Patent Publication Number: US-4730130-A

Title: Writable array logic

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to logic arrays and, more particularly, to bipolar writable logic arrays that may be quickly programmed and reprogrammed electrically. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Programmable memory circuits have been developed from the basic ROM (Read Only Memory) including the PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory: OR terms field programmable and AND terms fixed), EPROM (Electrically Programmable Read Only Memory: OR terms field programmable and AND terms fixed), and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory: OR terms field programmable). 
     Likewise, many types of integrated circuit programmable logic devices have been developed. Early types of programmable logic devices included PLAs (Programmable Logic Arrays: AND and OR terms factory programmable) that are mask-programmable, and FPLAs (Field Programmable Logic Arrays: AND and OR terms field programmable) that can be programmed in the field instead of at manufacture. Other types of programmable logic arrays that have evolved include HAL (Hardware Array Logic: AND terms factory programmed, OR terms fixed), IFL (Integrated Fused Logic: AND and OR terms field programmable), FPLS (Field Programmable Logic Sequencer: AND and OR terms field programmable with output to input feedback), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array: AND terms field programmable and no OR terms), EPLD (Electrically Programmable Logic Devices: EPROM Cell), EEPLD/PEEL (Electrically Erasable Programmable Logic Devices: EEPROM Cell), and GAL (Generic Array Logic: AND terms field programmable, fixed OR array--EEPROM Cell). 
     However, most of the above programmable logic devices do not provide a programmable logic array in which both the AND and OR functions may be programmed and reprogrammed in the field. 
     Of the above types of PLDs, only the EPLDs may have both the AND and OR terms programmed and reprogrammed electrically without a definite erasing step. One type of device that provides this capability is described in &#34;An Alterable Programmable Logic Array&#34;, IEEE JOURNAL OF SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS, Vol. SC-20, No. 5, page 1061, October 1985. An NMOS alterable programmable logic array performs the same logical function as a standard programmable logic device, but can be programmed and reprogrammed electrically to change the logic function. However, this alterable programmable logic array requires a refresh cell for each row and column and is slow due to the capacitance within the MOS circuitry. 
     Thus, what is needed is a bipolar writable logic array that may be quickly programmed and reprogrammed electrically. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved programmable logic device. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a bipolar programmable logic device that may be electrically programmed and reprogrammed quickly. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bipolar programmable logic device that may be electrically programmed and reprogrammed quickly while in use. 
     In carrying out the above and other objects of the invention in one form, there is provided a bipolar writable array logic device having an output representing a logical AND function and a logical OR function in response to a plurality of input signals. An AND matrix decode and an OR matrix decode are coupled to an input circuit for separately decoding a plurality of input signals. An array of collector sensed memory cells is coupled to the AND matrix decode for selecting desired rows of the collector sensed memory cells. A first plurality of sense amplifiers are coupled between the OR matrix decode and columns of the collector sensed memory cells for providing an ANDed output. Rows of an array of emitter sensed memory cells are coupled to the first plurality of sense amplifiers. A second plurality of sense amplifiers are coupled to columns of the emitter sensed memory cells for providing the bipolar writable array logic device output. 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1A and 1B is a partial block diagram of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic of an input buffer for the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic of a logic gate used in the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic of a sense amplifier used in the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic of a collector sensed memory cell used in the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic of an emitter sensed memory cell used in the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the writable array logic of the present invention provides for real time reprogrammable AND and OR functions and includes AND matrix 11 comprising memory cells 12, and OR matrix 13 comprising memory cells 14. Each of memory cells 12 are coupled in one of eight rows between upper word line 15 at a supply voltage such as V CC  and one of lower word lines 16 0  through 16 7 , and coupled in one of sixteen columns between one of a pair of bit lines 17 0  through 17 31 . Each of lower word lines 16 0  through 16 7  are coupled to supply voltage terminal 18 by standby current sources 19 0  through 19 7 , respectively, for sinking current therethrough. One embodiment representing memory cell 12 is illustrated in FIG. 5 and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     Each of memory cells 14 are coupled in one of sixteen rows between upper word lines 22 0  through 22 15  and one of sixteen lower word lines 23 0  through 23 15 , respectively, and coupled in one of four columns between one of a pair of bit lines 24 0  through 24 7 . Each of lower word lines 23 0  through 23 15  are coupled to voltage terminal 18 by standby current sources 25 0  through 25 15 , respectively, for sinking current therethrough. Each of bit lines 24 0  through 24 7  are coupled to voltage terminal 18 by current sources 26 0  through 26 7 , respectively, and in successive pairs to OR matrix sense amplifiers 27 0  through 27 3 , respectively. Sense amplifiers 27 0  through 27 3  are each coupled to output terminals 28 0  through 28 3  for providing the circuit output. One embodiment representing memory cell 14 is illustrated in FIG. 6 and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     Input buffers 31 0  through 31 3  are each coupled to one of input terminals 32 0  through 32 3 , respectively. Each of input buffers 31 has a first pair of outputs 33 and 34 coupled to OR matrix decode 35. Each of input buffers 31 0  through 31 2  have a second pair of outputs 36 and 37 connected to AND matrix decode 38. Input buffer 31 0  has read lines 41 0  and 42 0  connected to AND matrix decode gates 43 0  and 43 1 , respectively. Each of succeeding input buffers 31 1  through 31 3  has a pair of read lines 41 1  and 42 1 , 41 2  and 42 2 , and 41 3  and 42 3  similarly connected to AND matrix decode gates 43 2  through 43 7 , respectively. One embodiment representing input buffer 31 is illustrated in FIG. 2 and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     Each of AND matrix decode gates 43 has inputs 51, 52, and 53 connected to AND matrix decode 38, and an output connected to one of lower word lines 16 of AND matrix 11. One embodiment representing AND matrix decode gate 43 is illustrated in FIG. 3 and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     AND matrix decode 38 comprises six columns having nodes 54 0  through 54 5  coupled to voltage terminal 55 by resistors 56 0  through 56 5 , respectively, and to voltage terminal 18 by write selectable current sources 57 0  through 57 5  and resistors 60 0  through 60 5 , respectively. Nodes 54 0  through 54 5  are uniquely connected to the combination of outputs 36 0  through 36 2  and 37 0  through 37 2  and inputs 51 0  through 51 7 , 52 0  through 52 7  and 53 0  through 53 7  for providing the decoding function to select the desired AND matrix decode gates 43 0  through 43 7  depending on the input signals applied to input terminals 32. 
     AND matrix sense amplifiers 58 0  through 58 15  are each coupled to one of the pair of bit lines 17 0  and 17 1  through 17 30  and 17 31 , respectively, for sensing the current therein. Each of AND matrix sense amplifiers 58 has inputs 61, 62, 63 and 64 connected to OR matrix decode 35, and a product line output 65 connected to upper word line 22 of OR matrix 13. One embodiment representing AND matrix sense amplifier 58 is illustrated in FIG. 4 and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     OR matrix decode 35 comprises eight columns having nodes 66 0  through 66 7  coupled to voltage terminal 55 by resistors 67 0  through 67 7 , respectively, and to voltage terminal 18 by write selectable current sources 68 0  through 68 7  and resistors 70 0  through 70 7 , respectively. Nodes 66 0  through 66 7  are uniquely connected to the combination of outputs 33 and 34 from each input buffer 31 0  through 31 3  and inputs 61 through 64 to each of AND matrix sense amplifiers 58 0  through 58 15  for providing the decoding function to select the desired AND matrix sense amplifier 58 depending on the input signals applied to input terminals 32. In the read mode, input buffer 31 selects the desired rows of AND matrix 11 through the AND matrix read lines 41 and 42. The information stored in AND matrix 11 is &#34;ANDed&#34; at AND matrix sense amplifiers 58, which selects or deselects rows in OR matrix 13. The information stored in OR matrix 13 is &#34;ORed&#34; at sense amplifiers 27 and is presented as an output at terminals 28. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, input buffer 31 comprises differentially connected transistors 71 and 72 having their emitters coupled to voltage terminal 18 by current source 73, and their collectors coupled to voltage terminal 55 by resistors 74 and 75, respectively. Differentially connected transistors 76 and 77 have their emitters connected to the collector of current source transistor 78, and their collectors coupled as read lines 41 and 42 to AND matrix decode gate 43. Transistor 78 has an emitter coupled to voltage terminal 18 by resistor 79, and a base coupled to receive read signal R S . The bases of transistors 71 and 76 are connected to input terminal 32 and the bases of transistors 72 and 77 are coupled to receive bias voltage V BB . Emitter follower transistors 81 and 82 have their collectors connected to voltage terminal 55, their bases connected to the collectors of transistors 72 and 71, respectively, and their emitters coupled to OR matrix decode 35. Emitter follower transistors 83 and 84 have their collectors connected to voltage terminal 55, their bases connected to the collectors of transistors 72 and 71, respectively, and their emitters coupled to AND matrix decode 38 by diodes 85 and 86, respectively. Input buffer 31 performs multiple functions. It addresses both AND matrix decode 38 and OR matrix decode 35 individually for writing and selects half of AND matrix decode 38 for reading out the composite logic operation. Transistors 71 and 72 comprise an ECL logic gate that performs all the write addressing functions through transistors 81, 82, 83 and 84. Transistors 76 and 77 comprise an ECL logic gate that pulls down one of two rows for selecting a row of memory cells 12 of AND matrix 11. In order to disable the write addressing function, current sources 57 and 68 of AND matrix decode 38 and OR matrix decode 35, respectively, are disabled. This allows resistors 56 and 67 to pull nodes 54 and 66 to the voltage on terminal 55. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, AND matrix decode gate 43 comprises transistors 87, 88 and 89 having their collectors connected to voltage terminal 55, their emitters coupled to voltage terminal 18 by current source 90, and their bases connected to nodes 51, 52 and 53, respectively. Differentially connected transistor 91 has an emitter coupled to current source 90, a base coupled to receive bias voltage V B , and a collector coupled to both lower word line 16 and read line 41. AND matrix decode gate 43 is actually an OR logic gate for decoding the rows of AND matrix 11 for the write operation. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, AND matrix sense amplifier 58 comprises diode connected multi-emitter transistor 92 having its base and collector coupled to voltage terminal 55 by resistor 93, to the base of transistor 94, the emitter of transistor 95, and to bit line 17 0 . Transistor 92 has each emitter connected to one of inputs 61 through 64. Transistor 94 has its collector connected to voltage terminal 55 and its emitter coupled to upper word line 22. Transistors 95 and 96 have their collectors connected to voltage terminal 55 and their bases coupled for receiving a differential write signal W S  and W S . The emitter of transistor 96 is connected to bit line 171 and coupled to voltage terminal 55 by resistor 97. Resistors 93 and 97 are load resistors for bit lines or columns of AND matrix 11. Transistor 92 selects one of the rows of OR matrix 13 during the write operation. Transistors 95 and 96 &#34;pull up&#34; one of bit lines 17 for writing. During write, data is entered into the memory cell of a selected row by raising one of bit lines 17 of collector sensed memory cell 12 or lowering one of bit lines 24 of emitter sensed memory cell 14. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, one embodiment of memory cell 12 of AND matrix 11 comprises differentially connected transistors 101 and 102 having their emitters connected to lower word line 16 and their collectors cross-coupled to each others bases and to the collectors of transistors 103 and 104, respectively. Transistors 103 and 104 have their bases connected to the collectors of transistors 102 and 101, respectively, and coupled to upper word line 15 by resistors 105 and 106, respectively, and their emitters connected to bit lines 17 1  and 17 0 , respectively. Memory cells 12 are collector sensed memory cells that provide the AND function for the circuit. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, one embodiment of memory cell 14 of OR matrix 13 comprises cross-coupled transistors 107 and 108 having a first emitter connected to lower word line 23 0 , a second emitter connected to bit lines 24 0  and 24 1 , respectively, and their collectors connected to each others base. The collector of transistor 107 is further coupled to upper word line 22 0  by schottky diode 109 and resistor 110. The collector of transistor 108 is further coupled to upper word line 22 0  by schottky diode 111 and resistor 112. Memory cells 14 are emitter sensed memory cells that provide the OR function of the circuit. 
     By now it should be appreciated that that there has been provided a bipolar writable logic device that provides the ability to program new logic functions while in use by enabling either the AND matrix decode or the OR matrix decode and entering the desired data. The high speed bipolar implementation allows use as a discrete component or embedded in array devices.