Method and apparatus for programming an input/output device over a serial bus

• US 20060284876A1
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Chow, Raymond, Low, Yun Shon
• Application Number:
  US11/153,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20060284876A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/536
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3253 Power saving in bus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/28 using burst mode transfer, e.g. direct memory access DMA, cycle steal G06F13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A preferred embodiment is an apparatus for programming an input/output device over a serial bus that significantly reduces the burden placed on a host device associated with programming such devices. The preferred embodiment includes (a) a first memory for storing units of a programming sequence, each unit in the programming sequence having a command portion and a data portion; (b) a second memory having a single address; (c) a fetching circuit for transferring the programming sequence one unit at a time from the first memory to the second memory; and (d) a bus control circuit for translating the command portion of each said unit into a serial bus command for use with respect to the corresponding data portion.

Claims

1. An apparatus for programming a device over a serial bus, comprising:

a first memory for storing units of a programming sequence, each unit having a command portion and a data portion;

a second memory having a single address; and

a fetching circuit for transferring said programming sequence one unit at a time from said first memory to said second memory; and

a bus control circuit for translating the command portion of each said unit into a serial bus command for use with respect to the corresponding data portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a trigger circuit for activating the translation function of said bus control circuit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third memory for storing bus configuration data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second memory is sized for storing one unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said units are words, said command portion is one byte and said data portion is one byte.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second memory is sized for storing at least two units.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second memory is in a graphics controller.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is a camera.

9. A method for programming a device over a serial bus, comprising the steps of:

reading a programming sequence from a first memory one unit at a time, each unit having a command portion and a data portion;

writing each said unit to a second memory at a single address; and

translating the command portion of each said unit into a serial bus command for use with respect to the corresponding data portion.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of configuring a serial bus controller for bus access.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of configuring a serial bus controller includes setting a bus transfer speed which prevents data overrun in the device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of storing said programming sequence in said first memory.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said second memory is sized for storing one unit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said units are words, said command portion is one byte, and said data portion is one byte.

15. A graphics display system, comprising:

a host;

an input/output device;

a first memory for storing units of a programming sequence, each unit having a command portion and a data portion;

a fetching circuit for transferring said programming sequence one unit at a time from said first memory to a second memory at a single address; and

a bus control circuit for translating the command portion of each said unit into a serial bus command for use with respect to the corresponding data portion.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a trigger circuit for activating the translation function of said bus control circuit.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a third memory for storing bus configuration data.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said second memory is sized for storing one unit.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a buffer for preventing data overrun in the input/output device.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the input/output device is a camera.