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US6530050B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Initializing and saving peripheral device configuration states of a microcontroller using a utility program

Assignee: GlobalFoundries Inc
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Filing: 1998-12-10
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Granted: 2003-03-04
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Expires: 2018-12-10
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Abstract

Abstract A microcontroller has many internal peripheral devices. The peripheral devices have many registers that can be used to configure the peripheral devices for a particular application. The configuration registers are coupled to a scan path where configuration scan data can be inputted or outputted from an external memory. A utility program is used to precalculate and display appropriate configuration scan data. The utility program can also create an output. The output can be loaded into the external memory or can be a data file. Further, the utility program can extract configuration scan data from the external memory, for debug and test.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jim Mergard

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 15:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/317; G01R31/3181; G01R31/3185; G01R31/318533; G01R31/318555

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim 94 words
A software program for running on a general purpose computer for use in programming a memory that provides configuration scan information for a microcontroller that implements a configuration scan path, the program comprising code that when executed performs the steps of displaying registers that are part of the configuration scan path of the microcontroller; accepting user assignment of values to the displayed registers; and creating output data that corresponds to memory contents that when loaded through the configuration scan path into the microcontroller, configures the registers with the corresponding values assigned by the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 94 words
A software program for running on a general purpose computer for use in programming a memory that provides configuration scan information for a microcontroller that implements a configuration scan path, the program comprising code that when executed performs the steps of displaying registers that are part of the configuration scan path of the microcontroller; accepting user assignment of values to the displayed registers; and creating output data that corresponds to memory contents that when loaded through the configuration scan path into the microcontroller, configures the registers with the corresponding values assigned by the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The software program of claim 1 , wherein the output data is a data file.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The software program of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: loading the output data to the memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The software program of claim 1 , wherein the assignment of values to the displayed registers is different for the microcontrollers that are different.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The software program of claim 1 , wherein the registers that are part of the configuration scan path of the microcontroller are defined by a definition file.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The software program of claim 1 , wherein the registers are configuration registers of an asynchronous serial port device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 62 words
A software program for running on a general purpose computer for use in examining a memory that provides configuration scan information for a microcontroller that implements a configuration scan path, the program comprising code that when executed performs the steps of inputting output data that corresponds to configuration scan information of the microcontroller; and displaying registers that correspond to the output data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 62 words
A software program for running on a general purpose computer for use in examining a memory that provides configuration scan information for a microcontroller that implements a configuration scan path, the program comprising code that when executed performs the steps of inputting output data that corresponds to configuration scan information of the microcontroller; and displaying registers that correspond to the output data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
The software program of claim 7 , wherein the registers are configuration registers of a DMA peripheral device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
The software program of claim 7 , wherein the registers are configuration registers of a asynchronous serial port device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
The software program of claim 7 , wherein the registers are configuration registers of a interrupt control unit peripheral.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 81 words
A computer executed method of creating a memory that provides configuration scan information for a microcontroller that implements a configuration scan path, the method comprising the steps of: displaying registers that are part of the configuration scan path of the microcontroller; accepting user assignment of values to the displayed registers; and creating output data that corresponds to memory contents that when loaded through the configuration scan path into the microcontroller, configures the registers with the corresponding values assigned by the user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 81 words
A computer executed method of creating a memory that provides configuration scan information for a microcontroller that implements a configuration scan path, the method comprising the steps of: displaying registers that are part of the configuration scan path of the microcontroller; accepting user assignment of values to the displayed registers; and creating output data that corresponds to memory contents that when loaded through the configuration scan path into the microcontroller, configures the registers with the corresponding values assigned by the user.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 13 words
The computer executed method of claim 11 , wherein the memory is non-volatile.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 15 words
The computer executed method of claim 11 , wherein the memory is a flash ROM.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 15 words
The computer executed method of claim 11 , wherein the output data is a file.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 20 words
The computer executed method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of: loading the output data to the memory.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 21 words
The computer executed method of claim 15 , wherein the registers are configuration registers of an asynchronous serial port peripheral device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 28 words
The computer executed method of claim 11 , wherein the registers that are part of the configuration scan path of the microcontroller are defined by a definition file.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 19 words
The computer executed method of claim 11 , wherein the registers are configuration registers of a DMA peripheral device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 21 words
The computer executed method of claim 11 , wherein the registers are configuration registers of an asynchronous serial port peripheral device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 46 words
A computer executed method of displaying a memory that provides for a microcontroller that implements a configuration scan path, the method comprising the steps of: inputting output data that corresponds to configuration scan information of the microcontroller; and displaying registers that correspond to the output data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 46 words
A computer executed method of displaying a memory that provides for a microcontroller that implements a configuration scan path, the method comprising the steps of: inputting output data that corresponds to configuration scan information of the microcontroller; and displaying registers that correspond to the output data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 13 words
A computer executed method of claim 20 , wherein the memory is non-volatile.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 15 words
A computer executed method of claim 20 , wherein the memory is a flash ROM.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 16 words
The computer executed method of claim 20 , wherein the output data is a data file.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 19 words
The computer executed method of claim 20 , wherein the registers are configuration registers of a DMA peripheral device.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2006-03-03 2006-09-02 2007-03-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2010-03-03 2010-09-02 2011-03-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2014-03-03 2014-09-02 2015-03-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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