Optimized reconfigurable cell array architecture for high-performance field programmable gate arrays

The authors describe the optimized reconfigurable cell array (ORCA) field programmable gate array (FPGA) architecture, which incorporates support for large datapath circuits on a nibble wide basis, without diminishing the support for random logic control applications. This is accomplished by providing a programmable function unit which is equally adapted to both environments. The routing structure is similarly designed to allow nibbles of data to be moved around the chip efficiently, while not penalizing the individual connections that characterize typical control logic. The ORCA FPGA and its associated computer-aided design (CAD) system provide users with the opportunity of implementing datapath circuits as well as control circuits easily and efficiently.