Abstract: Systems, methods, software, and techniques can be used to provide and monitor simulation environments including one or more model components. A particular model component can have multiple different versions of the model component having varying levels of abstraction. Executing model components are monitored, and depending on certain performance characteristics, a model component can be replaced with a different version of that model component.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for communication within a programmable logic device using serial transceivers is described. In an example, an integrated circuit includes a first module and a second module. The first module and the second module each include a transceiver coupled to a serial/parallel interface, with each transceiver configured with at least one signal conductor for serial communication between the first module and the second module. The first module and the second module are configured to communicate with one another asynchronously. Each transceiver is configured to communicate with its respective serial/parallel interface in a synchronous time domain.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for providing access to data in a programmable logic device (PLD). A hierarchy of directories and files are maintained in a virtual file system, which is registered with an operating system. The directories and files are associated with resources of a PLD. In response to program calls to file system routines that reference files associated with resources of the PLD, the virtual file system is invoked, and the virtual file system accesses state information in resources of the PLD.

Abstract: A programmable logic device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, may comprise a bus and a plurality of programmable masters configurable to interface the bus. A first portion of a memory may include configuration data operable to configure masters of the plurality, while a second portion of the memory may include access patterns to control when the different masters of the plurality may access the bus. An injection rate controller may control when a given master is to send data on the bus based on the access pattern associated with the master. A master controller may be operable to write the access patterns for the masters to the second portion of the configuration memory.

Abstract: Access to a signals of a user design in a programmable logic device (PLD) is provided without a compilation delay following selection of the signals. The system may include a generator, a compiler, a selector, the PLD, and a monitor. The generator selects sets of signals of the user design, and for each set of signals, generates a respective supplement of a subset of the user design supplementing the subset with a logic analyzer coupled to the set of signals. The compiler generates a respective configuration for each supplement. The selector selects a configuration or multiple configurations responsive to the specified set of signals and the sets of signals. The PLD implements the user design after the PLD is programmed with the selected configuration or configurations. The monitor accesses the specified set of signals in the PLD via the logic analyzer corresponding to each of the selected configuration or configurations.

Abstract: A programmably configurable logic-based macro is described. Portions of configuration logic blocks for interconnectivity are assigned. The portions are configured as respective shift registers. Interconnects are routed between design static locations associated to provide interconnectivity between the portions. The portions assigned and routed are saved as a macro file. Inputs and outputs of the macro file are defined in a hardware description language. The hardware description language definition of the inputs and the outputs of the macro file are synthesized to provide a bitstream for programming programmably configurable logic associated with the portions. A shift register-to-shift register module interface boundary is created within an array of the programmably configurable logic.

Abstract: A programmable logic device may comprise a metric circuit operable to repeatedly perform a function and emit a first signal dependent upon its advancement into the function. A comparator may compare the first signal from the metric circuit to a predetermined reference signal. A controller may then selectively disable a portion of the programmable logic device dependent upon the results of the comparison. In a particular case, the weakened circuit may be a counter that repeatedly advances its count with a rate dependent upon an aging characteristic of a vulnerable element.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for communication within a programmable logic device using serial transceivers is described. In an example, an integrated circuit includes a first module and a second module. The first module and the second module each include a transceiver coupled to a serial/parallel interface, with each transceiver configured with at least one signal conductor for serial communication between the first module and the second module. The first module and the second module are configured to communicate with one another asynchronously. Each transceiver is configured to communicate with its respective serial/parallel interface in a synchronous time domain.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for configuring a programmable logic device using configuration data stored in an external memory is described. In an example, a boundary scan port includes a data input terminal and a data output terminal. An instruction-set processor includes a first interface coupled to the boundary scan port and a second interface coupled to a configuration memory within the programmable logic device. The data output terminal of the boundary scan port is coupled to provide instruction data to the external memory and the data input terminal is coupled to receive configuration data from the external memory in response to the instruction data. The instruction-set processor is configured to provide configuration data to the configuration memory.

Abstract: A security circuit for a reprogrammable logic IC includes an evolved circuit that ties the performance of the security circuit to the physical properties of that particular reprogrammable logic IC. The security circuit can be a decryption and/or encryption circuit that decrypts and/or encrypts, respectively, a configuration bitstream for the IC. Because of the link between the performance of the security circuit and the physical properties of the IC, the security circuit cannot be used in other ICs. For example, an encrypted bitstream that can be decrypted by the security circuit in a first IC will typically not be decrypted by the same security circuit in a second IC, since the physical properties of the two ICs will typically be different. The evolved circuit can comprise a portion of the security circuit, such as a security key generator, or it can comprise the full security circuit.