Non-Sequentially Configurable IC

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention provide a configurable integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes at least fifty configurable circuits arranged in an array having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. Each configurable circuit for configurably performing a set of operations. At least a first configurable circuit reconfigures at a first reconfiguration rate. The first configurable circuit performs a different operation each time the first configurable circuit is reconfigured. The reconfiguration of the first configurable circuit does not follow any sequential progression through the set of operations of the first configurable circuit.

1 . A configurable integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
 at least fifty configurable circuits arranged in an array having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, each configurable circuit for configurably performing a set of operations;   wherein at least a first configurable circuit reconfigures at a first reconfiguration rate, wherein the first configurable circuit performs a different operation each time the first configurable circuit is reconfigured, wherein the reconfiguration of the first configurable circuit does not follow any sequential progression through the set of operations of the first configurable circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The configurable IC of  claim 1 , wherein the first configurable circuit receives a configuration signal that is not sequentially encoded. 
     
     
         3 . The configurable IC of  claim 2 , wherein the configuration signal specifies a set of values, wherein the configuration signal is not sequentially encoded when the values of the configuration signal do not follow any particular sequentially incrementing or decrementing order. 
     
     
         4 . The configurable IC of  claim 2 , wherein the configuration signal has a second rate. 
     
     
         5 . The configurable IC of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second rates are equal. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The configurable IC of  claim 1 , wherein a set of configurable circuits reconfigure multiple times at the first reconfiguration rate, wherein each particular circuit in the set performs a different operation each time the particular circuit is reconfigured and the reconfiguration of the particular circuit does not follow any sequential progression through the set of operations of the particular circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The configurable IC of  claim 1 , wherein the configurable circuits include configurable interconnect circuits, each configurable interconnect circuit configurably performing a set of connection operations. 
     
     
         9 . The configurable IC of  claim 8 , wherein the configurable circuits further includes configurable logic circuits, each configurable logic circuit configurably performing a set of functions, wherein the interconnect circuits configurably connect the logic circuits. 
     
     
         10 . The configurable IC of  claim 1 , wherein the configurable circuits includes configurable logic circuits, each configurable logic circuit configurably performing a set of functions. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The configurable IC of  claim 1 , wherein the first circuit reconfigures at the first reconfiguration rate for a period of time. 
     
     
         13 . A configurable integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
 a plurality of configurable circuits, each configurable circuit for configurably performing a set of operations;   wherein at least a plurality of the configurable circuits receive a non-sequentially encoded configuration signal that allows a plurality of configurable circuits to reconfigure in a non-sequential manner at a reconfiguration rate for a duration of time.   
     
     
         14 . The configurable IC of  claim 13 , wherein the configurable circuits include a plurality of configurable logic circuits each for configurably performing a set of functions, and a plurality of configurable interconnect circuits for configurably coupling the logic circuits. 
     
     
         15 . The configurable IC of  claim 14 , wherein the configurable circuits that reconfigure in a non-sequential manner include the logic circuits. 
     
     
         16 . The configurable IC of  claim 15 , wherein the configurable circuits that reconfigure in a non-sequential manner further include the interconnect circuits. 
     
     
         17 . The configurable IC of  claim 14 , wherein the configurable circuits that reconfigure in a non-sequential manner include the interconnect circuits. 
     
     
         18 . The configurable IC of  claim 14 , wherein the configuration signal specifies a set of values, wherein the configuration signal is not sequentially encoded when the values of the configuration signal do not follow any particular sequentially incrementing or decrementing order. 
     
     
         19 . The configurable IC of  claim 18  further comprising a signal generator for generating the configuration signal. 
     
     
         20 . The configurable IC of  claim 13 , wherein a configurable circuit reconfigures in a non-sequential manner when the reconfiguration of the circuit does not follow any sequential progression through the set of operations performed by the circuit. 
     
     
         21 . A configurable integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
 a) a plurality of configurable circuits, each configurable circuit for configurably performing a set of operations; and   b) a signal generator for generating a multi-value signal that changes at a first particular rate and causes a set of the configurable circuits to reconfigure at a second particular rate, wherein the multi-value signal has a set of values, wherein, at least for a certain duration, the changes in the multi-value signal do not follow any particular progression through the set of values.   
     
     
         22 . The configurable IC of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second rates are equal. 
     
     
         23 - 25 . (canceled)