit adjusts a delay provided to the first signal relative to the second signal to reduce a skew between the first and third signals based on the phase detection signal indicating that the first and third signals have the skew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: David Mendel, Carl Ebeling, Dana How, Mahesh Iyer
  • Patent number: 10331843
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a first circuit design, deriving circuit design revisions based on the first circuit design, receiving revision information for each of the circuit design revisions that is output as a result of compilation of the circuit design revisions, extracting location information, timing information, or both for resources from the revision information, for each of the circuit design revisions, mapping the resources into a chip view based on the location information, the timing information, or both. The chip view includes a virtual visualization of an actual physical chip and the resources are mapped to their actual locations on the virtual visualization as they would be implemented on the actual physical chip. The method also includes generating the chip view of the circuit design revisions that displays a report specific to one or more properties of the circuit design revisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Choi Phaik Chin, Teik Chuan Tan, Kian Yong Tiu
  • Patent number: 10331533
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for updating a memory map maintained by processing circuitry that is coupled to programmable logic circuitry. One of the techniques may involve detecting reconfiguration of a device component formed on a portion of the programmable logic circuitry using monitoring circuitry. The technique may further include generating a notification event based on the reconfiguration of the device component using the monitoring circuitry. The notification event may then be sent to the processing circuitry using the monitoring circuitry. The technique may further involve updating, using the processing circuitry, the memory map based on the notification event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: David Alexander Munday, Matthew Harbridge Gerlach
  • Patent number: 10331827
    Abstract: A method for performing simulation includes determining whether a model is available for a channel. A model for the channel is generated using signal attenuation parameters provided by a user in response to determining that the model is unavailable. The model includes crosstalk characteristics from crosstalk parameters provided by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Shimanouchi, Peng Li, Hsinho Wu
  • Patent number: 10318470
    Abstract: A method for compressing is provided. The method includes compressing, via a processor, a portion of a first data packet to generate a second data packet having a compressed portion. The method includes transmitting the second data packet having the compressed portion via an interface to a co-processor. The processor and the co-processor are communicatively coupled via the interface. The method also includes unpacking, via the co-processor, the compressed portion of the second data packet to restore the first data packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Kugel, Dekel Shirizly
  • Patent number: 10320554
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and systems are provided for securing an integrated circuit device against Differential Power Analysis (DPA) attacks. Plaintext (e.g., configuration data for a programmable device) may be encrypted in an encryption system using a cryptographic algorithm. Ciphertext may be decrypted in a decryption system using the cryptographic algorithm. The encryption and/or decryption systems may obfuscate the plaintext, the ciphertext, and/or the substitution tables used by the cryptographic algorithm. The encryption and/or decryption systems may also generate cryptographic key schedules by using different keys for encrypting/decrypting different blocks and/or by expanding round keys between encryption/decryption blocks. These techniques may help mitigate or altogether eliminate the vulnerability of cryptographic elements revealing power consumption information to learn the value of secret information, e.g., through DPA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce B. Pedersen
  • Patent number: 10318241
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to circuitry that efficiently performs floating-point arithmetic operations and fixed-point arithmetic operations. Such circuitry may be implemented in specialized processing blocks. If desired, the specialized processing blocks may include configurable interconnect circuitry to support a variety of different use modes. For example, the specialized processing block may efficiently perform a fixed-point or floating-point addition operation or a portion thereof, a fixed-point or floating-point multiplication operation or a portion thereof, a fixed-point or floating-point multiply-add operation or a portion thereof, just to name a few. In some embodiments, two or more specialized processing blocks may be arranged in a cascade chain and perform together more complex operations such as a recursive mode dot product of two vectors of floating-point numbers or a Radix-2 Butterfly circuit, just to name a few.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Langhammer
  • Patent number: 10311196
    Abstract: A method for designing a system on a target device includes placing the system on the target device. Timing analysis is performed on the placed system to model delays by using a plurality of localized functions that overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: David Lewis
  • Patent number: 10303202
    Abstract: A method for designing a system on a target device includes placing the system on the target device. A netlist retiming is performed on the placed system. A clock allocation and a clock region optimization are performed utilizing information from the placing and the netlist retiming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Saurabh Adya, Mahesh A. Iyer, Love Singhal
  • Patent number: 10303831
    Abstract: A method for designing a system on a target device includes generating a scheduled netlist and a hardware description language (HDL) of the system from a computer language description of the system. An area report is generated prior to HDL compilation, based on estimates from the scheduled netlist, that identifies resources from the target device required to implement portions of the computer language description of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Maryam Sadooghi-Alvandi, Andrei Mihai Hagiescu Miriste, Alan Baker, Dmitry Nikolai Denisenko
  • Patent number: 10296701
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes performing retiming using a circuit design to determine a retimed variation to the circuit design. The circuit design includes a first set of registers with defined power-up states and the variations each comprise a second set of registers that correspond to the first set of registers. The method includes maintaining fixed power-up states for the second set of registers in the variations. The fixed power-up states for the second set of registers are equivalent to the defined power-up states of the first set of registers. The method includes identifying registers of the second set of registers involved in an initial state conflict, and performing a mitigating action to resolve the initial state conflict to enable retiming to continue while maintaining functionally equivalent behavior as the circuit design. Various choices of initial states are also explored during retiming to increase the effect of retiming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Mahesh A. Iyer, Vasudeva M. Kamath, Robert Lawrence Walker