Computer-aided design and analysis of circuits and semiconductor – Nanotechnology related integrated circuit design
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-04
2001-04-17
Smith, Matthew (Department: 2825)
Computer-aided design and analysis of circuits and semiconductor
Nanotechnology related integrated circuit design
C711S200000, C711S202000, C716S030000, C326S038000, C326S041000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219824
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to integrated circuits in general and, more particularly, to a computer chip including a programmable input/output processor.
2. Description of Related Art
The concepts of integrated circuits and computer systems are generally well known. A typical computer system is made up of a multitude of different, specialized computer chips. Chip makers can now place an increasingly large number of transistors on a single chip. For example, currently chip manufacturers are able to place up to ten million transistors on a single integrated circuit or monolithic substrate. It is anticipated that within several years chip makers will be able to place one billion transistors on a single chip. Thus, computer systems are evolving toward comprising a handful of computer chips, where each computer chip comprises a plurality of functions. Economies of scale in manufacturing require that start-up costs be amortized over as many pieces of product as possible to keep per-unit costs low. Custom integrated circuits are usually only produced in limited numbers, making the per-unit costs much higher than standard integrated circuits. This makes many custom integrated circuits uncompetitive in the marketplace. Therefore, an improved system is desired which allows a variety of custom integrated circuits to be designed and manufactured as a single integrated circuit, so that start-up costs can be amortized over a plurality of different integrated circuit products. Even better would be a way to allow custom integrated circuits to replace a standard integrated circuit without requiring a complete redesign of the motherboard layout.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a system and method for increasing the flexibility of communications being performed by an integrated circuit. Specifically, an integrated circuit including a programmable input/output processor and a method of use thereof are disclosed. The integrated circuit comprises a main functional unit operable to perform a computing function and to fulfill an input/output (I/O) request, a memory coupled to the main functional unit, a programmable logic coupled to the main functional unit; and a plurality of I/O pads coupled to the programmable logic. The memory is operable to store one or more of a plurality of configurations for the programmable logic. The main functional unit is further operable to read the one or more of the plurality of configurations stored in the memory. The main functional unit is also operable to configure the programmable logic with a desired configuration from the plurality of configurations. The desired configuration operates to configure the programmable logic to fulfill the I/O request. Each of the plurality of configurations is operable to control a transmission of data to or from one or more of the plurality of I/O pads.
In one embodiment, the main functional unit is further operable to store a new configuration in the memory. The integrated circuit may further comprise a direct memory access (DMA) controller coupled to the main functional unit and to the memory. The main functional unit is then further operable to program the DMA controller to fulfill the I/O request independently of the main functional unit. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of configurations includes a source of the data, a destination for the data, and a size of the data. In still another embodiment, each of the plurality of configurations further includes a desired latency for the I/O request for the data and a desired priority for the I/O request for the data.
The method is preferably for operating a system comprising an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a main functional unit operable to perform a processing function, a memory coupled to the main functional unit, a programmable logic coupled to the main functional unit; and a plurality of input/output (I/O) pads coupled to the programmable logic. The memory is operable to store one or more of a plurality of I/O configurations. The method comprises powering on the system into a default state; the main functional unit receiving an I/O request for data; the main functional unit reading an I/O configuration stored in the memory; the main functional unit programming the programmable logic to fulfill the I/O request for the data; and the main functional unit fulfilling the I/O request for the data through the programmable logic to the I/O pads in the desired manner. The programming preferably comprises configuring the programmable logic with an I/O configuration to provide the data to the I/O pads in a desired manner prescribed in the I/O request for the data. In one embodiment, the configuring is chosen from a plurality of I/O configurations for the programmable logic.
In another embodiment when the integrated circuit further includes a direct memory access (DMA) controller coupled to the main functional unit and to the memory, the method further comprises the main functional unit programming the DMA controller to oversee the I/O request for the data and the DMA controller fulfilling the I/O request for the data through the programmable logic to the I/O pads in the desired manner. The DMA controller preferably fuilfills the I/O request instead of the main functional unit fulfilling the I/O request.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5640106 (1997-06-01), Erickson et al.
patent: 5644496 (1997-07-01), Agrawal et al.
patent: 5682107 (1997-10-01), Tavana et al.
patent: 5687325 (1997-11-01), Chang
patent: 5692147 (1997-11-01), Larsen et al.
Advanced Micro Devices , Inc.
Conley Rose & Tayon PC
Hood Jeffrey C.
Smith Matthew
Speight Jibreel
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