PLD Memory Architecture with SPI Access and Data Preservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional programmable logic devices (PLDs) cannot preserve data stored in volatile memory during reconfiguration and lack direct user access to non-volatile memory for storing user information, leading to data loss and limited storage and access capabilities.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a non-volatile memory with a dedicated serial peripheral interface for storing user information and configuration data, allowing partitioning of memory to preserve volatile data during reconfiguration and providing direct access to non-volatile memory for user storage, enabling shadow flash functionality and flexible data access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional PLD reconfiguration is performed, then the PLD can be reprogrammed with new configuration data, but data stored in volatile memory is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereprogrammabilityVSAvoiddata loss in volatile memory

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The memory system is segmented into volatile memory for configuration data and non-volatile memory for user data, allowing independent management of each memory type during reconfiguration operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

User data is pre-saved to non-volatile memory before reconfiguration occurs, ensuring data preservation without requiring configuration changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If conventional PLD configuration memory is used to provide access to non-volatile memory, then the PLD can access non-volatile memory, but the PLD must be configured first which complicates the access process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to non-volatile memoryVSAvoidconfiguration requirement for access

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A dedicated SPI interface is extracted from the configuration system, providing direct access to non-volatile memory independent of PLD configuration state

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The dedicated SPI interface provides universal access to non-volatile memory for both configuration operations and user data operations, regardless of PLD configuration state

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If dedicated SPI interface is provided for non-volatile memory access, then direct user access is enabled, but additional interface circuitry is added

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect user access capabilityVSAvoidinterface circuitry

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A dedicated SPI interface acts as an intermediary between external devices and non-volatile memory, providing standardized access without requiring complex internal PLD configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7495970B1Flexible memory architectures for programmable logic devices

Publication Date: 2009.02.24 LATTICE SEMICON CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods provide non-volatile memory architectures for programmable logic devices. For example, a programmable logic device may include logic blocks, input/output blocks, and configuration memory to store configuration data for configuration of the logic blocks and the input/output blocks. A first non-volatile memory may store user information, besides configuration data, and a first port includes a dedicated serial peripheral interface to provide access to the first non-volatile memory.