Need some help with some technical claims...

Dan K wrote:

> "glen herrmannsfeldt" <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> wrote in message

(snip)

> A while back I was deposed for a patent infringement law suit.
 >   The opposition lawyer were trying to prove that my
 > "hardware search engine"  built in an FPGA was really a
 > "software search engine"  because anything in an FPGA was
> really software.  Don't know how that one turned out as I'm no
 >  longer with that company,

> but:  Lawyers - ya gotta love em!

In the days when software wasn't patentable and hardware was,
the distinction was important.   There were stories about the
patent for virtual memory, being both hardware and software
and the problems trying to patent it.

Yes, the distinction is only important to lawyers.

-- glen

Hi Philip,

"Philip Freidin" <philip@fliptronics.com> wrote in message
news:givdk0te05fhs3jaoet64tfqv2edeul24q@4ax.com...
> Hi Austin,
> As I shake my head in wonderment reading your post, I think to myself
> (and not for the first time :-)
>
> "Self, isn't it great that all the really crazy clients end up in
>  Austin's bucket"

It's not a client, it's a physicist who used an FPGA once (or twice)...and
knows more than I do about electrical engineering and FPGAs.  If that is
true, perhaps I ought to open a hot dog stand ;-)

> >Any input appreciated ;-)
>
> Enjoy your argument  :-)

Well, it's not really an argument if you aready know the right answers.
Yours were pretty much the same as mine.  No surprise there ;-)

 I think you missed this "interesting" statement though:

>#1> Programming FPGAs...changes bits of non-volatile memory that is [are]
>#1> used as inputs to these [logic gates in the silicon wafer] gates...

The "are used as inputs to these logic gates in the silicon wafer" part...

and one comment on this:

"Since the devices are volatile, and infinitely re-programmable, just like
a CPU, no physical modification of the internal wires occurs."

Though true, there is a logical modification to the "internal wires", as in,
the PIPs get programmed to route the internal signals.

Regards,

Austin

Austin Franklin wrote:
> 
> "Mark McDougall" <markm@vl.com.au> wrote in message
> news:41451b41$0$22790$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> > Austin Franklin wrote:
> >
> > > I need some help with something.  Someone made some technical claims
> > > that I am questioning are correct or not ;-), and would like to see
> > > what you guys think about these claims:
> >
> > Homework?
> 
> Not really.

Yeah Austin, get your homework done and don't make me tell you again! 
;)

-- 

Rick "rickman" Collins

rick.collins@XYarius.com
Ignore the reply address. To email me use the above address with the XY
removed.

Arius - A Signal Processing Solutions Company
Specializing in DSP and FPGA design      URL http://www.arius.com
4 King Ave                               301-682-7772 Voice
Frederick, MD 21701-3110                 301-682-7666 FAX

"rickman" <spamgoeshere4@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:414883D3.DA14B4DC@yahoo.com...
> Austin Franklin wrote:
> >
> > "Mark McDougall" <markm@vl.com.au> wrote in message
> > news:41451b41$0$22790$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> > > Austin Franklin wrote:
> > >
> > > > I need some help with something.  Someone made some technical claims
> > > > that I am questioning are correct or not ;-), and would like to see
> > > > what you guys think about these claims:
> > >
> > > Homework?
> >
> > Not really.
>
> Yeah Austin, get your homework done and don't make me tell you again!
> ;)

Good grief, Rick...I haven't done *real* homework in near 30 years!

Regards,

Austin

I'll try to put some light here!
The problem arises from using the same name for different things.

a) Semiconductor CHIPS: FPGAs, CPUs, DSPs, ..., are hardware. Try to
eat them and you will understand. But please, don't sue me for your
broken teeth.

b) Potato CHIPS: software, of course!

c) Rest: Well, the rest is ..., restware. Easy, isn't it?

PS.: Don't forget CHiPs, California Highway Patrol. If someone
remember!

Luiz Carlos.