docs: overview of 7-Series architecture

Describes the top-level physical structure.

Signed-off-by: Rick Altherr <raltherr@google.com>

docs/architecture/overview.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+.. _architecture_overview-label:
+
+Overview
+========
+
+.. todo:: add diagrams.
+
+Xilinx 7-Series architecture utilizes a hierarchical design of chainable
+structures to scale across the Spartan, Artix, Kintex, and Virtex product
+lines.  This documentation focuses on the Artix and Kintex devices and omits
+some concepts introduced in Virtex devices.
+
+At the top-level, 7-Series devices are divided into two :term:`halves <half>`
+by a virtual horizontal line separating two sets of global clock buffers
+(BUFGs). While global clocks can be connected such that they span both sets of
+BUFGs, the two halves defined by this division are treated as separate entities
+as related to configuration. The halves are referred to simply as the top and
+bottom halves.
+
+Each halves is next divided vertically into one or more :term:`horizontal clock
+rows <horizontal clock row>`, numbered outward from the global clock buffer
+dividing line. Each horizontal clock row contains 12 clock lines that extend
+across the device perpendicular to the global clock spine.  Similar to the
+global clock spine, each horizontal clock row is divided into two halves by two
+sets of horizontal clock buffers (BUFHs), one on each side of the global clock
+spine, yielding two :term:`clock domains <clock domain>`.  Horizontal clocks
+may be used within a single clock domain, connected to span both clock domains
+in a horizontal clock row, or connected to global clocks.
+
+Clock domains have a fixed height of 50 :term:`interconnect tiles
+<interconnect tile>` centered around the horizontal clock lines (25 above, 25
+below). Various function tiles, such as :term:`CLBs <CLB>`, are attached to interconnect
+tiles.

docs/index.rst

@@ -17,4 +17,5 @@ to develop a free and open Verilog to bitstream toolchain for these devices.
    :maxdepth: 2
    :caption: Xilinx 7-series Architecture
 
+   architecture/overview
    architecture/glossary