Reconfigurable Circuit Wiring Connectivity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Circuits using rewritable nonvolatile switching elements face a lack of routability due to the inability to connect input and output wiring groups directly to vertical wiring groups, requiring connections through horizontal wiring groups, which limits wiring connectivity flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable circuit design that includes additional rewritable nonvolatile switching element arrays to directly connect vertical programmable wiring groups to both input and output wiring groups of a function block, enhancing connectivity and routability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional switching element arrays are added to directly connect vertical wiring groups to input and output wiring groups, then routability and wiring connectivity flexibility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the switching element arrays multi-functional. The same array structure and switching elements are used to perform multiple connection functions: connecting horizontal wiring groups to vertical wiring groups, connecting vertical wiring groups to input wiring groups, and connecting vertical wiring groups to output wiring groups. This allows one component design to serve multiple routing purposes, improving routability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the wiring connection function into multiple dedicated switching element arrays. Instead of using a single complex switching mechanism, the connection functionality is divided into separate arrays (first switching element array for horizontal-vertical connections, second switching element array for vertical-input connections, third switching element array for vertical-output connections). This segmentation allows each array to be optimized for its specific function while collectively achieving high routability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional switching element arrays are added to directly connect vertical wiring groups to input and output wiring groups, then wiring connectivity flexibility is improved, but circuit area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the connection functionality into a compact integrated structure where multiple switching element arrays are closely coupled and share common wiring groups. The first, second, and third switching element arrays are arranged to share the vertical wiring groups, allowing multiple connection paths to coexist in a compact footprint. This merging approach achieves high wiring connectivity flexibility while minimizing the overall circuit area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement of wiring groups and switching element arrays. By organizing connections in multiple layers and directions (horizontal wiring groups intersecting with vertical wiring groups, which then connect to input/output wiring groups), the design achieves high connectivity flexibility without proportionally increasing the planar circuit area. The vertical dimension and layered structure allow dense packing of multiple connection paths.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration increases the flexibility of wiring design and achieves high routability without significantly increasing the circuit area, as the small area of rewritable nonvolatile switching elements and the absence of additional programming transistors maintain compactness.
Implementation Method 1
The ion conductor 11 has such a nature as to move the metal ion supplied from the anode 10
Data Source
AI summary
A reconfigurable circuit of the present invention is characterized in being provided with: a first programmable wiring group, which is disposed in the first direction; a second programmable wiring group, which is disposed in the second direction that intersects the first direction; a first switch element array, which connects the programmable wiring groups to each other at the intersecting points of the first programmable wiring group and the branch line group of a functional block input wiring group or at the intersecting points of the branch line group of the first programmable wiring group and the functional block input wiring group; a second switch element array, which connects the programmable wiring groups to each other at the intersecting points of the first programmable wiring group and functional block output wiring; and a third switch element array, which connects the programmable wiring groups to each other at the intersecting points of the second programmable wiring group and the first programmable wiring group. The reconfigurable circuit is also characterized in being provided with a fourth switch element array, which connects the programmable wiring groups to each other at the intersecting points of the second programmable wiring group and the functional block input wiring group, and/or a fifth switch element array, which connects the programmable wiring groups to each other at the intersecting points of the second programmable wiring group and the branch lines of the functional block output wiring.