A multi-context FPGA using floating-gate-MOS functional pass-gates

Multi-context FPGAs (MC-FPGAs) have multiple memory bits per configuration bit forming configuration planes for fast switching between contexts. The additional memory planes cause a large overhead in area when a number of contexts are used. To overcome the overhead, a fine-grained MC-FPGA architecture using a floating-gate-MOS functional pass gate (FGFP) is presented which merges threshold operation and storage function on a single floating-gate MOS transistor. The test chip is designed using a 0.35 μm CMOS-EPROM technology. The transistor count of the proposed multi-context switch (MC-switch) is reduced to 13 in comparison with SRAM-based one. The total area of the proposed MC-FPGA is reduced to about 56 of that of a conventional SRAM-based MC-FPGA.