초록 ▼

A hybrid HardWire device is provided that comprises a gate array core and a set of mask programmable I/O cells having I/O characteristics similar to those of an FPGA, i.e., sufficiently the same so the HardWire device can be used as a drop-in replacement for the FPGA with no redesign of the original

A hybrid HardWire device is provided that comprises a gate array core and a set of mask programmable I/O cells having I/O characteristics similar to those of an FPGA, i.e., sufficiently the same so the HardWire device can be used as a drop-in replacement for the FPGA with no redesign of the original system. Using this HardWire device, a user's design originally implemented in an FPGA can be emulated in the HardWire device, which then replaces the FPGA in the same board at a lower cost. In another embodiment, the I/O cells are mask programmable such that they can emulate the I/O characteristics of FPGAs from any of two or more FPGA families. This ability reduces the number of separate HardWire devices that must be designed, manufactured, tested, stored, and sold, and also simplifies the software required to convert designs to the new device. Some embodiments of the invention can also emulate other programmable devices such as PLDs.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A mask programmable integrated circuit (IC) for replacing a field programmable gate array (FPGA), the FGPA having a set of input/output (I/O) blocks, the IC comprising:a gate array core; anda set of mask programmable I/O cells providing an interface between signals in sai

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A mask programmable integrated circuit (IC) for replacing a field programmable gate array (FPGA), the FGPA having a set of input/output (I/O) blocks, the IC comprising:a gate array core; anda set of mask programmable I/O cells providing an interface between signals in said core and signals outside the IC, said I/O cells having I/O characteristics similar to those of the FPGA I/O blocks such that substitution of the IC for the FPGA does not require other chances to a system in which the substitution is made.