Abstract: A field programmable gate array (FPGA) has non-highway wire segments for connection to logic blocks, and highway wire segments in a highway network of highways. Each highway has sets of highway wire segments in successive connection. Each successive connection is through a multiplexer. Multiplexers of highways have on-ramps, off-ramps, or both, for programmable connection to wire segments in accordance with programming the FPGA.

Abstract: A method of enabling the use of a programmable device having impaired circuitry includes determining one or more locations of the impaired circuitry of the programmable device; generating a defect map for the programmable device based on the determined locations of the impaired circuitry; generating a plurality of configuration bitstreams to implement a circuit in the programmable device; selecting one of the plurality of configuration bitstreams that does not use the impaired circuitry indicated by the defect map; and programming the programmable device with the selected configuration bitstream.

Abstract: The invention provides a data storage device. In one embodiment, the data storage device is coupled to a host, and comprises a downgrade memory and a controller. The downgrade memory comprises a plurality of blocks, wherein each of the blocks comprises a plurality of pages, each of the pages comprises a plurality of sectors, and some of the sectors are defect sectors. The controller generates a defect table for recording a plurality of defect addresses of the defect sectors in the blocks, receives a plurality of data sectors to be written to the downgrade memory from the host, determines a plurality of first physical sector addresses for storing the data sectors according to the defect table, and sends write commands to the downgrade memory to direct the downgrade memory to write the data sectors to the downgrade memory according to the first physical sector addresses.

Abstract: A device includes: non-volatile memory; a controller in communication with the non-volatile memory, wherein the controller is programmed to move data from a volatile memory to the non-volatile memory upon a loss of power of a primary power source of the volatile memory; and a backup power supply providing temporary power to the controller and the volatile memory upon the loss of power of the primary power source, including: a capacitor bank with an output terminal; a connection to a voltage source that charges the capacitor bank to a normal operating voltage; and a state-of-health monitor that is programmed to generate a failure signal based on a voltage at the output terminal of the capacitor bank.