Programmable Logic Fabric Partitioning for Fast Persona Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Partial reconfiguration in programmable logic devices introduces latency, which is undesirable for applications that frequently switch between different circuit designs, as it requires significant programming time even when switching between personas.
Innovation Solution
A larger integrated circuit device with a larger programmable logic fabric emulates a virtual smaller integrated circuit device, allowing multiple personas to be programmed in separate partitions, enabling faster switching between them by leveraging the additional resources of the larger device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If partial reconfiguration is used to switch personas in a programmable logic device, then the device can support multiple circuit designs, but switching between personas introduces latency due to programming time
Solution Approach 1:
The programmable logic fabric is divided into multiple partitions, with each partition capable of holding a different persona. This segmentation allows the system to prepare multiple personas simultaneously in different partitions, enabling fast switching by simply changing which partition is active, rather than reprogramming the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple personas are pre-programmed into different partitions of the programmable logic fabric before runtime. This preliminary action allows the system to have multiple circuit designs ready and waiting, so when a persona switch is needed, the system can immediately activate the pre-prepared persona without undergoing time-consuming reprogramming.
2Area of stationary object
If a smaller integrated circuit device is used, then the device size is reduced, but partial reconfiguration latency remains significant
Solution Approach 1:
A virtual smaller integrated circuit device is created by mapping its logic elements to a subset of partitions in a larger physical device. This copying approach allows the smaller device to benefit from the larger device's resources, including the ability to hold multiple pre-programmed personas in different partitions, thereby achieving fast persona switching without the physical constraints of a small device.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual smaller integrated circuit device is nested within the larger integrated circuit device. The smaller device's logic elements are mapped to specific partitions of the larger device's programmable logic fabric, allowing the smaller device to leverage the larger device's capacity to store multiple pre-programmed personas, thus achieving fast switching performance.
3Speed
If multiple personas are programmed in separate partitions of a larger device, then persona switching speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The larger integrated circuit device serves multiple functions: it acts as the physical hardware platform while simultaneously providing the programmable logic fabric for multiple partitions. Each partition can hold a different persona, and the device can dynamically switch between them by activating different partitions, thus achieving fast switching without requiring separate hardware for each persona.
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a programmable logic fabric. The programmable logic fabric includes a first area, wherein a first persona is configured to be programmed in the first area. The programmable logic fabric also includes a second area, wherein a second persona is configured to be programmed in the second area in a second persona programming time. The device is configured to be controlled by a host to switch from running the first persona to running the second persona in a time less than the second persona programming time.