ASICs having more features than generally usable at one time and methods of use

摘要

A present ASIC may include functionality exceeding that which will be operative at one given time (e.g., when the chip is packaged and inserted into a broader circuit). The excess ASIC functionality may be chosen in anticipation of changing market environments, and/or differing product requirements in various market spaces (e.g., in different countries where different interoperability standards are chosen). In such cases, an appropriate subset of the excessive ASIC functionality may be programmably activated for each market space after manufacture.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, at a computer device, configuration information indicating a particular functionality, wherein the computer device includes first and second subsets of hardware function blocks disposed on an integrated circuit substrate of the computer device, wherein the first subset of hardware function blocks is configured to support the particular functionality, and wherein the second subset of hardware function blocks is configured to support functionality that is different from the particular functionality; in response to the received configuration information, the computer device enabling the first subset of hardware function blocks and disabling the second subset of hardware function blocks; wherein said enabling a first subset of hardware function blocks includes enabling a front-end input/output function block and a back-end input/output function block that are both configured to support a particular communication protocol; and wherein said disabling a second subset of hardware function blocks includes disabling one or more front-end input/output function blocks and one or more back-end input/output function blocks, and wherein the one or more front-end input/output function blocks and the one or more back-end input/output function blocks are configured to support one or more communication protocols that are distinct from the particular communication protocol.