Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein may cause an event trigger state machine associated with a programmable on-chip logic analyzer (POCLA) to transition to a programmable state at a programmable number of occurrences of a programmable set of events associated with a first subset of signals on a first subset of input signal paths. States associated with a second subset of signals on a second subset of input signal paths may be stored at a time relative to a transition to the programmable state if a set of storage criteria have been met. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A non-volatile logic operation device includes an operation unit that is connected to a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, includes an operation layer, a first non-magnetic layer, and a reference layer, and outputs from the output terminal a result of a logic operation on signals applied at the first input terminal and the second input terminal, and a control unit that is connected to a third input terminal, and includes a control layer. The control unit is arranged in the vicinity of the operation unit.

Abstract: A die expansion bus efficiently couples a supplemental portion of a processing system to an original portion of the processing system on a die. The die expansion bus couples bus subsystems of the supplemental portion of the processing system to the bus subsystems of the original portion of the processing system. The original portion of the processing system is arranged to control the data resources of the supplemental portion of the processing system by accessing memory mapped control registers associated with the bus subsystems of the supplemental portion of the processing system.

Abstract: A specialized processing block such as a DSP block may be enhanced by including direct connections that allow the block output to be directly connected to either the multiplier inputs or the adder inputs of another such block. A programmable integrated circuit device may includes a plurality of such specialized processing blocks. The specialized processing block includes a multiplier having two multiplicand inputs and a product output, an adder having as one adder input the product output of the multiplier, and having a second adder input and an adder output, a direct-connect output of the adder output to a first other one of the specialized processing block, and a direct-connect input from a second other one of the specialized processing block. The direct-connect input connects a direct-connect output of that second other one of the specialized processing block to a first one of the multiplicand inputs.

Abstract: Integrated circuits such as programmable integrated circuits may include programmable logic regions that can be configured to perform custom user functions. The programmable logic regions may produce output signals. The integrated circuit may include interconnects that route selected output signals throughout the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may include output selection circuitry having output selection and interconnect selection stages. The output selection circuitry may be configured to select which of the output signals produced by the programmable logic regions are provided to the interconnects for routing. The interconnect selection stage may be formed using multiplexing circuits or tristate drivers. Logic design system computing equipment may be used to generate configuration data that can be used to program the output selection circuitry to reduce crosstalk by routing signals away from critical interconnects or by double-driving critical interconnects.

Abstract: A digital signal processing block with a preadder stage for an integrated circuit is described. The digital signal processing block includes a preadder stage and a control bus. The control bus is coupled to the preadder stage for dynamically controlling operation of the preadder stage. The preadder stage includes: a first input port of a first multiplexer coupled to the control bus; a second input port of a first logic gate coupled to the control bus; a third input port of a second logic gate coupled to the control bus; and a fourth input port of an adder/subtractor coupled to the control bus.

Abstract: A lookup table includes a single via layer having 2N via insertion portions corresponding to 2N input patterns provided from N input terminals; and a via inserted into at least one of the via insertion portions, the via connecting the input terminal and an output terminal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit design method. In an example, a method includes receiving an integrated circuit design layout that includes an active region feature, a contact feature, and an isolation feature, wherein a portion of the active region feature is disposed between the contact feature and the isolation feature; determining whether a thickness of the portion of the active region feature disposed between the contact feature and the isolation feature is less than a threshold value; and modifying the integrated circuit design layout if the thickness is less than the threshold value, wherein the modifying includes adding a supplementary active region feature adjacent to the portion of the active region feature disposed between the contact feature and the isolation feature.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide an integrated circuit (‘IC’). The IC includes multiple configurable circuits that configurably perform operations of a user design based on configuration data. The IC also includes a configurable trigger circuit that receives a set of configuration data that specifies an operational event. The configurable trigger circuit also determines whether the operational event has occurred during implementation of the user design of the IC. Additionally, the operational trigger event outputs a trigger signal upon determining that the operational trigger event has occurred.

Abstract: An integrated circuit may include programmable logic regions coupled in parallel to an interconnect bus. Multiplexing circuitry may be interposed between the programmable logic regions and the interconnect bus. The multiplexing circuitry may be formed from multiplexing circuits formed in a cascade structure. The multiplexing circuitry may dynamically receive control signals that determines which programmable logic region is allowed to drive output signals onto the interconnect bus. Alternatively, each programmable logic region may have an associated output circuit that is coupled to the interconnect bus. The output circuits may be dynamically controlled by control circuitry. The output circuits may receive control signals from the control circuitry that selectively enable and selectively disable the output circuits. The output circuits may be formed with logic circuitry that ensures that the interconnect bus is not simultaneously driven by the output circuits.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing power distribution network noise are provided. For example, in one embodiment, a method includes determining delay variations of a user design via a delay sensor of an integrated circuit (IC). The delay variations are associated with voltage variations of the user design. Low frequency components of the voltage variations are filtered via control logic of the IC to obtain an AC response of the user design. An artificial current load is introduced to the IC to negate the AC response of the user design.

Abstract: Methods and circuits in an application circuit to compensate for skew in the transmission of serial data between field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) in the application circuit. A clock signal source external to both FPGAs generates a clock signal applied to both FPGAs. A transmitting FPGA generates a serial data stream comprising the current values of a plurality of signals within the transmitting FPGA and transmits the serial data stream based on its clock signal. The receiving FPGA receives the serial data stream and applies a programmed delay to the received serial data stream to compensate for skew in received serial data stream relative to its clock signal. The programmed delay value may be determined at initialization (or reset) of the FPGAs by transmitting synchronization data from the first transmitting FPGA to the receiving FPGA. The receiving FPGA adjusts a programmable delay while receiving synchronization data until it sense bit and word alignment relative to its clock signal.

Abstract: A multiplexer-based network provides the routing equivalent to a non-blocking crossbar network having a plurality of crossbar switches making up an ingress, middle, and egress stages. The non-blocking crossbar network includes crossbar rows, each including outbound and inbound internal connections to another crossbar row. The multiplexer-based network includes multiplexer-based network rows. Each multiplexer-based network row corresponds to a crossbar row of the crossbar network and includes at least one global input, at least one global output, internal inputs, internal outputs, and a corresponding set of multiplexers. Each set of multiplexers includes an internal multiplexer for each respective outbound internal connection of the respective crossbar row. The internal multiplexer includes inputs for signals routable to the respective outbound internal connection. At least one global multiplexer provides a signal to a global output of the multiplexer-based network row.

Abstract: A configurable die stack arrangement including a first configurable integrated circuit die located on a first substrate. The first configurable integrated circuit die includes a first array and a first configuration memory management circuit that includes an interface to the first array. The first array includes a first logic element and a first configuration memory. The configurable die stack arrangement also includes a second configurable integrated circuit die located on a second substrate that is different than the first substrate. The second configurable integrated circuit die includes a second array and a second configuration memory management circuit that includes an interface to the second array. The second array includes a second logic element and a second configuration memory. A signal is coupled to the first configuration management circuit and to the second configuration management circuit, and the first configuration memory management circuit includes circuitry to control the signal.

Abstract: This invention comprises a layout method to effectively protect electronic circuits against soft errors (non-destructive errors) and circuit cells, which are protected against soft errors. The invention applies a layout method to sequential and combinational logic to generate specific circuit cells with netlists and layouts which are hardened against single event generated soft-errors. It also devices methods of how two or more such cells should be laid out and placed relative to each other, in order to have the best global soft-error protection.

Abstract: The Anlinx™:LVLP Hybrid Analogic Field Programmable Array of Milinx™:Mixed Signal FPSC™ Field Programmable System Chip™ is constituted of Field Programmable Hybrid Array (FPHA and Frequency Programmable Xtaless Clock (FPXC) being for high-speed and high frequency System-Design-On-Chip(SDOC) embedded in a single chip of Field Programmable System Chip(FPSC™). The FPXC adopts the Self-Adaptive Process & Temperature Compensation Bandgap Reference Generator, the Gain-Boost Amplitude Control LC VCO and inverter type flash memory. The FPHA adopts the two-way flash switch and inverter type flash memory Look-Up-Table(LUT). The FPXC adopts the inverter type flash memory as the Non-Volatile Memory(NVM) to keep the setup data in the field frequency programming. The flash technology of FPHA and FPXC are compatible that the FPHA has the FPXC capability. The PLLess CDR(PLL free Clock Data Recovery) is based on the FPXC capability for the SerDes high frequency application.

Abstract: A multiplexing circuit includes first and second tri-state inverters coupled to first and second data input nodes, respectively. The first and second tri-state inverters include first and second stacks of transistors, respectively, coupled between power supply and ground nodes. Each stack includes first and second PMOS transistors and first and second NMOS transistors. The first and second stacks include first and second dummy transistors, respectively.

Abstract: A programmable routing scheme provides improved connectivity both between Universal Digital Blocks (UDBs) and between the UDBs and other micro-controller elements, peripherals and external Inputs and Outputs (I/Os) in the same Integrated Circuit (IC). The routing scheme increases the number of functions, flexibility, and the overall routing efficiency for programmable architectures. The UDBs can be grouped in pairs and share associated horizontal routing channels. Bidirectional horizontal and vertical segmentation elements extend routing both horizontally and vertically between different UDB pairs and to the other peripherals and I/O.

Abstract: Techniques are provided which may be used to reduce power consumed by memory circuits. In one example, a programmable logic device (PLD) includes a plurality of static random access memory (SRAM) cells adapted to configure the PLD for an intended use. A pair of bitlines are connected to the SRAM cells. At least one of the SRAM cells is adapted to provide data signals to the bitlines in response to a wordline signal received by the one of the SRAM cells during a read operation. A sense amplifier is connected to the bitlines and adapted to detect a data value from the data signals in response to a trigger signal received by the sense amplifier during the read operation. Logic is adapted to delay the trigger signal relative to the wordline signal to permit the data signals to settle before the sense amplifier detects the data value.

Abstract: Different functional elements are all located on a same integrated circuit wherein at least one of the functional elements comprises a micro-controller. Configuration registers or configuration memory in the integrated circuit store configuration values loaded by the micro-controller. Connectors are configured to connect the integrated circuit to external signals A system level interconnect also located in the integrated circuit programmably connects together the different functional elements and different connectors according to the configuration values loaded into the configuration registers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a digital signal processing circuit, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for generating a maximum value or a minimum value used for designing the digital signal processing circuit. An apparatus for obtaining a maximum value or a minimum value from N digital input signals may include N×W bit processing elements to receive an input of W bits of each of the N digital input signals, W OR operators to receive an input of N operation values output from bit processing elements, and to perform an OR operation, respectively, and W inverters to invert an output value for each of the W OR operators.

Abstract: A reconfigurable integrated circuit has non-volatile storage cells which form a plurality of programmable routing switches between basic tiles. The circuit includes a plurality of non-volatile storage cells providing a multiplexer-type programmable routing switch including a plurality of input terminals and an output terminal. The non-volatile storage cells are structured as a field effect transistor with a switch function and are placed in a propagation path of signal voltage from the input terminals to the output terminal, and the non-volatile storage cells configure the multiplexer-type programmable routing switch to selectively propagate the signal voltage from the input terminals, to provide a control circuit which directly writes conducted or non-conducted status for the non-volatile storage cells, erases the connection information, and reads to verify the conducted or non-conducted status of the non-volatile storage cells.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a voltage regulator, and a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The temperature sensor and the voltage regulator are adapted, respectively, to provide a temperature signal, and to provide at least one output voltage. The FPGA includes at least one circuit adapted to receive the at least one output voltage of the voltage regulator, and a set of monitor circuits adapted to provide indications of process and temperature for the at least one circuit. The FPGA further includes a controller adapted to derive a body-bias signal and a voltage-level signal from the temperature signal, from the indications of process and temperature for the at least one circuit, and from the at least one output voltage of the voltage regulator. The controller is further adapted to provide the body-bias signal to at least one transistor in the at least one circuit, and to provide the voltage-level signal to the voltage regulator.

Abstract: To include an output terminal, unit buffers, and plural output-wiring paths that respectively connect the unit buffers and the output terminal. The output wiring paths have individual output wiring sections individually allocated to corresponding unit buffers. Unit buffers corresponding to these output wiring paths are common output wiring sections shared by the output wiring paths, and are connected to the output terminal without via a common output wiring section having a higher resistance value than those of the individual output wiring sections. Accordingly, an deviation of impedance due to a parasitic resistance between the output terminal and the unit buffers is suppressed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the integrated circuit has a L-level permutable switching network (L-PSN) comprising L levels of intermediate conductors. The integrated circuit can be used in electronic devices, such as switching networks, routers, and programmable logic circuits, etc.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (“IC”) that includes a configurable routing fabric with controllable storage elements is described. The routing fabric provides a communication pathway that routes signals to and from source and destination components. The routing fabric may provide the ability to selectively store the signals passing through the routing fabric within the storage elements of the routing fabric. In this manner, a source or destination component may continually perform operations (e.g., computational or routing) irrespective of whether a previous signal from or to such a component is stored within the routing fabric. The source and destination components include configurable logic circuits, configurable interconnect circuits, and various other circuits that receive or distribute signals throughout the IC.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce processing time and manufacturing cost for a semiconductor device including a logic circuit. To accomplish the above object, an area (114) for forming a logic circuit includes a first area (114b, 170) which is subjected to optical proximity correction with predetermined accuracy, and a second area (114a, 180) which is subjected to optical proximity correction with accuracy lower than said predetermined accuracy. Especially, the first area (114b, 170) includes a gate interconnection line (172) which acts as a transistor, and the second area (114a, 180) includes a dummy layout pattern (182) which does not act as a transistor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit, a method of generating a layout of such an integrated circuit using standard cells, and a standard cell library providing such standard cells, are disclosed. The method of generating the layout comprises forming a plurality of rows, and populating each row with a plurality of standard cells chosen in dependence on the functional components required by the integrated circuit, each standard cell having its abutment area abutting the abutment area of at least one adjacent standard cell in the row. Within each row, each standard cell in that row is arranged to have a voltage connection area that is aligned with a common routing track, but with each standard cell having its voltage connection area configured so as not to extend across the entire width of the standard cell.

Abstract: A random access memory circuit adapted for use in a field programmable gate array integrated circuit device is disclosed. The FPGA has a programmable array with logic modules and routing interconnects programmably coupleable to the logic modules and the RAM circuit. The RAM circuit has three ports: a first readable port, a second readable port, and a writeable port. The read ports may be programmably synchronous or asynchronous and have a programmably bypassable output pipeline register. The RAM circuit is especially well adapted for implementing register files. A novel interconnect method is also described.

Abstract: In one example, a chip includes an integrated analog component configured to communicate over an internal analog bus of the chip. A plurality of I/O pads located on the chip is configured to provide a connected device access to the integrated analog component. A plurality of transmission gates configured to selectively connect the I/O pads to a bus line of the analog bus.

Abstract: Sequential electronic circuit (10) reacting on a rising edge and a falling edge of a clock signal (CK), comprising a first (1) and a second (2) D-type flip-flop, a main multiplexer (3) coupled at input to the flip-flops (1 and 2), the circuit (10) comprising a first input receiving the clock signal (CK) and a second input receiving a control signal (TE) so as to control the circuit (10) according to a normal operating mode and a test operating mode making it possible to check the proper operation of the sequential electronic circuit (10). The clock signal (CK) used in the normal operating mode is used to gate the circuit (10) during the test operating mode.

Abstract: A programmable logic device includes logic blocks such as a logic array blocks (LAB) that can be configured as a random access memory (RAM) or as a lookup table (LUT). A mode flag is provided to indicate the mode of operation of configuration logic such as a configuration RAM (CRAM) used during partial reconfiguration of a logic block. If the mode flag indicates a design state, the configuration logic associated with the logic block is included in data verification and correction processes. If the mode flag indicates a user defined state, the configuration logic associated with the logic block is excluded from data verification and correction processes. Thus, exclusion and inclusion of portions of a region of configuration logic from data verification and correction processes allow a region of configuration logic to store both a design state and a user defined state without causing deleterious effects.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device including a circuit information supply unit that supplies circuit information acquired from an outside of the semiconductor device; circuit configuration units that configure respective circuits based on the circuit information supplied from the circuit information supply unit; a specification unit that specifies whether to execute circuit configuration with respect to the circuit configuration unit; and a signal fixation unit that fixes values of signals outputted from the circuit configuration units to a designated value during a period at which the specified circuit configuration unit configures corresponding circuits based on the circuit information.

Abstract: A device comprises a analysis section for detecting hold errors according to data including the values of the input and output nodes of the FF circuit, and identifying the node in which a hold error has occurred, a determining section for determining insertion of the trailing edge FF or the buffer into hold error sections on the basis of the results of the analysis by the analysis section, a FF insertion section for inserting the FF into a hold error section subjected to position determination so as to insert the trailing edge FF, and connecting a clock line to the FF based on the results of the determining section, and a buffer insertion section for inserting the buffer into the hold error section subjected to the position determination so as to insert the FF based on the results of data of the determining section.

Abstract: An information generating apparatus and an operation method thereof are provided. The information generating apparatus includes a first logic contact, a second logic contact, an information output contact and a plurality of switches SW(i,j), wherein SW(i,j) represents a jth switch in an ith layer, 1?i?L, and 1?j?2(i?1). The switch SW(i,j) has a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the output terminal is selectively connected to the first or the second input terminal. The first and the second input terminals of the switches SW(Lj) in the Lth layer are respectively connected to the first logic contact and the second logic contact. The first and the second input terminals of the switch SW(i,j) in other layers are respectively connected to the output terminals of the switches SW(i+1,2j?1) and SW(i+1,2j). The output terminal of the switch SW(1,1) is connected to the information output contact.

Abstract: A logic device includes: a substrate having a channel layer; two input terminal patterns of ferromagnetic material formed on the substrate and spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the channel layer so as to serve as the input terminals of a logic gate; and an output terminal pattern of ferromagnetic material formed on the substrate and disposed between the two input terminal patterns to serve as an output terminal of the logic gate. The output terminal pattern reads an output voltage by using spin accumulation and diffusion of electron spins which are injected into the channel layer from the input terminal patterns.

Abstract: A method of enabling partial reconfiguration in a device having configurable resources is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a configuration bitstream comprising configuration bits; configuring the configurable resources of the device using the configuration bits of the configuration bitstream; receiving a request for a partial reconfiguration of the device; loading updated configuration bits into memory elements associated with a portion of the configurable resources in response to the request for a partial reconfiguration; and providing a status of the partial reconfiguration while loading the updated configuration bits. A circuit for enabling partial reconfiguration in a device having configurable resources is also disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit in an embodiment includes a first circuit group that includes at least one first logic block and a second circuit group that includes second logic blocks. The number of the second logic blocks is greater than the number of the first logic blocks. The first circuit group includes a first switching block and a first power control circuit. The first power control circuit commonly controls a start of power supply and a stop of the power supply for the first logic block and the first switching block. The second circuit group includes second switching blocks and a second power control circuit. The second power control circuit commonly controls a start of power supply and a stop of the power supply for the second logic blocks and the second switching blocks.

Abstract: A non-blocking routing network includes a plurality of external inputs and external outputs. Each row of a first plurality of routing rows provides a routing path from at least one of the external inputs to at least one of the external outputs and includes first through fourth multiplexers. Each row of a second plurality of routing rows provides a routing path from at least two of the external inputs to at least two of the external outputs. Each routing row of the second plurality of routing rows contains at least one less multiplexer relative to a routing row of the first plurality of routing rows, the one less multiplexer corresponding to at least two external inputs or two external outputs that are logically equivalent to one another.

Abstract: A method of increasing an initial threshold voltage (Vt) of selected devices. The method includes designing devices with desired antenna effects and adjusting an increase in Vt of some devices to specific values. The desired antenna effects produce a desired threshold voltage of the devices.

Abstract: A system includes a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first single crystal silicon layer comprising first transistors, first alignment marks, and at least one metal layer overlying the first single crystal silicon layer, wherein the at least one metal layer comprises copper or aluminum more than other materials; and a second single crystal silicon layer overlying the at least one metal layer. The second single crystal silicon layer comprises a plurality of second transistors arranged in substantially parallel bands. Each of a plurality of the bands comprises a portion of the second transistors along an axis in a repeating pattern.

Abstract: A bus structure providing pipelined busing of data between logic circuits and special-purpose circuits of an integrated circuit, the bus structure including a network of pipelined conductors, and connectors selectively joining the pipelined conductors between the special-purpose circuits, other pipelined connectors, and the logic circuits.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a hole is formed within an LE array of a PLD by interrupting the LE array base signal routing architecture such that a hole is left for IP function block to be incorporated. An interface region is provided for interfacing the remaining LE array base signal routing architecture to the IP function block.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having an L-level permutable switching network (L-PSN) comprising L levels of intermediate conductors and (L+2) levels of conductors for L at least equal to one. At least an (i?1)-th level of conductors of the L-PSN comprising Ii?1 number of conductors selectively couple to the i-th level of conductors comprising Ii number of conductors which comprise of D[i] sets of conductors in the L-PSN, where i is selected from [1:L+1], through ((Ii?1×D[i])+Ii) number of switches where each conductor of the Ii?1 number of conductors selectively couples to at least (D[i]+1) number of conductors of the Ii number of conductors, at least one conductor from each of the D[i] sets of conductors, for D[i] greater than one. The integrated circuit can be used in various electronic devices.

Abstract: A novel non-volatile latch circuit and a semiconductor device using the non-volatile latch circuit are provided. The latch circuit has a loop structure in which an output of a first element is electrically connected to an input of a second element and an output of the second element is electrically connected to an input of the first element through a second transistor. A transistor using an oxide semiconductor as a semiconductor material of a channel formation region is used as a switching element, and a capacitor is provided to be electrically connected to a source electrode or a drain electrode of the transistor, whereby data of the latch circuit can be retained, and a non-volatile latch circuit can thus be formed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of core chips and an interface chip stacked together. Each of the core chips and the interface chip includes plural through silicon vias that penetrate a semiconductor substrate and a bidirectional buffer circuit that drives the through silicon vias. The interface chip also includes a logic-level holding circuit that holds a logic level of the through silicon vias. The bidirectional buffer circuit includes an input buffer and an output buffer. The driving capability of a first inverter of the logic-level holding circuit is smaller than the driving capability of the output buffer of the bidirectional buffer circuit.

Abstract: Mechanisms for providing an interconnect layer of a three-dimensional integrated circuit device having multiple independent and cooperative on-chip networks are provided. With regard to an apparatus implementing the interconnect layer, such an apparatus comprises a first integrated circuit layer comprising one or more first functional units and an interconnect layer coupled to the first integrated circuit layer. The first integrated circuit layer and interconnect layer are integrated with one another into a single three-dimensional integrated circuit. The interconnect layer comprises a plurality of independent on-chip communication networks that are independently operable and independently able to be powered on and off, each on-chip communication network comprising a plurality of point-to-point communication links coupled together by a plurality of connection points. The one or more first functional units are coupled to a first independent on-chip communication network of the interconnect layer.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to an integrated circuit such as an FPGA wherein a stable unique identifier is produced by reading an intrinsic characteristic of the IC such as a physically unclonable function, and a related method. In one embodiment, a first unique identifier is generated using the intrinsic characteristic and is subdivided into a plurality of first subsets. A second unique identifier is received and subdivided into a plurality of second subsets. The first and second subsets are compared to identify matching subsets to generate the stable unique identifier. Each of the one or more matching subsets includes a particular one of the plurality of first subsets that matches a corresponding one of the plurality of second subsets. The stable unique identifier can be integrated into logic of the IC. Prior to comparing the subsets, the first and second subsets can be transformed with one-way functions.

Abstract: A method to construct first and second configurable systems including: providing a first configurable system including a first die and a second die, where the first die is diced from a first wafer and the second die is diced from a second wafer and the first die is connected to the second die using at least one through-silicon-via (TSV); providing a second configurable system including a third die and a fourth die, where the third die is diced from a third wafer and the fourth die is diced from a fourth wafer and the third die is connected to the fourth die using at least one through-silicon-via (TSV); where processing the first wafer and the third wafer utilizes a majority of masks that are substantially same; and where the first die is larger than the third die.

Abstract: The present invention provides in a first aspect a programmable interconnect network for an array of logic blocks, which comprises a plurality of switch boxes being connected in a tree-based hierarchical architecture and providing selection and connection for the logic blocks, switch boxes located at the lowest level of the tree structure are connected to the logic blocks; wherein said network comprises a crosslink established between two of said plurality of switch boxes. The present invention helps implement functions with more area and timing efficiency and/or placement-friendliness.