IP Library Granted Patent US 7,908,453
Granted Patent B2
US 7,908,453 · App. 11/167,310 · Granted Mar 15, 2011

Semiconductor device having a dynamically reconfigurable circuit configuration

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 7,908,453
App. No.
11/167,310
Granted
Mar 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of memories, a sequencer which outputs configuration information, and a memory reconfiguring circuit which reconfigures the memory area in accordance with the configuration information supplied from the sequencer. Since the memory reconfiguring circuit dynamically changes the allocation of the memories, it is possible to reconfigure the memory configuration and freely change the memory size in accordance with the purpose of use.

Claims (36)

1. A semiconductor device having a circuit configuration dynamically reconfigurable for each clock in accordance with configuration information, comprising:

a plurality of memories;

a plurality of arithmetic devices each having a circuit configuration that is dynamically reconfigurable in accordance with the configuration information;

a control circuit outputting a first configuration information and a second configuration information and controlling a configuration of the semiconductor device;

a memory reconfiguring circuit connected to said plurality of memories and reconfiguring a memory area formed by said plurality of memories in accordance with the second configuration information; and

a bus connected to the plurality of arithmetic devices and connected to a plurality of host memory ports connected to the memory reconfiguring circuit in accordance with said first configuration information, wherein

said memory reconfiguring circuit dynamically changes an allocation of said memories to said host memory ports for each clock in accordance with the second configuration information.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said memory reconfiguring circuit freely and dynamically changes the memory area in accordance with the second configuration information supplied from said control circuit.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said memory reconfiguring circuit allocates one or a combination of a plurality of said memories to said host memory ports in accordance with the second configuration information supplied from said control circuit.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said memory reconfiguring circuit comprises a decoder decoding an address signal input via said host memory ports, and wherein said memory reconfiguring circuit determines a memory to be used in accordance with the decoding result of said decoder.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein a circuit configuration of said decoder can be dynamically changed in accordance with the second configuration information supplied from said control circuit.

6. The device according to claim 4 , wherein said decoder decodes a certain upper bit or upper bits of the input address signal.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said memory reconfiguring circuit comprises a plurality of selectors selecting an address signal, write data signal, and read data signal exchanged via said host memory ports.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein a circuit configuration of said plurality of selectors can be dynamically changed in accordance with the second configuration signal supplied from said control circuit.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said memory reconfiguring circuit comprises a decoder and first selector to which an address signal is input from said host memory ports, a second selector to which a write data signal is input from said host memory ports, and a third selector outputting, to said host memory ports, a read data signal concerning readout data from said memories.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said memory reconfiguring circuit reconfigures the memory area to widen a range of address values accessible from said host memory ports.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said memory reconfiguring circuit reconfigures the memory area to change a width of data input and output via said host memory ports.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a circuit configuration can be dynamically changed for each clock.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said control circuit comprises a configuration memory storing the configuration information.

14. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a plurality of semiconductor circuits each having an arithmetic device with a circuit configuration dynamically reconfigurable for each clock in accordance with configuration information;

a control circuit outputting a first configuration information and a second configuration information and controlling the configuration;

a plurality of memories;

a memory reconfiguring circuit connected to said plurality of memories and reconfiguring a memory area formed by said plurality of memories in accordance with the second configuration information; and

a bus connected to the plurality of arithmetic devices and connected to a plurality of host memory ports connected to the memory reconfiguring circuit in accordance with said first configuration information, wherein

said memory reconfiguring circuit dynamically changes an allocation of said memories to said semiconductor circuits for each clock in accordance with the second configuration information.

15. A semiconductor device having a circuit configuration dynamically reconfigurable for each clock in accordance with configuration information, comprising:

a fixed plurality of memories;

a plurality of arithmetic devices each having a circuit configuration that is dynamically reconfigurable in accordance with the configuration information;

a control circuit outputting a first configuration information and a second configuration information and controlling a configuration of the semiconductor device;

a memory reconfiguring circuit connected to said plurality of memories and reconfiguring a memory area formed by said fixed plurality of memories in accordance with the second configuration information; and

a bus connected to the plurality of arithmetic devices and connected to a plurality of host memory ports connected to the memory reconfiguring circuit in accordance with said first configuration information, wherein

said memory reconfiguring circuit dynamically changes an allocation of said memories to said host memory ports for each clock in accordance with the second configuration information.

16. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the memory reconfiguring circuit allocates the memory to the host memory ports to correspond to the configuration of the arithmetic device being changed by the circuit configuration in accordance with the configuration information and based on the configuration information.

17. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the memory reconfiguring circuit allocates the memory to the host memory ports to correspond to the configuration of the arithmetic device being changed by the circuit configuration in accordance with the configuration information and based on the configuration information.

18. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the memory reconfiguring circuit allocates the memory to the host memory ports to correspond to the configuration of the arithmetic device being changed by the circuit configuration in accordance with the configuration information and based on the configuration information.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 059410/0438 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2021
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 058346/0597 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2021
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 058340/0045 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2021
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.,
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057501/0144 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Oct 28, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050896/0366 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2015
From: SPANSION, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036050/0174 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2013
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 031205/0461 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2010
From: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 024794/0500 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2008
From: FUJITSU LIMITED
To: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 021985/0715 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2005
From: KAWANO, TETSUO; FURUKAWA, HIROSHI; KASAMA, ICHIRO; IMAFUKU, KAZUAKI; SUZUKI, TOSHIAKI; SAITO, MIYOSHI
To: FUJITSU LIMITED
Reel/Frame 016738/0493 →