Direct interconnect for functional circuit module array.

摘要

In a direct interconnect structure for interconnecting neighboring functional circuit modules in a user-programmable circuit array, at least one input lead of a first functional circuit module in an array of functional circuit modules is connected to a first input of a multiplexer circuit associated with the functional circuit module. The output of the multiplexer circuit is connected to the input node with which the input lead is associated in the first functional circuit module. A second input of the multiplexer circuit is connected to an internal node of a second, neighboring functional circuit module. The internal node is located upstream from the output buffer of the second functional circuit module. Other inputs to the multiplexer may be connected to internal nodes in other (third, and fourth etc.) neighboring functional circuit modules. By programming the multiplexer control inputs using the same programmable elements which are used to effect the interconnections in the general interconnect architecture of the array, the input node of the first functional circuit module may be connected to the input lead and to other circuit nodes in the array via the general interconnect structure, or may be connected to the internal nodes of one of a number of neighboring functional circuit modules in a manner which bypasses both the output buffer stage of the other functional module and the general interconnect structure. <IMAGE>