Continuous interconnect in the FLEX 8000 architecture

The two major foundations of a programmable logic architecture are basic building block and interconnect. The basic building block is responsible for the implementation of logic in the architecture, while the interconnect is responsible for the subtler but no less important aspects of timing, flexibility, and ability to place a design into the device. This paper discusses the features of the FLEX 8000 interconnect structure, the FastTrack, its major differences from previous other schemes, and its overall importance in the architecture of the FLEX 8000 family of devices - a set of high-density, dual-grained programmable logic devices that can be used to implement a wide variety of logical functions.<>