Abstract: In one embodiment, a programmable logic device (PLD) includes a slave port and a master port. The slave port can receive a configuration data bitstream and a slave clock signal from a master port of a first external device. The master port can provide the configuration data bitstream and a master clock signal from the PLD to a slave port of a second external device. An interface block in the PLD can pass the configuration data bitstream from the slave port through the PLD to the master port. In another embodiment, a PLD includes a slave serial peripheral interface (SPI) port and configuration memory. The slave SPI port can receive a configuration data bitstream and a slave clock signal from a master SPI port of an external device. The configuration memory stores the received bitstream for configuring the PLD.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device (PLD, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA)) includes a plurality of input/output blocks adapted to precondition registers within the programmable logic device with desired signal values prior to release of control of the input/output blocks to user-defined logic provided by a reconfiguration.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device includes configuration memory to store configuration data to configure the programmable logic device, and a non-volatile memory to store configuration data for transfer to the configuration memory to configure the programmable logic device. The non-volatile memory also stores a first code value based on the configuration data stored in the non-volatile memory. A code block calculates a second code value based on the configuration data transferred to the configuration memory. A comparator compares the first code value to the second code value to verify that the configuration data was not corrupted during the transfer from the non-volatile memory to the configuration memory.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a programmable logic device includes a first multiplexer; a first memory adapted to store an identification code of the programmable logic device; and a second memory adapted to store an identification code of the programmable logic device. Inputs of a second multiplexer are coupled to the first memory and the second memory, and an output of the multiplexer is coupled to an input of the first multiplexer. The second multiplexer is adapted to select between the identification code stored in the first memory and the identification code stored in the second memory to provide the selected identification code to the first multiplexer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide improved security key techniques for programmable logic devices. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of providing data security for a programmable logic device (PLD) includes programming a plurality of programmable fuses that stores a security key comprising a plurality of data bit values, wherein each data bit value is associated with a respective subset of at least three of the fuses. The security key is retrieved from the fuses using the data bit values stored by each subset of the fuses. An encrypted configuration data bitstream is decrypted using the retrieved security key to obtain an original configuration data bitstream to configure the PLD.

Abstract: Improved reconfiguration techniques are provided for programmable logic devices (PLDs). For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device includes logic blocks, input/output blocks and corresponding input/output pins, and configuration memory. The PLD also includes registers adapted to capture output signal values of the input/output pins before a reconfiguration of the programmable logic device and to provide the captured values on the input/output pins during the reconfiguration of the PLD.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed herein to provide an improved approach to the loading of configuration data into configuration memory of programmable logic devices. For example, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a method of configuring a programmable logic device includes reading a first bitstream from a first memory block of an external memory device. The first bitstream is checked for errors and a second bitstream is read from a second memory block of the external memory device if an error is detected. Configuration memory of the programmable logic device is programmed with configuration data provided in one of the first bitstream and the second bitstream.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide an improved approach to the configuration of integrated circuits such as programmable logic devices (PLDs). In one example, a method of operating a PLD includes receiving a configuration data bitstream at a slave serial peripheral interface (SPI) port of a PLD from a master SPI port of a first external device. The method also includes passing the configuration data bitstream through the PLD from the slave SPI port of the PLD to a master SPI port of the PLD. The method further includes providing the configuration data bitstream from the master SPI port of the PLD to a slave SPI port of a second external device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide improved non-volatile storage techniques for programmable logic devices. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device includes a plurality of logic blocks, a plurality of input/output blocks, and a volatile memory to store data within the programmable logic device, with configuration memory adapted to store first configuration data for configuration of the logic blocks, the input/output blocks, and the volatile memory of the programmable logic device. The programmable logic device further includes a non-volatile memory adapted to store data provided from the volatile memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide techniques for providing programmable identification codes (IDCODE) for PLDs. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device includes a first non-volatile memory adapted to store a first identification code of the programmable logic device, and a second memory adapted to store a second identification code of the programmable logic device. A control circuit selects between the first identification code stored in the first non-volatile memory and the second identification code stored in the second memory to provide as an identification code for the programmable logic device.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device (PLD, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA)) includes a plurality of input/output blocks having boundary scan cells that are adapted to precondition registers within a logic area of the programmable logic device with desired signal values prior to release of control of the input/output blocks to user-defined logic provided by a reconfiguration.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide register data retention techniques for a programmable logic device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. For example, in accordance with an embodiment, a method includes programming routing resources between programmable logic and registers of a programmable logic device to provide a data path for data prior to a reprogramming; transferring data from the programmable logic, prior to the reprogramming, to the registers via the data path to store the data within the programmable logic device during the reprogramming; reprogramming the programmable logic device, wherein the reprogramming provides a reprogrammed data path between the programmable logic and the registers of the programmable logic device; and transferring the data within the programmable logic device from the registers via the reprogrammed data path for use by the programmable logic after the reprogramming of the programmable logic device has been completed.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide non-volatile memory architectures for programmable logic devices. For example, a programmable logic device may include logic blocks, input/output blocks, and configuration memory to store configuration data for configuration of the logic blocks and the input/output blocks. A first non-volatile memory may store user information, besides configuration data, and a first port includes a dedicated serial peripheral interface to provide access to the first non-volatile memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide reconfiguration techniques for PLDs. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device includes logic blocks, input/output blocks, a volatile memory block, and configuration memory cells to store configuration data for configuration of the logic blocks, the input/output blocks, and the volatile memory block of the programmable logic device. The programmable logic device further includes circuit techniques for preventing loss of data stored in the volatile memory block due to a reconfiguration. Furthermore, for example, the programmable logic device may further prevent the loss of data stored in user registers or loss of input/output personality due to the reconfiguration.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a programmable logic device such as an FPGA includes a programmable fabric; a JTAG interface operable to receive configuration data for programming the fabric; a SPI interface operable to receive and transmit configuration data for programming the fabric; and circuitry coupled to the JTAG and SPI interfaces. The circuitry is operable, without being configured, to transfer configuration data received at the JTAG interface to the SPI interface for transmission to an external device having a SPI interface, such as a serial flash memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide an improved approach to the configuration of integrated circuits such as programmable logic devices (PLDs). For example, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a PLD includes volatile memory adapted to store configuration data to configure the PLD for its intended function. The PLD further includes non-volatile memory adapted to store configuration data which is transferable to the volatile memory to configure the PLD for its intended function. The PLD further includes a serial peripheral interface (SPI) port adapted to receive configuration data from an external device for transfer into one of the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: Improved reconfiguration techniques are provided for programmable logic devices (PLDs). For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device includes a plurality of logic blocks, a plurality of input/output blocks and corresponding input/output pins, and a plurality of configuration memory cells. The configuration memory cells are adapted to store configuration data for configuration of the logic blocks and the input/output blocks. A data port is adapted to provide a clock signal to and receive configuration data from an external memory. A plurality of circuits are adapted to hold the input/output pins in a known logic state during the configuration.

Abstract: A first programmable device comprises non-dedicated, programmable resources including programmable logic; dedicated circuitry; a Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) interface adapted to selectively interchange signals with the programmable logic via the dedicated circuitry; and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) interface adapted to (1) selectively interchange signals with the programmable logic via the dedicated circuitry and (2) selectively interchange signals with the JTAG interface via the dedicated circuitry. The JTAG interface is adapted to be connected to a first external device. The SPI interface is adapted to be connected to a second external device. The first programmable device is adapted to transfer signals from the first external device to the second external device via the JTAG interface, the dedicated circuitry, and the SPI interface without relying on any of the programmable resources.

Abstract: Programmable logic devices and techniques for programming and/or reconfiguring these devices are disclosed. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device is disclosed that incorporates flash memory and SRAM and includes multiple data ports for programming the flash memory and/or the SRAM.

Abstract: Programmable logic devices and techniques for programming and/or reconfiguring these devices are disclosed. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device is disclosed that incorporates flash memory and SRAM and includes multiple data ports for programming the flash memory and/or the SRAM.