← Back to Patent Explorer
US4875156A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Computer having a protection device to selectively block incorrect control signals

Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-03-03
•
Granted: 1989-10-17
•
Expires: 2007-03-03
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract In a computer having a program including a first type of instruction and a second type of instruction, a program memory has a first area for storing the first type of instruction and a second area for storing the second type of instruction. An address code is supplied from a program counter to the program memory, which thereby produces an instruction code stored at the addressed memory location. A control unit is responsive to the instruction code from the program memory for producing a control signal for controlling the operation of the computer. A protection circuit is provided for preventing execution of the first type of instruction when the address code output from the program counter does not designate any memory location in the first area.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kouji Tanagawa
  • 👤 Tomoaki Yoshida

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 03:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F12/00; G06F12/14; G06F12/1416; G06F12/1425; G06F12/1441; G06F11/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 146 words
A computer for executing a program stored therein, the program having a first type of instruction and a second type of instruction, comprising: a program memory having a first area for storing the first type of instruction and a second area for storing the second type of instruction, a program counter providing an address code, said program memory being responsive to said address code for producing an instruction code stored at a memory location designated by said address code, a control unit responsive to said instruction code from said program memory for producing a control signal corresponding to the first type of instruction for controlling computer operation, and protection means for suppressing the control signal produced by said control unit corresponding to the first type of instruction when said address code provided by said program counter does not designate a memory location in said first area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 146 words
A computer for executing a program stored therein, the program having a first type of instruction and a second type of instruction, comprising: a program memory having a first area for storing the first type of instruction and a second area for storing the second type of instruction, a program counter providing an address code, said program memory being responsive to said address code for producing an instruction code stored at a memory location designated by said address code, a control unit responsive to said instruction code from said program memory for producing a control signal corresponding to the first type of instruction for controlling computer operation, and protection means for suppressing the control signal produced by said control unit corresponding to the first type of instruction when said address code provided by said program counter does not designate a memory location in said first area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 67 words
A computer according to claim 1, wherein said protection means comprises detection means for detecting designation by said address code provided by said program counter of a memory location in said first area, and gate means for selectively blocking transmission of said control signal, said gate means being opened when said detection means detects designation by said address code of a memory location in said first area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 48 words
A computer according to claim 2, wherein said first area includes only those memory locations designated by address codes having higher bits which all have a logic value of "1", and said detection means comprises an AND gate having an input which receives all of said higher bits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 48 words
A computer according to claim 2, wherein said first area includes only those memory locations designated by address codes having higher bits which all have a logic value of "0", and said detection means comprises a NOR gate having an input which receives all of said lower bits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 81 words
A computer according to claim 2, wherein said first type of instruction includes a plurality of different control signals which are stored in said first area, said detection means producing a gate control signal when it detects designation of a memory location in said first area, a plurality of gate means for selectively blocking transmission of a respective plurality of control signals corresponding to said first type of instructions, said plurality of gate means being opened by said gate control signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
A computer according to claim 1, wherein said protection means comprises a gate means for selectively stopping said control signal corresponding to said first type of instruction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 37 words
A computer according to claim 1, wherein said protection means comprises a gate means for preventing application of said control signal corresponding to said first type of instruction to an internal circuit controlled by said control signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
A computer according to claim 1, wherein said control signal corresponding to said first type of instruction is a stop signal for stopping application of an internal clock to computer operations.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS564848A Cited
JPS5631143A Cited
JPS5755460A Cited
US4653018A Cited
JPS5824951A Cited
US4566103A Cited
EP0109504A2 Cited
US4644539A Cited
JPS6195462A Cited
JPS61133436A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-10-16 1993-04-17 1993-10-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-10-16 1997-04-17 1997-10-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-10-16 2001-04-17 2001-10-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag