Initializing memory blocks
View Patent ↗In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device includes at least one block of memory having a plurality of memory cells and a plurality of fuses adapted to provide a first set of signals that determines a first configuration for the at least one block of memory. A plurality of multiplexers are adapted to select the first set of signals from the plurality of fuses to configure the at least one block of memory in the first configuration or a second set of signals to configure the at least one block of memory in a second configuration.
1. A programmable logic device comprising:
at least one block of memory having a plurality of memory cells;
a plurality of fuses adapted to provide a first set of signals that determines a first configuration for the at least one block of memory; and
a plurality of multiplexers adapted to select the first set of signals from the plurality of fuses to configure the at least one block of memory in the first configuration or a second set of signals to configure the at least one block of memory in a second configuration.
2. The programmable logic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multiplexers is controlled by a first control signal to select the first set of signals during a user mode of operation and to select the second set of signals during a memory initialization mode of operation of the at least one block of memory.
3. The programmable logic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one block of memory and the plurality of fuses comprise static random access memory cells.
4. The programmable logic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fuses are programmed during configuration of the programmable logic device to provide the first set of signals.
5. The programmable logic device of claim 1 , wherein the first configuration and the second configuration determine a corresponding depth, width, and mode of the at least one block of memory.
6. The programmable logic device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of logic blocks.
7. The programmable logic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fuses are incorporated into the at least one block of memory, with the at least one block of memory further comprising:
column circuits;
row circuits; and
control and decode circuits adapted to configure the at least one block of memory based on the first set of signals or the second set of signals.
8. The programmable logic device of claim 1 , wherein the second set of signals is hard-coded within the programmable logic device.
9. An integrated circuit comprising;
a plurality of configurable blocks of memory;
a plurality of fuses adapted to provide a first set of signals for configuring the configurable blocks of memory; and
means for selecting between the first set of signals and a second set of signals for configuring the configurable blocks of memory.
10. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , further comprising a control signal adapted to control the selecting means to select the first set of signals during a user mode of operation and the second set of signals during initialization of the configurable blocks of memory.
11. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , wherein the configurable blocks of memory and the fuses comprise static random access memory.
12. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , wherein the first set of signals and the second set of signals determine at least one of a depth, a width, and a mode of the configurable blocks of memory.
13. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , wherein the integrated circuit comprises a programmable logic device, with the second set of signals hard-coded within the programmable logic device.
14. The integrated circuit of claim 13 , further comprising:
a plurality of logic blocks; and
a plurality of configuration lines for providing configuration data to the fuses.
15. A method of configuring memory within an integrated circuit, the method comprising:
providing configuration data to fuses during configuration of the integrated circuit, wherein at least a first set of the fuses provides a first set of signals based on the stored configuration data for configuring at least one block of memory within the integrated circuit; and
selecting between the first set of signals and a second set of signals for configuring the at least one block of memory.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first set of signals is selected to configure the at least one block of memory during a user mode of operation and the second set of signals is selected to configure the at least one block of memory during a memory initialization mode of operation.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second set of signals is selected to configure the at least one block of memory during a user mode of operation and the first set of signals is selected to configure the at least one block of memory during a memory initialization mode of operation.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first set of signals is selected to configure the at least one block of memory during a user mode of operation after the second set of signals was selected to configure the at least one block of memory during a memory initialization mode of operation.
19. The method of claim 15 , providing a control signal to control the selecting between the first set of signals and the second set of signals.
20. The method of claim 15 , providing a hard-coded signal to provide as the second set of signals.