Abstract: An integrated circuit fabricated in a multiple oxide process can be used to provide a temperature-insensitive circuit. The temperature-insensitive circuit can be a ring oscillator; this ring oscillator can be used as a low-cost integrated reference frequency to monitor and to modify the behavior of the integrated to produce the desired results. In some embodiments, the reference oscillator output can be compared to second oscillator output where the second oscillator performance is temperature-sensitive. The comparison result can be monitored and processed to power down the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method of limiting the routing resources of an integrated circuit (IC) that are available for use when routing multi-fanout nets can include selecting a multi-fanout net comprising a source and a plurality of loads and identifying each region of the IC which does not include at least one of the plurality of loads. Each of the regions can have a defined geometry. A type of routing resource can be selected which has a physical orientation with respect to the IC that corresponds to the geometry of the regions of the IC. Each routing resource of the selected type that is located within a region of the IC which does not include at least one of the plurality of loads can be excluded from consideration when routing the multi-fanout net.

Abstract: Methods and structures utilizing multiple configuration bitstreams to program integrated circuits (ICs) such as programmable logic devices, thereby enabling the utilization of partially defective ICs. A user design is implemented two or more times, preferably utilizing different programmable resources as much as possible in each configuration bitstream. The resulting user configuration bitstreams are stored along with associated test bitstreams in a memory device, e.g., a programmable read-only memory (PROM). Under the control of a configuration control circuit or device, the test bitstreams are loaded into a partially defective IC and tested using an automated testing procedure. When a test bitstream is found that enables the associated user design to function correctly in the programmed IC, i.e.

Abstract: Signal distribution of a regional signal is described. An integrated circuit includes a global signal distribution network, a regional signal distribution network and a regional buffer. The regional buffer has an output coupled at an end of the regional signal distribution network. The regional signal distribution network is coupled to a configurable logic block via an interconnect tile. The regional buffer is coupled to a regional clock capable input/output block. Additionally described is a source synchronous interface for regional signal distribution.

Abstract: A method of implementing a circuit design on a programmable integrated circuit can include displaying a list of at least one memory of the circuit design that is associated with the processor. A plurality of attributes of an event for the processor can be received. The plurality of attributes can specify a condition that, when met within at least one memory from the list, causes a signal to be generated to the processor. A description of an event interface for the processor can be automatically created according to the plurality of attributes of the interrupt. The description of the event interface can be incorporated into a description of the circuit design.

Abstract: A configurable transactional memory synchronizes transactions from clients. The configurable transactional memory includes a memory buffer and a transactional buffer. The memory buffer includes allocation control and storage, and the allocation control is configurable to selectively allocate the storage between a transactional buffer and a data buffer for the data words. The transactional buffer stores state indicating each combination of a data word and a client for which the data word is referenced by a write access in the transaction in progress from the client. The transactional arbiter generates the completion status for the transaction in progress from each client. The completion status is either committed for no collision or aborted for a collision. A collision is an access that references a data word of the transaction from the client following a write access that references the data word of another transaction in progress from another client.

Abstract: A method of implementing a circuit design in a target device can include identifying routing information for a circuit design that has been at least partially implemented. A plurality of empty sites of the target device within which the circuit design is to be implemented can be identified. The method also can include determining whether each of the plurality of empty sites of the target device has a routing conflict according to the routing information of the circuit design and generating a list specifying each empty site of the target device that has a routing conflict.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of testing for bridge faults in nets of the interconnect of a programmable integrated circuit. Each net is sourced by a function generator (e.g., a look up table) configured as a clocked shift register. For each net group, shift registers connecting nets in the group are initialized identically to one value and are initialized to a different unique value from shift registers connecting nets of other net groups. Each shift register stores one bit with a value one and zeros in all other bits. When the shift register is clocked, it provides a single one on one clock cycle and provides zeros in all other clock cycles. At the end of n clock cycles, where n is the length of the shift register, if the load on any net has a value that is different from the value provided by the net's corresponding shift register, a short is detected.

Abstract: A circuit for a multi-channel add-compare-select unit is disclosed. The circuit includes a compare unit and a datapath. The datapath is coupled to the compare unit, and includes a number of adder units, a selection unit (which is coupled to the adder units), and a number of clocked storage stages.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of implementing a circuit design within a target integrated circuit (IC) can include, during technology mapping of the circuit design, determining a plurality of implementations of at least one sub-circuit of the circuit design and placing the circuit design on the target IC using a primary implementation of the plurality of implementations of the sub-circuit. The primary implementation of the sub-circuit can be selectively replaced with an alternate implementation of the sub-circuit selected from the plurality of implementations of the sub-circuit. The placed circuit design, including either the primary implementation or the alternate implementation of the sub-circuit, can be output.

Abstract: A separate program power input is provided to a programmable logic array's memory to permit it to be programmed independently of printed circuit board power. Means are provided to isolate the program power input from the array's programmable logic circuit. Means are further provided to isolate the memory from the programmable logic circuit. The program power is not connected directly or indirectly to the programmable logic circuit thereby permitting the use of low-power devices to program the memory without connecting the printed circuit board to a power supply.

Abstract: Each array in a sequence of arrays is reordered. A first port receives in a first serial order a number of values in each array in the sequence and a second port transmits the values in a different second serial order. For each value in each array in the sequence, the address generator generates an address within a range of zero through one less than the number of values in the array. For each address from the generator, the memory performs an access to a location corresponding to the address in the memory. The access for each address includes a read from the location before a write to the location. For each array in the sequence, the writes for the addresses serially write the values of the array in the first serial order and the reads for the addresses serially read the values in the second serial order.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a total length of instruction registers. A data shift of a scan chain determines whether each device in the scan chain is an identified device. An overall length of the instruction registers of the devices is determined from an instruction shift. An actual position is determined for an identified device between each pair of sub-sequences of unidentified devices. An instruction shift of the scan chain attempts to set the respective instruction register of the identified device using one or more trial positions. If a data shift of the scan chain obtains the recognized value of the respective identification register of the identified device for one of the trial positions, then this trial position is the actual position within the overall length. The total length is determined for the instruction registers of the unidentified devices in each sub-sequence of the unidentified devices.

Abstract: An interconnect array formed at least in part using repeated application of an interconnect pattern is described. The interconnect pattern has at least ten interconnect locations. One of the ten interconnect locations is for a power interconnect. Another one of the ten interconnect locations is for a ground interconnect. At least eight interconnect locations remaining are for additional interconnects. The at least eight remaining interconnect locations are disposed around a medial region, where either the ground interconnect or the power interconnect is located in the medial region. An offset region has one of either the ground interconnect or the power interconnect not in the medial region. The interconnect array is at least partially formed by repeated application of the interconnect pattern offset from one another responsive to the offset region.

Abstract: Apparatus for vector generation is described. A vector generator is associated with a discrete power series symmetric about at least one term and configured to provide vectors, such as QSvectors for a Turbo Code for example. The vectors are each provided in separate portions as a first portion and a second portion. The second portion of a vector of the vectors is generated from the first portion of the vector using symmetry about the at least one term.

Abstract: A system for performing cycle accurate simulation of a circuit design can include a plurality of cycle accurate models, wherein each cycle accurate model is a software object representation of a hardware function, and a scheduler configured to execute each cycle accurate model at clock cycle boundaries determined during a simulation session.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for integrating capacitors in stacked integrated circuits are described. One aspect of the invention relates to a semiconductor assembly having a carrier substrate, a plurality of integrated circuit dice, and at least one metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The integrated circuit dice are vertically stacked on the carrier substrate. Each MIM capacitor is disposed between a first integrated circuit die and a second integrated circuit die of the plurality of integrated circuit dice. The at least one MIM capacitor is fabricated on at least one of a face of the first integrated circuit die and a backside of the second integrated circuit die.

Abstract: Methods of securing a programmable logic device (PLD) when an intrusion attempt is detected, e.g., methods of erasing sensitive data from the PLD or disabling configuration of the PLD in response to an attack. For example, when an attempt is made to configure the PLD with an unauthorized bitstream, a decryption key stored on the PLD can be erased, or decryption logic in the PLD can be otherwise disabled. The criteria for assuming that an attack is in progress can include, for example, the lack of a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value included with a configuration bitstream, an attempt to operate the PLD outside normal operating ranges, receipt of an incorrect CRC value, or receipt of a predetermined number of bitstreams including incorrect CRC values. In some embodiments, an error correction procedure is performed on the bitstream, thereby preventing most transmission errors from being incorrectly interpreted as an attack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to reduce the spreading inductance and increase the distributed capacitance of power planes within the power distribution system of a semiconductor package substrate. In one embodiment, pre-fabricated copper-clad laminate (CCL) structures are utilized as starting material for the power plane pairs, which are then integrated into a package substrate using imaging, lamination, and drilling/plating processes. In alternate embodiments, a starting material having a larger insulating layer thickness may be used to form the CCL structure, whereby a pair of metallic planes having a perforated mesh pattern are adjoined through a dielectric layer to create an effective separation distance between the metallic planes. Alternate embodiments employ plating or deposition methods to obtain a minimum separation distance between the metallic planes of a power plane pair.

Abstract: Integrated circuits (ICs) having novel handshake logic are provided. An IC includes a ready multiplexer, an acknowledge demultiplexer, a C-element coupled to the ready multiplexer and the acknowledge demultiplexer, a logic gate, and a storage element (e.g., a latch). The logic gate has a first input coupled to a control output of the C-element, and a second input. The storage element includes a data multiplexer and a latch. The data multiplexer has M data inputs coupled to data inputs of the storage element, a select input coupled to the output of the logic gate, and a data output, M being an integer greater than one. The latch has a data input coupled to the data output of the first data multiplexer and an output coupled to an output of the storage element. The logic gate can be a logical AND gate with the second input coupled to a memory cell.