US Patent 7536615 Logic analyzer systems and methods for programmable logic devices

A programmable logic device includes, in accordance with one embodiment, a plurality of logic blocks; an interconnect structure adapted to route signals among the logic blocks; and a memory for storing data within the programmable logic device. A first set of the logic blocks are configured as logic analyzer trigger units adapted to each receive one or more input signals from within the programmable logic device and provide a corresponding trigger unit output signal. A portion of the memory stores a logic analyzer trigger expression, with the trigger unit output signals provided to the memory as address signals for the trigger expression.