Patent ID: 6163168
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
A user-configurable integrated circuit device comprising:(a) an array of plural interconnect resources including plural interconnect lines and plural switchbox areas each for programmably routing signals from terminal ends of interconnect lines that terminate in the switchbox area to get other interconnect lines that pass through or also terminate in the switchbox area; and(b) an array of plural Variable Grain Blocks (VGB's) interspersed within the array of plural interconnect resources, wherein each VGB includes:(b.1) a plurality of Configurable Building Blocks (CBB's) each having at least one user-programmable lookup table, said CBB's being programmably foldable-together to thereby define function synthesizing units of greater complexity than that of a single CBB; and(b.2) signal acquisition means for programmably and selectively acquiring input term signals from adjacent interconnect lines and for supplying the acquired signals to respective ones of the CBB's within the VGB; and(b.3) signal output means for outputting CBB result signals to adjacent interconnect lines;(a.1) wherein said array of plural interconnect resources does not regularly include interconnect lines of single-length or shorter, said single-length corresponding to a traverse of a continuous distance covering approximately one VGB.