Configurable Integrated Circuit Die Persona Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bus structures are not dynamically reconfigurable, limiting the types of devices that configurable integrated circuit dies can implement when presenting different device personas to a peripheral component interconnect express bus.
Innovation Solution
A configurable integrated circuit die with a hardware management component and reconfigurable partial reconfiguration slot that allows for dynamic reconfiguration of device personas by switching between circuit devices on the same reconfigurable slot, enabling hot-plug and hot-unplug events to update the bus without host rebooting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a configurable integrated circuit die presents different device personas to a connected bus, then the versatility and adaptability of the circuit die is improved, but the bus structure becomes incompatible because it is not dynamically reconfigurable
Solution Approach 1:
The bus structure is made dynamically reconfigurable through hot-plug capable soft switches that can change their configuration state without physical reconnection. This allows the bus to adapt its parameters (such as width, speed, and protocol) to match different device personas presented by the configurable integrated circuit die, resolving the incompatibility between static bus structures and dynamic device configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The bus structure changes its operational parameters dynamically based on the device persona being presented. By modifying bus width, clock frequency, and protocol parameters through software control rather than hardware reconfiguration, the bus maintains reliable communication while supporting multiple device personas, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bus structure is made dynamically reconfigurable to support changing devices, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and control mechanisms increase
Solution Approach 1:
Hot-plug capable soft switches serve as intermediary components between the configurable integrated circuit die and the bus. These soft switches abstract the complexity of dynamic reconfiguration by providing a standardized interface that automatically negotiates and adapts bus parameters, thereby reducing the control complexity while maintaining high adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The bus structure is designed with universal reconfiguration capabilities that can accommodate multiple device types and configurations through a single standardized mechanism. This multi-functional design allows the same bus infrastructure to support various device personas without requiring separate control systems for each configuration, thus reducing overall complexity while enhancing adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes receiving at a management component of an FPGA a persona change request and issuing a request by the management component to a reconfigurable PR slot of the FPGA to change a first persona of a first circuit device of the FPGA to a second persona of a second circuit device of the FPGA. The management component, the reconfigurable PR slot, and the first and second circuit devices are configured in the FPGA core. The method includes switching by the reconfigurable PR slot the first persona to the second persona. The method includes issuing a request by the management component, a host re-enumeration of the reconfigurable PR slot, triggering by the host a re-enumeration component a re-enumeration of the reconfigurable PR slot, and exposing by the reconfigurable PR slot the second persona such that the host is reconfigured to recognize the second circuit device.