Bidirectional Driver Arbitration for Contention-Free Signal Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current programmable logic devices (PLDs) face current contention and damage during power-up due to simultaneous activation of bidirectional driver circuits, and unused logic rows require additional configuration, increasing design costs and time.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dynamic control mechanism using logic circuits to enable or disable bidirectional driver circuits, ensuring only one circuit drives the conductive line at a time, and allowing for unidirectional signal transmission between logic regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If bidirectional driver circuits are activated simultaneously during power-up, then signal transmission capability is improved, but current contention and leakage occur causing circuit damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of bidirectional driver circuits through control gate circuits that respond to arbitration signals. The driver circuits transition between enabled and disabled states based on real-time arbitration outcomes, allowing the system to adapt its signal transmission capability while preventing current contention. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction by making the circuit operation conditional rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces arbitration circuits as intermediary components between the bidirectional driver circuits and the conductive lines. These arbitration circuits generate arbitration signals that mediate access to the shared conductive lines, ensuring that only one driver circuit is enabled at a time. This intermediary mechanism prevents direct conflict between simultaneous drivers while maintaining signal transmission capability when needed.
2Reliability
If additional configuration is required to skip unused logic rows, then current contention is prevented, but design cost and configuration time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the bidirectional driver circuits to self-regulate their operation through the arbitration mechanism. The control gate circuits automatically respond to arbitration signals and adjust the enabled/disabled state of driver circuits without external intervention. This self-service capability eliminates the need for additional configuration steps to skip unused logic rows, as the arbitration system autonomously manages current contention prevention while maintaining standard configuration workflows.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bidirectional driver circuits are used for signal transmission, then routing flexibility is improved, but current leakage and circuit damage occur during simultaneous activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where arbitration circuits monitor the state of bidirectional driver circuits and generate corresponding arbitration signals. The control gate circuits receive these feedback signals and adjust the operational state of the driver circuits accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system maintains routing flexibility by enabling driver circuits when appropriate while preventing current leakage by disabling them when conflict is detected, creating a self-regulating system that adapts to real-time conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit may include a first logic region having a first bidirectional driver circuit and a second logic region having a logic circuit and a second bidirectional circuit. The first bidirectional driver circuit may be coupled to the second bidirectional driver circuit via a conductive path. The second bidirectional circuit may receive a dynamic control signal from the logic circuit to selectively transmit a signal to the first bidirectional driver circuit based on the dynamic control signal. The first logic region further includes an additional logic circuit. The additional logic circuit may provide an additional dynamic control signal to the first bidirectional driver circuit to selectively transmit an additional signal to the second bidirectional driver circuit over the conductive path. To prevent current contention, only one bidirectional driver circuit may be activated to drive the conductive path at a given time.