Abstract: A computer-implemented method of verifying isolation between a plurality of modules of a circuit design to be implemented within an integrated circuit can include identifying a first module and at least a second module of the circuit design for the integrated circuit. One or more circuit attributes indicative of isolation between the first module and the second module can be identified and compared with at least one isolation criterion. An indication of whether the first module is isolated from the second module can be output according to results of the comparison.

Abstract: Circuits for implementing logic replication in self-timed integrated circuits are provided. An exemplary circuit includes first and second copies of a replicated circuit, an input circuit, an output circuit, and a pipelined routing path. The first and second copies each have a self-timed input and a self-timed output. The input circuit provides a self-timed input signal alternately to the self-timed inputs of the first and second copies. The output circuit receives the self-timed output from the first copy and the self-timed output from the second copy, and outputs a selected one of the self-timed outputs based on a value of a self-timed select signal. The pipelined routing path routes the self-timed select signal from the input circuit to the output circuit. The number of pipeline stages in the pipelined routing path can be different from, e.g., less than, the number of stages in both the first and second copies.

Abstract: Methods of implementing circuits while automatically taking multi-cycle paths into account. A processor-implemented method can include inputting a behavioral description of the circuit, a simulation test bench for the circuit, and a library that includes at least one synchronous element. The synchronous element includes code that, when simulated, outputs tracking information including a minimum number of clock cycles between state changes for terminals of the synchronous element. The behavioral description is synthesized to generate a netlist description of the circuit. The netlist description includes at least one instance of the synchronous element. The netlist description is simulated using the simulation test bench and the library. The simulation outputs a description of all multi-cycle paths in the netlist description based on the tracking information output by all instances of the synchronous element in the netlist description.

Abstract: A memory array having a plurality of memory cells is disclosed, where each memory cell comprises a first inverter having a first transistor coupled between a reference voltage and a first node for receiving input data and a second transistor coupled between the first node and ground; and a second inverter having a third transistor coupled between the reference voltage and a second node for storing inverted input data and a fourth transistor coupled between the second node and ground, the first node being coupled to control terminals of the third transistor and the fourth transistor and the second node being coupled to control the first transistor and the second transistor; wherein the third transistor is implemented with physical dimensions which make the third transistor stronger than the first transistor, or the second transistor is implemented with physical dimensions which make the second transistor stronger than the fourth transistor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an output driver is disclosed. The output driver has a first driving device (Q1) that has a first terminal coupled to a bus line terminal, and a second driving device (Q2) that has a first terminal coupled to the bus line terminal. The first driving device (Q1) is configured to couple the bus line terminal to a reference voltage when activated by a first control signal, and the second driving device (Q2) is configured to couple the bus line terminal to a first supply voltage (Vcc) when the second driving device (Q2) is activated by a second control signal. The output driver also has a controller configured to activate the second control signal after the first control signal is deactivated. The second control signal remains active for a first fixed period of time.

Abstract: A method of modifying a data stream (12) in an integrated circuit (“IC”) determines a modification point (14) in the data stream from a beginning (16) of the data stream. The modification point is within a word (W7) and has an offset (oww) from the beginning of the word. Data is removed (18) or added (24) to produce a modified data stream (20).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for interfacing a programmable circuit and a processor is described. In one example, data output from the programmable circuit is packetized to form at least one packet. The at least one packet is provided to the processor via a streaming interface. The data is extracted from the at least one packet. A function is executed on the processor using the data as parametric input. Return data is then packetized by the function in response to the parametric input to produce at least one return packet. The at least one return packet is send towards the programmable circuit via the streaming interface. The return data is extracted from the at least one return packet and provided to the programmable circuit.

Abstract: Methods are provided for generating clusters of actions for manipulating the packets of a communication protocol. A declarative description is input specifying a hierarchical tree structure including a leaf module for each action and instance modules. One instance module is a root of the hierarchical tree structure and each module except the root is a child of an instance module. A constraint specification is input of dependent pairs of the actions. A cluster for each leaf module includes the action of the leaf module. For each instance module, one or more clusters are generated that collectively include the actions in each cluster of each child of the instance module. The actions in each cluster of each child are included in the same cluster, and each dependent pair of the actions is not included in a same cluster. A cluster specification is output for the cluster or clusters of the root.

Abstract: An MOS transistor is programmed in a non-volatile memory cell. A storage capacitor in the non-volatile memory cell is used to enhance programming efficiency by providing additional charge to the programming terminal of the MOS transistor during breakdown of the gate dielectric, thus avoiding soft programming faults. In a particular embodiment the storage capacitor is a second MOS transistor having a thicker gate dielectric layer than the dielectric layer of the programmable MOS transistor.

Abstract: A system and method of securing data stored in a memory are disclosed. The method comprises storing a payload data in a memory in one of first and second states related by a transform, reading the payload data from the memory, attempting to use the payload data for an application, verifying the payload data as being in the first state, transforming the payload data as a function of the transform in response to verifying that the payload data is in the second state, and repeating performing the verifying and transforming steps until the payload data is verified as being in the first state.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing transitions between voltage sources that are used to provide a supply voltage. A first control signal (CSclamp) that indicates whether to initiate a first transition from a first voltage source to a second voltage source to provide the supply voltage (Vgg). When the first control signal indicates to initiate a first transition from a first voltage source to a second voltage source to provide the supply voltage, the first voltage source can be deactivated from providing the supply voltage. In addition, the first voltage source can be pre-biased with a voltage pre-bias to facilitate a second transition from the second voltage source to the first voltage source. Further, the second voltage source can be activated to provide the supply voltage.

Abstract: A capacitor in an integrated circuit (“IC”) has a first node plate link formed in a first metal layer of the IC electrically connected to and forming a portion of a first node of the capacitor extending along a first axis (y) and a second node plate link formed in a second metal layer of the IC extending along the axis and connected to the first node plate with a via. A third node plate link formed in the first metal layer is electrically connected to and forming a portion of a second node of the capacitor and extends along a second axis (x) of the node plate array transverse to the first node plate link, proximate to an end of the first node plate link and overlying a portion of the second node plate link.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting clock loss in clock circuit. An example of the invention relates to detecting loss of a feedback clock signal input to a digital clock manager, where the feedback clock signal is derived from the reference clock signal. A clock divider is provided to produce a divided feedback clock signal from the feedback clock signal. A first pair of flip-flops is configured to store samples of the divided feedback clock signal on consecutive edges of the reference clock signal. A second pair of flip-flops is configured to store samples of the divided feedback clock signal on consecutive edges of an inversion of the reference clock signal. Detection logic is configured to detect whether each of the first pair of flip-flops and each of the second pair of flip-flops store the same value.

Abstract: A system for detecting power-on of a circuit block within an integrated circuit (IC). The system can include a latch including a latch output and an inverted latch output. The latch can be coupled to, and powered by, a power supply providing power to the circuit block within the IC. The system further can include an exclusive OR circuit. The exclusive OR circuit can include an input stage coupled to the latch output and the inverted latch output. The exclusive OR circuit generates an output signal indicating whether the circuit block is in a power-on state.

Abstract: A method of generating a circuit design comprising a T-coil network includes determining inductance for inductors and a parasitic bridge capacitance of the T-coil network. The parasitic bridge capacitance is compared with a load capacitance metric that depends upon parasitic capacitance of a load coupled to an output of the T-coil network. An amount of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection of the circuit design that is coupled to the output of the T-coil network and/or a parameter of the inductors of the T-coil network is selectively adjusted according to the comparison. The circuit design, which can specify inductance of the inductors, the amount of ESD protection, and/or the width of windings of the inductors, is outputted.

Abstract: An FPGA includes a plurality of configurable logic elements, a configuration circuit, a decryption circuit, and a fingerprint element. The fingerprint element generates a fingerprint that is indicative of inherent manufacturing process variations unique to the FPGA. The fingerprint is used as a key for an encryption system that protects against illegal use and/or copying of configuration data. In some embodiments, the propagation delay of various circuit elements formed on the FPGA are used to generate the fingerprint. In one embodiment, the specific frequency of an oscillator is used to generate the fingerprint. In some embodiments, a ratio of measurable values may be used to generate the fingerprint. In other embodiments, differences in transistor threshold voltages are used to generate the fingerprint. In still other embodiments, variations in line widths are used to generate the fingerprint.

Abstract: A method of processing a logical netlist for implementing a circuit design within a programmable logic device includes identifying a dynamically reconfigurable module (DRM) including at least one port from the logical netlist and determining whether the port connects with function logic for a function of the DRM. If the port connects with function logic, logic is inferred that connects the function logic with logic that is external to the DRM. If the port does not connect with function logic, logic is inferred that connects the port of the DRM with logic that is external to the DRM according to an attribute associated with the port. The logical netlist is updated to specify the inferred logic.

Abstract: An integrated circuit has an E-fuse sense circuit configured to produce a READ voltage according to a fuse resistance of an E-fuse during a READ operation. The integrated circuit also has a reference sense circuit configured to produce a reference voltage according to a reference resistance of an on-chip reference resistor during the READ operation. The reference sense circuit replicates the E-fuse sense circuit. The E-fuse sense circuit and the reference sense circuit are coupled to a comparator that produces a bit value according to a difference between the READ voltage and the reference voltage.

Abstract: An MOS device has an embedded dielectric structure underlying an active portion of the device, such as a source extension or a drain extension. In an alternative embodiment, an embedded dielectric structure underlies the channel region of a MOS device, as well as the source and drain extensions.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a co-simulation system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a data processing arrangement executes a simulator that simulates a first block of an electronic circuit design. A first clock source generates a first clock signal, and a second clock source generates a second clock signal. The first and second clock signals are independent one from another, and an operating frequency of the second clock signal is dynamically adjustable from a clock control interface. A programmable logic device (PLD) is configured with logic that includes a co-simulation interface clocked by the first clock signal, a second block of the electronic circuit design that is clocked by the second clock signal, and a synchronizer that controls data transmission between the co-simulation interface and the second block.