Patent ID: 7126381
Filing Date: 2006-10-24
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. A configurable integrated circuit (IC) having: a plurality of wiring layers; a first via programmed interconnect circuit having a first set of input terminals and a set of output terminals, wherein the interconnect circuit has several connection schemes for connecting the first input set to the output set; the first via programmed interconnect circuit operating equivalently to a second configurable interconnect circuit that performs different interconnect operations based on different configuration data sets; a second set of input terminals for carrying a set of input signals, wherein a plurality of input terminals in the first set are on a different wiring layer of the IC than a plurality of input terminals in the second set; and a plurality of vias each for connecting an input terminal in the first set with an input terminal in the second set; wherein during the design of the IC, the plurality of vias are selected from a group of potential vias between the first and second set of input terminals, said selection resulting in the first via programmed interconnect circuit implementing the equivalent operation of the second configurable interconnect circuit when the second configurable interconnect circuit receives a particular configuration data set; wherein the interconnect circuit receives a control signal and based on this control signal connects the first input terminal set to the output set by using a particular one of the connection schemes.