Patents Assigned to Xilinx, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7684278
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for implementing first-in-first-out (FIFO) memories using time-multiplexed memory in an integrated circuit are described. A block random access memory (BRAM) circuit embedded in the integrated circuit is provided. The BRAM includes at least one port responsive to a respective at least one BRAM clock signal. FIFO logic is configured to implement a plurality of FIFOs in the BRAM having a plurality of interfaces. Multiplexer logic is configured to selectively couple the plurality of output interfaces of the FIFO logic to the at least one port of the BRAM circuit responsive to at least one FIFO clock signal. Each of the at least one BRAM clock signal has at least twice the frequency of a respective one of the at least one FIFO clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Schumacher, Mark Paluszkiewicz, Kornelis A. Vissers
  • Patent number: 7685541
    Abstract: Translation of high-level design blocks into a design specification in a hardware description language (HDL). Each block in the high-level design is assigned to a group. A set of attributes is identical between the blocks in a group. For each group of blocks, a respective set of parameters having different values on subblocks of at least two blocks in the group is determined. An HDL specification is generated for each group. The HDL specification for a group has for each parameter in the set of parameters, a parameter input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Stroomer, Roger B. Milne, Isaac W. Foraker, Sean A. Kelly
  • Patent number: 7683666
    Abstract: A method and apparatus involve operating a circuit that includes a first portion and a second portion, including: operating the first portion in synchronism with a clock signal; maintaining in the first portion a logical value that can vary dynamically; and operating the second portion in a selected one of first and second operational modes. The operating of the second portion includes: responding to the occurrence of a control signal during operation in the first operational mode by causing the second portion to force the logical value in the first portion to a predetermined logical state in a manner asynchronous to the clock signal; and responding to the occurrence of the control signal during operation in the second operational mode by causing the second portion to force the logical value in the first portion to the predetermined logical state in a manner synchronized with the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventor: Schuyler E. Shimanek
  • Patent number: 7684968
    Abstract: Generating a high-level, bit-accurate and cycle-accurate simulation model. The various embodiments generate the simulation model from a functional description of a module and an HDL description of the module. The functional description may be un-timed and specified in a high-level language. The HDL description is realizable in hardware. The simulation model is created by obtaining the control specification from the HDL description and combining the control specification with the data path description from functional description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabor Szedo, Singh Vinay Jitendra, L. James Hwang
  • Patent number: 7683663
    Abstract: A system implements and authorizes use of a user design. A non-volatile memory stores combined configuration data including first configuration data for implementing a user design and an authorization module, and second configuration data for implementing a generator of a check code. In response to a reset, a programmable integrated circuit loads the first configuration data to implement the user design and the authorization module. The implemented authorization module generates an activation code from an identifier when the check code is available from the non-volatile memory and enables the user design when the check and activation codes match. The programmable integrated circuit loads the second configuration data to implement the generator when the check code is not available from the non-volatile memory. The implemented generator erases the second configuration data from the non-volatile memory, generates the check code from the identifier, and stores the check code in the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventor: Chih-Ming Tsai
  • Patent number: 7683664
    Abstract: A selection circuit, such as a multiplexer circuit, programmable to hold the output signal at a constant logic level or select 1 of n input signals as the output signal is disclosed. A first bank of transistors receives the n input signals and is controlled by a first set of memory cells. A second bank of transistors is controlled by a second set of memory cells. At least two transistors of the second bank have gates are coupled to a complemented output of one of the second set of memory cells. Each transistor in the second bank is coupled to a subset of transistors of the first bank. An output stage is coupled to the second bank of transistors. A pair of serially coupled transistors has gates coupled to two memory cells of the second set that control the at least two transistors of the second bank. The output stage outputs the constant logic level signal when the serially coupled transistors are conducting, and outputs the selected input signal when the serially coupled transistors are not conducting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian C. Gaide
  • Patent number: 7685554
    Abstract: Determining data rates and data types in a an electronic design. In one embodiment, an electronic design is created in a memory arrangement in response to user input. The electronic design includes a plurality of functional blocks and a plurality of nets connecting the functional blocks. In response to user input, an output data rate and an output data type of data output from at least one of the functional blocks are determined. The input data rate and input data type to each functional block coupled via a net to the at least one functional block are equal to the output data rate and output data type, respectively, from the at least one functional block. For each functional block, an output data rate and output data type are determined as a function of the input data rate and the input data type of the functional block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean A. Kelly, Roger B. Milne, Jeffrey D. Stroomer, Sreekanth Juttu
  • Patent number: 7685486
    Abstract: Functional testing of an integrated circuit (IC) is a part from a more comprehensive and thorough testing. An IC including an embedded select circuit module coupled to receive numerous input signals. The IC may also include control circuit coupled to receive input control signals, where at least one input control signal of the input control signals is a mode signal. Asserting the mode signal may operate the select circuit module in a test mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew W. Lai
  • Patent number: 7685327
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for identifying a system. In various embodiments, values of identification codes are read from each of a plurality of electronic devices of the system. The values of the identification codes are used to generate a system identifier value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil G. Jacobson, Emigdio M. Flores, Jr., Sanjay Srivastava, Bin Dai, Sungnien Jerry Mao, Rosa M. Y. Chow, Pushpasheel Tawade
  • Patent number: 7684232
    Abstract: A memory cell stores a data bit value despite atomic radiation. The memory cell includes two inverters, an access circuit, and two switch circuits. Each inverter has an input and an output. The access circuit is arranged to write and read the data bit value in the memory cell. The switch circuits cross couple the outputs of the two inverters to the inputs of the two inverters. The switch circuits are arranged to alternately decouple and couple the inputs of the two inverters to limit corruption from atomic radiation of the data bit value in the memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventor: Austin H. Lesea
  • Patent number: 7685347
    Abstract: An interrupt controller efficiently manages execution of tasks by a multiprocessor computing system. The interrupt controller has inputs for receiving service requests for invoking service routines. The service routines have higher priorities than the tasks executed on the processors. Associated with each processor is a register for storing the priority of the task executing on the processor. A comparator coupled to the processors determines the processor executing the task having a lower priority among the priorities of the tasks executing on the processors. For each service request received, a distributor generates an interrupt request for invoking the service routine of the service request on the processor with the lower priority. The register with the lower priority is set to the higher priority of the service routine in response to the interrupt request. For each processor, the interrupt controller has an output for transmitting the interrupt request to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Ronald Gibbs
  • Publication number: 20100070737
    Abstract: Address generation by an integrated circuit is described. An aspect relates generally to an address generator which has first and second processing units. The second processing unit is coupled to receive a stage output from the first processing unit and configured to provide an address output. The stage output is in a first range, and the address output is in a second range. The first range is from ?K to ?1 for K a block size, and the second range is from 0 to K-1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Colin Stirling, David I. Lawrie, David Andrews
  • Patent number: 7676661
    Abstract: A fast linked multiprocessor network including a plurality of processing modules implemented on a field programmable gate array and a plurality of configurable uni-directional links coupled among at least two of the plurality processing modules provide a streaming communication channel between at least two of the plurality of processing modules. Such configuration provides a function accelerator that can feed at least one processor with data values using one custom instruction to put data values on at least one uni-directional serial link and that can extract data values from at least one processor using one custom instruction to get data values from the at least one uni-directional serial link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Sundararajarao Mohan, Satish R. Ganesan, Goran Bilski
  • Publication number: 20100052780
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having a circuit for reducing distortion in a power amplifier is disclosed. The integrated circuit comprises a predistortion circuit coupled to receive a signal to be amplified; sample capture buffers coupled to an output of the predistortion circuit and an input/output port of the integrated circuit; and an estimator circuit coupled to the sample capture buffers, wherein the estimator circuit generates parameters for the predistortion circuit based upon the output of the predistortion circuit and an output of the power amplifier received at the input/output port of the integrated circuit. A method of reducing distortion in a power amplifier is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Summerfield, Christopher H. Dick
  • Patent number: 7671624
    Abstract: A packaged PLD solution includes a first die having a masked-Read Only Memory (ROM) that is programmed during its fabrication to store configuration data, and includes a second die having a PLD including a number of configurable resources collectively configured to implement a circuit design embodied by the configuration data. The first die is electrically connected to the second die, and both the first die and second die are stacked and encapsulated together to form the packaged PLD solution. The configuration data is programmed into the masked-ROM by a manufacturer of both the masked-ROM and the PLD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Walstrum, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7673272
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating an area constraint for a module in a programmable logic device (PLD) is described. In an example, first logic resources are selected in a floorplan of the PLD for implementing a first module of a circuit design. A routing resource area constraint is defined that reserves first routing resources associated with the first logic resources and second routing resources associated with second logic resources. The second routing resources are required for use of the first logic resources. A logic resource area constraint is defined that reserves the first logic resources and excludes the second logic resources. The logic resource constraint area for the module may be non-rectangular or include multiple disjoint regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay T. Young
  • Patent number: 7673201
    Abstract: A method of restoring a selected operational state of a circuit design implemented within a programmable integrated circuit (IC) can include pipelining a clock gating signal that selectively pauses a clock of the circuit design, and storing configuration data specifying an operational state of the circuit design at a first simulation clock cycle in non-configuration memory. At a second simulation clock cycle, the clock of the circuit design can be gated. The stored configuration data can be loaded into configuration memory of the programmable IC, wherein loading the configuration data reconfigures the circuit design and restores the operational state of the circuit design in existence at the first simulation clock cycle. The clock of the circuit design can be advanced a number of clock cycles corresponding to a difference between the second simulation clock cycle and the first simulation clock cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventors: Chi Bun Chan, Jingzhao Ou
  • Patent number: 7673087
    Abstract: Arbitration for a processor block core is described. Master devices are associated with a processor block core embedded in a host integrated circuit (“IC”). The master devices are coupled to core logic of the host IC via a crossbar switch and a bridge, which are part of the processor block core. The crossbar switch includes an arbiter. An arbitration protocol is selected from among a plurality of arbitration protocols for use by the arbiter. Pending transactions having are polled for access to the bridge for arbitration using the arbitration protocol selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad R. Ansari, Jeffery H. Applebaum, Kunal R. Shenoy
  • Patent number: 7673267
    Abstract: Methods and circuits to reduce jitter in a design block including partitioning the design block. A circuit design is partitioned into multiple partitioned design blocks performing the same task as the original circuit deign. In one embodiment, a core clock signal is supplied to each of the partitioned design blocks, having a frequency higher than frequency of the reference clock signal. Additionally each of the partitioned design blocks receives a mutually exclusive enable signal, where each of the partitioned design blocks may be activated once at a given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony T. Duong
  • Patent number: 7673271
    Abstract: Enhancing relocatability of partial configuration bitstreams from a first area to a second area of programmable logic of an integrated circuit is described. A first set and a second set of logic resources of the programmable logic are identified. The first set and the second set of logic resources are respectively associated with the first area and the second area, the second area being wholly or partially offset from the first area. Differences between the first set of logic resources and the second set of logic resources are identified. The differences are associated with one or more of different types of circuit resources in each of the first area and the second area. Prohibit constraints associated with the differences are set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobias J. Becker, Brandon J. Blodget