IP Library Granted Patent US 10,394,981
Granted Patent B1
US 10,394,981 · App. 15/135,113 · Granted Aug 27, 2019

Techniques for testing programmable interconnect resources

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,394,981
App. No.
15/135,113
Granted
Aug 27, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A programmable integrated circuit includes rows of circuit blocks and up and down driving vertical interconnect resources. Each of the up and down driving vertical interconnect resources comprises a programmable signal path coupled to at least two of the rows of circuit blocks. A defect in any one of the up driving vertical interconnect resources in the programmable integrated circuit causes circuit blocks in a different set of the rows to store incorrect values compared to defects in the up driving vertical interconnect resources that originate in different ones of the rows of circuit blocks. A defect in any one of the down driving vertical interconnect resources in the programmable integrated circuit causes circuit blocks in a different set of the rows to store incorrect values compared to defects in the down driving vertical interconnect resources that originate in different ones of the rows of circuit blocks.

Claims (11)

1. A programmable integrated circuit comprising:

rows of circuit blocks;

up driving vertical interconnect resources that each comprises a programmable signal path coupled to at least two of the rows of circuit blocks, and wherein a defect in any one of the up driving vertical interconnect resources in the programmable integrated circuit causes circuit blocks in a different set of the rows to store incorrect values compared to defects in the up driving vertical interconnect resources that originate in different ones of the rows of circuit blocks; and

down driving vertical interconnect resources that each comprises a programmable signal path coupled to at least two of the rows of circuit blocks, and wherein a defect in any one of the down driving vertical interconnect resources in the programmable integrated circuit causes circuit blocks in a different set of the rows to store incorrect values compared to defects in the down driving vertical interconnect resources that originate in different ones of the rows of circuit blocks.

2. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein a defect in any one of the up driving vertical interconnect resources generates a unique failing row signature that allows a failing row of circuit blocks having the defect to be identified and replaced with a redundant row, and wherein a defect in any one of the down driving vertical interconnect resources generates a unique failing row signature that allows a failing row of circuit blocks having the defect to be identified and replaced with a redundant row.

3. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the up driving vertical interconnect resources route signals between the rows of circuit blocks in a first direction, and wherein the down driving vertical interconnect resources route signals between the rows of circuit blocks in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

4. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein a first one of the up driving vertical interconnect resources comprises a programmable signal path coupled to two adjacent ones of the rows of circuit blocks, wherein a second one of the up driving vertical interconnect resources comprises a programmable signal path coupled to four adjacent ones of the rows of circuit blocks, and wherein a third one of the up driving vertical interconnect resources comprises a programmable signal path coupled to three of the rows of circuit blocks that are not next to each other.

5. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 4 , wherein a first one of the down driving vertical interconnect resources comprises a programmable signal path coupled to two adjacent ones of the rows of circuit blocks, wherein a second one of the down driving vertical interconnect resources comprises a programmable signal path coupled to four adjacent ones of the rows of circuit blocks, and wherein a third one of the down driving vertical interconnect resources comprises a programmable signal path coupled to three of the rows of circuit blocks that are not next to each other.

6. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein each of the up driving vertical interconnect resources and each of the down driving vertical interconnect resources comprises a multiplexer circuit in one of the rows of circuit blocks that is programmable to drive a signal to adjacent ones of the rows of circuit blocks.

7. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the circuit blocks in the rows of circuit blocks comprise programmable logic circuits.

8. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 7 , wherein the circuit blocks in the rows of circuit blocks further comprise digital signal processing circuits and memory circuits.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2025
From: ALTERA CORPORATION
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073431/0309 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2016
From: KANTIPUDI, KALYANA; DA CUNHA, NEIL
To: ALTERA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038346/0769 →