IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,177,767
Granted Patent B2
US 10,177,767 · App. 15/345,761 · Granted Jan 8, 2019

Semiconductor device, electronic component, and electronic device

Inventor: Munehiro Kozuma (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
H03K19/17764H03K19/1774H03K19/1776H03K19/17728H03K19/17792
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,177,767
App. No.
15/345,761
Granted
Jan 8, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a configuration memory that has functions of holding configuration data and generating a signal based on the configuration data, a context generator that has a function of generating a signal for controlling context switch, a clock generator that has a function of operating in a first mode or a second mode in accordance with the signal generated in the configuration memory, and a PLD. A clock signal is input to the context generator and the clock generator. The clock generator outputs the clock signal to the PLD in the first mode and stops outputting the clock signal to the PLD in the second mode.

Claims (76)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a configuration memory;

a first circuit;

a second circuit; and

a third circuit,

wherein the configuration memory is configured to retain configuration data,

wherein the configuration memory is configured to generate a first signal corresponding to the configuration data,

wherein a second signal is input to the first circuit and the second circuit,

wherein the first circuit is configured to generate a third signal and a fourth signal and output the third signal and the fourth signal to the configuration memory and the third circuit,

wherein the second circuit is configured to operate in a first mode or a second mode in accordance with the first signal,

wherein the second circuit is configured to output a fifth signal to the third circuit in the first mode and stop outputting the fifth signal to the third circuit in the second mode,

wherein the third circuit serves as a programmable logic circuit,

wherein the second signal serves as a clock signal that determines operation timing of the first circuit and the second circuit,

wherein the third signal and the fourth signal serve as signals for context switch, and

wherein the fifth signal serves as a clock signal that determines operation timing of the third circuit.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second circuit is configured to perform switching from the first mode to the second mode after one of a potential of the third signal and a potential of the fourth signal starts to be changed from a low potential to a high potential, and

wherein the second circuit is configured to perform switching from the second mode to the first mode after outputting of the fifth signal is stopped for one clock.

3. An electronic component comprising:

the semiconductor device according to claim 1 ; and

a lead electrically connected to the semiconductor device.

4. An electronic device comprising:

the electronic component according to claim 3 ; and

one of a display device, a touch panel, a microphone, a speaker, an operation key, and a housing.

5. A semiconductor device comprising:

first to m-th configuration memories, where m is an integer of 2 or more;

a first circuit;

a second circuit; and

a third circuit,

wherein the first to m-th configuration memories are each configured to retain configuration data,

wherein the first to m-th configuration memories are configured to generate first to m-th digital signals each corresponding to the configuration data retained in a corresponding configuration memory,

wherein a first signal is input to the first circuit and the second circuit,

wherein the first circuit is configured to generate a second signal and a third signal and output the second signal and the third signal to the first to m-th configuration memories and the third circuit,

wherein the second circuit is configured to operate in a first mode or a second mode in accordance with the first to m-th digital signals,

wherein the second circuit is configured to output a fourth signal to the third circuit in the first mode and stop outputting the fourth signal to the third circuit in the second mode,

wherein the third circuit serves as a programmable logic circuit,

wherein the first signal serves as a clock signal that determines operation timing of the first circuit and the second circuit,

wherein the second signal and the third signal serve as signals for context switch, and

wherein the fourth signal serves as a clock signal that determines operation timing of the third circuit.

6. The semiconductor device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the second circuit is configured to generate binary integer data from the first to m-th digital signals in the second mode,

wherein the second circuit is configured to perform switching from the first mode to the second mode after one of a potential of the second signal and a potential of the third signal starts to be changed from a low potential to a high potential, and

wherein the second circuit is configured to perform switching from the second mode to the first mode after outputting of the fourth signal is stopped for clocks whose number is the integer.

7. The semiconductor device according to claim 5 , wherein the second circuit is configured to perform switching to the second mode when a potential of one of the first to m-th digital signals becomes a high potential.

8. An electronic component comprising:

the semiconductor device according to claim 5 ; and

a lead electrically connected to the semiconductor device.

9. An electronic device comprising:

the electronic component according to claim 8 ; and

one of a display device, a touch panel, a microphone, a speaker, an operation key, and a housing.

10. A semiconductor device comprising:

a clock generator;

a programmable logic device;

a configuration memory configured to output a first signal corresponding to configuration data to the clock generator; and

a context generator configured to output a context signal to the programmable logic device and the configuration memory,

wherein the clock generator is configured to stop at least one clock of a clock signal output to the programmable logic device in accordance with the first signal.

11. The semiconductor device according to claim 10 , wherein the clock generator is configured to stop that at least one clock of the clock signal during reconfiguration of the programmable logic device.

12. An electronic component comprising:

the semiconductor device according to claim 10 ; and

a lead electrically connected to the semiconductor device.

13. An electronic device comprising:

the electronic component according to claim 12 ; and

one of a display device, a touch panel, a microphone, a speaker, an operation key, and a housing.

14. A semiconductor device comprising:

a clock generator;

a programmable logic device;

a configuration memory configured to output a first signal corresponding to configuration data to the clock generator; and

a context generator configured to output a context signal to the programmable logic device and the configuration memory,

wherein the clock generator is configured to output a clock signal to the programmable logic device during a first period and configured to output a low potential to the programmable logic device for at least one clock during a second period in accordance with the first signal.

15. The semiconductor device according to claim 14 , wherein reconfiguration of the programmable logic device is performed during the second period.

16. An electronic component comprising:

the semiconductor device according to claim 14 ; and

a lead electrically connected to the semiconductor device.

17. An electronic device comprising:

the electronic component according to claim 16 ; and

one of a display device, a touch panel, a microphone, a speaker, an operation key, and a housing.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2016
From: KOZUMA, MUNEHIRO
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 040326/0844 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2015-222635 · Nov 13, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170141776A1 · May 18, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 12,229,661 US 12,475,948