Dual Slice Programmable Logic Block Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional programmable logic device (PLD) architectures are not optimized for specific applications, leading to unused resources, larger die size, and inefficient scaling due to homogeneous programmable logic blocks with limited slice types.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a programmable logic device with a mixture of dual-slice logic blocks, each comprising different types of slices, and providing control signals and configuration data to optimize logic block architecture, allowing for a larger number of lookup tables (LUTs) and efficient resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If homogeneous programmable logic blocks with limited slice types are used, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates and die size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements heterogeneous logic blocks with different slice types (e.g., slices with 2, 4, 6, or 8 LUTs) distributed throughout the device, allowing each region to be optimized for specific functions. This local differentiation improves resource utilization efficiency without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity, as the heterogeneity is achieved through configurable logic rather than complex fabrication processes.
2Device complexity
If homogeneous programmable logic blocks with limited slice types are used, then device complexity is reduced, but die size increases due to unused resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of logic blocks by providing multiple slice types with different numbers of LUTs (2, 4, 6, or 8) and different register configurations. This allows the device to pack logic more efficiently, reducing the number of unused resources and thereby reducing die size while maintaining manageable device complexity through systematic design.
3Ease of operation
If homogeneous programmable logic blocks are used, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to inefficient scaling for providing larger number of LUTs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the logic block architecture into different slice types that can be independently configured and combined. This segmentation allows for efficient scaling of LUT capacity by selecting appropriate slice combinations, improving productivity for high-density applications while maintaining ease of operation through programmable configuration that abstracts the underlying complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide dual slice architectures and programmable logic block architectures along with control logic architectures in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device includes a plurality of programmable logic blocks and a plurality of dual-slice logic blocks within each of the programmable logic blocks, wherein each dual-slice logic block includes a first and a second slice each having at least a first lookup table, with a first one of the dual-slice logic blocks of a logic block slice type different from a second one of the dual-slice logic blocks, and a third one of the dual-slice logic blocks of a logic block slice type different from the first and second dual-slice logic blocks.