Patent ID: 6184710
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
A programmable logic device comprising:a plurality of regions of programmable logic, each of said regions comprising a plurality of logic elements, each logic element having a plurality of input leads and at least one output lead and being programmable to perform various logic functions on region input signals applied to the input leads in order to produce region output signals applied to the output leads;a general interconnection network configured to convey signals to, from, and between the regions;a plurality of direct connection conductors associated with each of the regions and configured to convey region output signals from the associated region to another region adjacent to the associated region without using the general interconnection network;a plurality of programmable logic connectors associated with each of the regions and configured to select either signals from the general interconnection network or signals from the direct connection conductors leading to that region as region input signals of that region; anda plurality of local input conductors associated with each region for conveying region input signals from the programmable logic connectors associated with that region to the input leads of the logic elements associated with that region, wherein each local input conductor extends along all the logic elements associated with that region and is programmably connectable to the input leads of the logic elements in that region.