Patent ID: 7161383

Claim:
A programmable logic device comprising: a number of logic blocks with configurable characteristics which in each case comprise at least one processing unit with function programs and interfaces to the in each case other logic blocks, at least one input/output unit associated with the logic blocks, and means for linking the logic blocks a) to one another, b) to at least one of the processing units of another logic block and c) to the at least one input/output unit, characterized by reconfigurability of the logic blocks ( 3 A to 3 D) during the entire operation of the logic device ( 7 ), due to the fact that the linking elements additionally exhibit at least one configurable changeover logic block ( 8 ) by means of which at least some of the reconfigurable logic blocks ( 3 A to 3 D) themselves and/or their connections to one another and/or their connections to the at least one processing unit ( 4 ) and/or their connections of the at least one input/output unit ( 5 ) are configured, wherein the changeover logic block ( 8 ) is constructed in a first plane (E 2 ) which differs from a second, non-coplanar plane (El) with the reconfigurable logic blocks ( 3 A to 3 D), and wherein the first and second planes (El, E 2 ) are constructed at least largely equivalently.