Programmable logic device with reduced power consumption

1. A programmable logic device with reduced power consumption, comprising:

a set of data storage elements;

at least a first power supply connected to the set of data storage elements;

a set of substantially identical interconnected tiles, each including one or more logic blocks; and

at least a second power supply independent of the first power supply connected to the identical tiles, wherein the second power supply is switched-off when the logic blocks are not being used.

2. A programmable logic device with reduced power consumption as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the storage elements comprise one or more memory cells.

3. The programmable logic device with reduced power consumption as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the storage elements comprise one or more configuration memory cells.

4. The programmable logic device with reduced power consumption as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the storage elements comprise one or more registers.

5. The programmable logic device with reduced power consumption as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the storage elements comprise one or more flip-flops.

6. The programmable logic device with reduced power consumption as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the storage elements comprise any combination of memory cells, configuration memory cells, registers, and flip-flops.

7. The programmable logic device with reduced power consumption as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the logic blocks includes one or more logic elements.

8. A method for reducing the power consumption in programmable logic device, comprising the steps of:

providing a set of data storage elements;

connecting at least a first power supply to the set of data storage elements;

providing a set of substantially identical interconnected tiles, each including one or more logic blocks;

coupling at least a second power supply independent of the first power supply to the identical tiles, and;

switching off the second power supply when the tiles are not being used.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the storage elements comprise one or more memory cells.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the storage elements comprise one or more configuration memory cells.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the storage elements comprise one or more registers.

12. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the storage elements comprise one or more flip-flops.

13. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein each of the logic blocks comprises one or more logic elements.

14. A programmable logic device, comprising:

a plurality of tiles, each of the tiles comprising at least one configuration cell and additional circuitry;

a first pad capable of being coupled to a first power supply for supplying power to the at least one configuration cell in each of the tiles; and

a second pad capable of being coupled to a second power supply for supplying power to the additional circuitry in each of the tiles, the second power supply independent of the first power supply.

15. The programmable logic device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the at least one configuration cell in each of the tiles comprises one or more data storage elements.

16. The programmable logic device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the data storage elements comprise one or more of: a memory cell, a configuration memory cell, a register, and a flip-flop.

17. The programmable logic device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the plurality of tiles comprises an array of substantially identical and interconnected tiles.

18. The programmable logic device as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising the first power supply and the second power supply.

19. The programmable logic device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the second power supply is switched off when the additional circuitry is not in use.

20. The programmable logic device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the additional circuitry in each of the tiles comprises one or more logic blocks.