Configuration Context Switcher with Latch for IC Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Configurable integrated circuits face complexity in efficiently retrieving, decoding, and synchronizing configuration data, leading to increased circuit complexity and power consumption, with existing solutions offering minimal performance gains in configuration setup time or resource usage.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a context switcher within the IC that switchably connects configurable circuits to different storage circuits, utilizing stages for re-timing and decoding configuration data, and employing encoded configuration data to reduce storage elements, allowing for efficient configuration data retrieval and supply to configurable logic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dual ported RAM is used to provide configuration data at odd and even cycles, then configuration data can be supplied to configurable circuits, but circuit complexity increases due to multiplexers and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration data storage is segmented into multiple separate storage circuits, each dedicated to specific configuration data sets. This eliminates the need for complex multiplexing logic to switch between different data sets, as each storage circuit independently provides its configured data set, thereby reducing overall circuit complexity while maintaining the ability to supply configuration data efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
Configuration data sets are pre-loaded into dedicated storage circuits before runtime reconfiguration is needed. The context switcher is pre-configured with multiple storage circuits holding different configuration data sets, allowing immediate switching between configurations without requiring complex real-time multiplexing operations during runtime.
2Reliability
If sense amplifiers and latches are added to capture and stabilize read data, then data stability is improved, but circuit complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The context switcher merges the functions of data storage, switching, and output buffering into a unified architecture. The storage circuits are directly integrated with the context switcher logic, eliminating the need for separate sense amplifiers and latches that would be required in traditional designs. This integration maintains data stability while reducing the number of discrete components and overall circuit complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If RAM cell size is reduced to increase density, then area efficiency is improved, but configuration setup time and performance may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration storage is divided into multiple smaller, dedicated storage circuits rather than using a single large RAM structure. This segmentation allows each storage circuit to be optimized for its specific function and size, improving area efficiency while maintaining adequate performance characteristics for configuration data supply.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single large RAM that must be densely packed, the invention creates multiple copies of configuration data sets in separate storage circuits. This copying approach allows for more relaxed timing requirements and better area utilization, as each copy can be independently accessed without contention for the same physical resources.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments provide an IC with configuration context switchers. The IC includes several configurable circuits, each of which configurably performs one of several operations at any given time, based on the configuration data set that it receives at that time. The IC includes several storage circuits for storing several configuration data sets for each of the configurable circuits. The IC also includes a context switching interconnect circuit for switchably connecting the configurable circuit to different sets of storage circuits to receive different sets of configuration data sets. The context switcher includes one or more stages for re-timing the data coming from the configuration storage elements. The stages can include interconnect circuitry or storage circuitry. Some embodiments build one of the stages in the configuration data storage elements. Some embodiments encode the configuration data bits and hence utilize a decoder in the context switcher to decode the encoded configuration data.