Patents by Inventor Tobias J. Becker

Tobias J. Becker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • 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
  • Patent number: 7482836
    Abstract: A crossbar switch is implemented in a reconfigurable circuit, such as a FPGA, instantiated with a number of modules, the crossbar switch providing communication links between the modules. The modules and crossbar switch can be easily updated in a partial reconfiguration process changing only portions of modules and the crossbar switch while other portions remain active. The crossbar switch uses individual wiring to independently connect module outputs and inputs so that asynchronous communications can be used. The crossbar switch can be implemented in different embodiments including a Clos crossbar switch, and a crossbar switch connecting each module output only to a corresponding module input, allowing for a reduction in the amount of FPGA resources required to create the crossbar switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Delon Levi, Tobias J. Becker
  • Patent number: 7337422
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobias J. Becker, Adam P. Donlin, Brandon J. Blodget
  • Patent number: 7224184
    Abstract: A crossbar switch (50) is implemented in a reconfigurable circuit, such as a FPGA, instantiated with a number of modules (40), the crossbar switch (50) providing communication links between the modules (40). The modules (40) and crossbar switch (50) can be easily updated in a partial reconfiguration process changing only portions of modules (40) and the crossbar switch (50) while other portions remain active. The crossbar switch (50) uses individual wiring to independently connect module outputs and inputs so that asynchronous communications can be used. The crossbar switch (50) can be implemented in different embodiments including a Clos crossbar switch, and a crossbar switch connecting each module output only to a corresponding module input, allowing for a reduction in the amount of FPGA resources required to create the crossbar switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Delon Levi, Tobias J. Becker