Abstract:
A microcontroller device has a housing with a plurality of external pins having a plurality of input/output pins, a first microcontroller with a first central processing unit (CPU), a first system bus coupled with the first CPU, first memory coupled with the first system bus, and a first plurality of peripheral devices coupled with the first system bus, a second microcontroller with a second central processing unit (CPU), a second system bus coupled with the second CPU, second memory coupled with the second system bus, and a second plurality of peripheral devices coupled with the second system bus, and a pad ownership multiplexer unit being controllable to assign control of the input/output pins to either the first microcontroller or the second microcontroller, wherein the number of external pins is less than the sum of a data buswidth of the first and second microcontroller.
Abstract:
A system for determining a unit time of a serial transmission protocol, wherein the serial transmission protocol defines a unit time (UT) by transmitting a calibration pulse having a predetermined length of N*UT and wherein a receiver is operated by system clock, includes: a clock divider for dividing the system dock by M, wherein M evenly divides N, and a detector for sampling a received data nibble length by using a dithered sampling clock.
Abstract:
A temperature-compensating clock frequency monitor circuit may be provided to detect a clock pulse frequency in an electronic device that may cause erratic or dangerous operation of the device, as a function of an operating temperature of the device. The temperature-compensating clock frequency monitor circuit include a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature associated with an electronic device, a clock having an operating frequency, and a frequency monitoring system. The frequency monitoring system may be configured to determine the operating frequency of the clock, and based at least on (a) the operating frequency of the clock and (b) the measured temperature associated with the electronic device, generate a corrective action signal to initiate a corrective action associated with the electronic device or a related device. The temperature sensor, clock, and frequency monitoring system may, for example, be provided on a microcontroller.
Abstract:
A semiconductor die includes a feedback path coupled to the output pin, and an integrity monitor circuit (IMC). The output pin is communicatively coupled to the logic. The IMC is configured to receive a data value. The IMC is further configured to receive measured data value from the output pin routed through the feedback path, compare the data value and the measured data value, and, based on the comparison, determine whether an error has occurred.
Abstract:
A microcontroller device has a housing with a plurality of external pins a first microcontroller with a first central processing unit (CPU), a first system bus coupled with the first CPU, first memory coupled with the first system bus, and a first plurality of peripheral devices coupled with the first system bus, and a second microcontroller with a second central processing unit (CPU), a second system bus coupled with the second CPU, second memory coupled with the second system bus, and a second plurality of peripheral devices coupled with the second system bus, wherein first and second microcontroller communicate only via a dedicated interface.
Abstract:
A microcontroller device has a housing with a plurality of external pins having a plurality of input/output pins, a first microcontroller with a first central processing unit (CPU), a first system bus coupled with the first CPU, first memory coupled with the first system bus, and a first plurality of peripheral devices coupled with the first system bus, a second microcontroller with a second central processing unit (CPU), a second system bus coupled with the second CPU, second memory coupled with the second system bus, and a second plurality of peripheral devices coupled with the second system bus, and a pad ownership multiplexer unit being controllable to assign control of the input/output pins to either the first microcontroller or the second microcontroller, wherein the number of external pins is less than the sum of a data buswidth of the first and second microcontroller.
Abstract:
A micro-coded sequencer controls complex conversion sequences independent of a central processing unit (CPU). Micro-coding provides for easily adding new process steps and/or updating existing process steps. Such a programmable sequencer in combination with an analog-to-digital conversion module such as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or a charge time measurement unit (CTMU), and digital processing circuits may be configured to work independently of the CPU in combination with the micro-coded sequencer. Thereby providing self-sufficient operation in low power modes when the CPU and other high power modules are in a low power sleep mode. Such a peripheral can execute data collection and processing thereof, then wake the CPU only when needed, thereby saving power. Furthermore, this peripheral does not require CPU processing so that time critical applications that do require control by the CPU can operate more efficiently and with less operating overhead burden.
Abstract:
A method for hot swapping program code includes defining a predetermined range of new code from which to execute; identifying from the new code one or more system components which require a reinitialization or reset; reinitializing or resetting the one or more system components; and executing the new code.
Abstract:
A central processing unit with dual boot capabilities is disclosed comprising an instruction memory further comprising a first and second memory area which are configured to be individually programmable, wherein first and second memory area can be assigned to an active memory from which instructions are executed and an inactive memory, respectively. The instruction set for the central processing unit comprises a dedicated instruction that allows to perform a swap from the an active memory area to an inactive memory area, wherein the swap is performed by executing the dedicated instruction in the active memory followed by a program flow change instruction in the active memory, whereupon the inactive memory becomes the new active memory and the active memory becomes the new inactive memory and execution of instructions continues in the new active memory.
Abstract:
A memory management circuit includes a direct memory access (DMA) channel. The DMA channel includes logic configured to receive a buffer of data to be written using DMA. The DMA channel further includes logic to perform bit manipulation in real-time during a DMA write cycle of the first buffer of data.