Field programmable gate array including a nonvolatile user memory and method for programming

Abstract

An integrated circuit includes a programmable logic unit and an on-chip non-volatile memory. A JTAG port, TAP controller circuit, and program/erase control circuitry provide user access to the non-volatile memory for storage of user data. The non-volatile memory may also be used to store device data such as a serial number, product identification number, date code, or security data. Portions of the non-volatile memory may be made unavailable to the user once programmed, while other portions of the non-volatile may remain available for user access.

1 . A method for programming an integrated circuit including a non-volatile memory and a programmable logic unit, the method comprising:
 programming device data into a first portion of the non-volatile memory;   programming a user design into the programmable logic unit; and   programming user data into a second portion of the non-volatile memory.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device data includes a decryption key, further comprising:
 decrypting the user data before programming the user data into the non-volatile memory.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device data includes at least one of a serial number and a date code. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disabling write access to the first portion of the non-volatile memory after programming device data into the first portion of the non-volatile memory.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 disabling read access to the first portion of the non-volatile memory after programming device data into the first portion of the non-volatile memory.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 programming user data into a second portion of the non-volatile memory is performed via a TTAG port and a TAP controller circuit disposed on the integrated circuit.   
   
   
       7 . A method for programming an integrated circuit including a non-volatile memory and a programmable logic unit, the method comprising:
 receiving configuration data for programming the programmable logic unit;   receiving user data for writing into the non-volatile memory;   programming the programmable logic unit with the configuration data; and   writing the user data into the nonvolatile memory.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving an identification of a portion of said non-volatile memory;   receiving a designation of said portion of said non-volatile memory; and   storing said designation for said identified portion of memory.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the designation is read-only. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the designation identifies a path through which the identified portion of memory is accessed. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the path is a JTAG port. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the path is through programmable logic. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein identification of the path limits access to the identified portion of the non-volatile memory to access only via the identified path.