Abstract: A programmable logic device includes a plurality of programmable multi-gigabit transceivers, programmable logic fabric, and a control module. Each of the plurality of programmable multi-gigabit transceivers is individually programmed to a desired transceiving mode of operation in accordance with a plurality of transceiver settings. The programmable logic fabric is operably coupled to the plurality of programmable multi-gigabit transceivers and is configured to process at least a portion of the data being transceived via the multi-gigabit transceivers. The control module is operably coupled to produce the plurality of transceiver settings based on a desired mode of operation for the programmable logic device.

Abstract: A method of dangling reference detection and garbage collection of VHDL objects within a program includes the steps of providing an Access Value having an Object Reference pointing to an Allocated Object and having and an Access Count pointer pointing to an integer object named Access Count which models a shared access count for the access values. The method sets the Object Reference and the Access Count pointer to null when constructing a new access value and enables an assignment of a negative Access Count to the shared access count when de-allocating a pointer to the Allocated Object. The method also maintains an exact count of a number of pointers pointing to the Allocated Object.

Abstract: A method of verifying event handling for a device under test comprised of hardware description language logic within a verification environment can include, for each trigger specified by the verification environment, creating an associated thread within the verification environment. The method also can include defining a time span during which event handling within a device under test is to be performed responsive to each trigger and determining whether event handling for each trigger is performed within the time span associated with that trigger. Event handling for each trigger can be monitored by the thread associated with that trigger. The method further can include indicating triggers that were not handled by the device under test.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing channel bonding and clock correction arbitration in integrated circuits are disclosed. An arbitration device analyzes indicators to determine when clock correction request or a channel bonding request occur simultaneously. Then, the arbitration device determines whether to service the simultaneously occurring clock correction request first or a channel bonding request first based upon user selected arbitration logic.

Abstract: A method of providing a family of integrated circuits (ICs) includes applying a first product selection code (PSC) to a first IC die, applying a second PSC to a second IC die, and providing a third packaged IC die. The first IC die includes first and second portions, both of which are operational based on the first PSC. The second IC die is a duplicate of the first die, but the second portion is rendered non-operational by the second PSC. The third IC die is substantially similar to the first portion of the first die. The second and third packages can be the same and the packaged dies can be interchangeable in a system. When the dies are programmable logic device (PLD) dies, the second and third dies use the same configuration bit stream, which may be smaller than the configuration bit stream for the first IC die.

Abstract: Determining voltage level validity for a power-on reset condition is described. A supply voltage is applied to an integrated circuit. An oscillating signal is generated responsive to the supply voltage applied. A counting occurs responsive to oscillations of the oscillating signal. A triggering occurs responsive to reaching a first voltage level of the supply voltage for the power-on reset condition. A first count of the counting occurs responsive to the triggering. A second count is selected responsive to the first count. A second level is accepted as having at least met a threshold for the supply voltage responsive to the counting reaching the second count for the power-on reset condition.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of accessing instruction data from a memory comprises steps of specifying a predetermined address of a memory for storing instruction data; writing instruction data to the predetermined address in the memory; reading the instruction data from the predetermined address after the step of writing instruction data; and determining whether the instruction data is valid. According to another embodiment of the invention, a method describes a method of accessing instruction data from a memory by way of first and second data buses. According to a further embodiment, instruction data read back from the memory is multiplexed to a memory controller. A circuit for accessing instruction data written to a memory is also described.

Abstract: A voltage supply circuit having variable drive strength can optionally be used to provide improved phase margin in an integrated circuit. A bandgap circuit drives an operational amplifier, with the second input of the operational amplifier being a regulated voltage node. The operational amplifier drives multiple pull-ups in a pull-up network coupled to the regulated voltage node, of which the different pull-ups can be separately enabled to control the effective channel width of the pull-up network. In some embodiments, a control circuit (e.g., one or two additional operational amplifiers driving a counter) accepts the output of the operational amplifier as an input signal and provides multiple enable signals to the pull-up network.

Abstract: A system for configuring a plurality of programmable devices may include an external memory, a master programmable device, and at least one slave programmable device. The programmable devices may have a parallel data bus connected in a daisy chain fashion. The programmable devices may further include a chip select signal that is also connected in a daisy chain. Special instructions embedded in the configuration bitstream, which may be stored in the external memory, are used by the programmable devices to control the configuration process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a CPLD-structured ASIC. Circuit blocks associated with a programmed portion of a CPLD are configured to preserve timing associated with instantiation of a circuit design in the programmed portion of the CPLD. The circuit blocks have predetermined placement information obtained from the CPLD, and the placement information is used to locate CPLD-structured ASIC cells associated with the circuit blocks.

Abstract: A method and system for concurrent data processing, and an integrated circuit having programmable logic therefor, are described. A multi-threaded application is parsed into respective threads. Data value variables, data operators, data processing order of execution, and data result variables are identified from the threads. A code listing is generated associated with each of the threads for the data value variables, the data operators, the data processing order of execution, and the data result variables identified. Source and destination address information is associated with the data value variables and the data result variables. The source and destination address information is ordered to preserve the data processing order of execution. A configuration bitstream is generated for instantiating thread-specific processors in programmable logic, the thread-specific processors associated with the threads each having at least a portion of the data operators.

Abstract: A bootstrapping circuit capable of sampling input signals beyond a supply voltage is disclosed. In one embodiment, the bootstrapped circuit is implemented having a reduced area and/or power consumption requirement.

Abstract: A method and system for a programmable input/output transceiver is disclosed. A circuit in accordance with the invention includes a programmable transceiver. The programmable transceiver is configured and/or controlled to support an interface standard. A system according to the present invention includes a programmable transceiver and a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) core coupled to program the programmable transceiver.

Abstract: A circuit enabling the realignment of data is described. The circuit generally comprises an input multiplexer receiving a first plurality of input data bytes and a second plurality of input data bytes; a switching controller coupled to the input multiplexer and controlling the output of the data bytes from the input multiplexer; a delay register coupled to the input multiplexer and receiving predetermined bytes of the first plurality of input data bytes; and an output multiplexer coupled to the input multiplexer and the delay register. The output multiplexer receives the predetermined bytes of the first plurality of input data bytes and predetermined bytes of the second plurality of input data bytes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for a placer system for placing design objects onto an arrayed architecture, such as a programmable logic device including an FPGA. More particularly, a placer interface is described for communicating with a placer core. The placer interface receives information from external entities, and unifies and generalizes this information for the placer core. The external entities comprise different representations of architecture, design, device, constraints and algorithm-dictated placer-movable objects.

Abstract: Voltage level translation for open-drain circuitry is described. A logic isolation circuit includes a first buffer circuit configured for being switched between a first voltage transferable state and a first voltage non-transferable state. A first latch circuit is configured for being switched between a first reset state and a first non-reset state, the first reset state for setting the first latch circuit to a first reset condition. A second buffer circuit and second latch circuit are configured like the first buffer circuit and the first latch circuit. First and second input/output nodes are coupled to receive first and second logic level voltages, respectively. The first logic level voltage and the second logic level voltage are both for a same logic state, but the second logic level voltage is significantly greater than the first logic level voltage.

Abstract: A system that increases device yield by correcting improper operation of the device's memory cells due to process variations is disclosed. The device includes an array of memory cells and an adjustable bias voltage circuit, and is coupled to a test circuit that generates a feedback signal indicating whether one or more of the memory cells fail to operate properly. The adjustable bias voltage circuit selectively adjusts a bias voltage tied to the substrate provided to the memory cells in response to the feedback signal to alter the operating characteristics of the memory cells so that all of the memory cells will operate properly. For some embodiments, a plurality of fuses are provided for storing control signals that control the bias voltage provided to the memory cells.

Abstract: Various approaches for performing a fast-Fourier transform (FFT) of N input data elements using a radix K decomposition of the FFT are disclosed (K>=2, and N>=8). In one approach, N/K input data elements are written to respective ones of K addressable memories, and N/K*logK N passes are performed on the input data. Each pass includes reading K data elements in parallel from the K addressable memories using the respectively generated addresses, the K data elements being in a first order corresponding to the respective memories; permuting the first order of K data elements into a second order of K data elements; performing a radix K calculation on the second order of K data elements, resulting in corresponding result data elements in the second order; permuting the second order of K result data elements into the first order; and writing the K result data elements in parallel to the corresponding K addressable memories using the respective addresses.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for translating an imperative programming language description of a circuit into a hardware description is described. In one example, a state object in a function of the imperative programming language description is identified. Use of the state object in the function is compared against criteria associated with each of a plurality of hardware objects. The state object is mapped to a hardware object of the plurality of hardware objects such that the use of the state object in the function satisfies the criteria of the hardware object. At least one instance of the hardware object is generated in the hardware description.

Abstract: A RAM with programmable data port configuration provides for programmable configuration of RAM data ports, and in the case of a multiport RAM, for independent programmable configuration of each data port. A single programmable RAM cell can be utilized in a variety of data port configurations, thereby reducing the number of combinations necessary in a standard cell library or gate array in implement the every possible configuration. In one embodiment of the invention, a dual port RAM is provided with a decoder, an input multiplexer and an output multiplexer for each data port. The input multiplexer for each data port provides several different selectable mappings of a RAM input word of varying sizes to the input bit lines of the respective data port. Similarly, the output multiplexer for each data port provides several different selectable mappings of the RAM output bit lines to the RAM output word.