PROGRAMABLE LOGIC DEVICE, CONFIGURATION APPARATUS, AND CONFIGURATION METHOD

The present invention provides a programmable logic device that is capable of changing the function of only an intended logic element without interfering with other logic elements in operation. Among logic elements (LE0 to LE15), each logic element, of which configuration information should be rewritten, replaces configuration information stored in a configuration storing unit 11 with input configuration information, and output the configuration information stored in the configuration storing unit 11. The function of the intended logic element can be changed by rewriting the configuration information in the intended logic element. Meanwhile, the function of each of other logic elements can remain unchanged by not rewriting the configuration information in the logic element.