An architecture having a distributed and replicated hierarchical
interconnect scheme for field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The FPGA
is composed of a number of cells that perform logical functions on input
signals. A set of block connectors are used to provide connectability
between cells and accessibility to a hierarchical routing network.
Uniformly distributed layers of routing network lines are used to provide
connections. Switching networks provide connectability between the
routing network lines. Additional uniformly distributed layers of routing
network lines are implemented to provide connectability between different
prior layers of routing network lines. Programmable bi-directional
passgates are used as switches to control which of the routing network
lines are to be connected.