Non-intrusive in-system programming using in-system programming circuitry coupled to oscillation circuitry for entering, exiting, and performing in-system programming responsive to oscillation circuitry signals

• US 6,021,447 A
• Filed: 12/12/1997
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: UBICOM Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gracey, Charles M., Cheng, Chuck C.W., Szeto, Kinyue
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US08/989,431
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 712/32, 712/37, 712/43, 710/8, 710/14
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/102 External programming circuits, e.g. EPROM programmers; In-circuit programming or reprogramming; EPROM emulators

Abstract

A method and apparatus for In-System Programming which overcomes the above-described disadvantages. The method and apparatus of the ISP system interfaces with the two oscillator (instead of I/O) pins on the microcontroller. By interfacing with the two oscillator pins, the need for extra isolation circuitry to isolate other circuits from the ISP circuits is avoided in most circumstances, without incurring the expense of an expensive JTAG tester or extra dedicated pins. The amount of isolation circuitry necessary is reduced because the two oscillator pins are usually connected to passive components (registers, capacitors, or crystals) which cannot be damaged by the relatively high programming voltages and which do not produce signals that would interfere with the ISP programming signals.

Claims

1. A method for programming a memory on an integrated circuit including entering a programming mode of the integrated circuit, wherein entering the programming mode comprises:

turning-off a first oscillation signal of a first frequency within the integrated circuit; and

turning-on a second oscillation signal of a second frequency within the integrated circuit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein turning-off the first oscillation signal comprises:

driving a first voltage to a first level on a first pin;

driving a second voltage to a second level on a second pin; and

toggling the first voltage between two levels a plurality of times.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first level is equal to the second level.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein entering the programming mode further comprises:

releasing the second voltage on the second pin; and

driving the first voltage on the first pin to a higher level to enable the programming.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the programming mode comprises:

sending a synchronization signal to the integrated circuit;

sending/receiving a data signal to/from the memory on the integrated circuit; and

repeating sending the synchronization signal, sending the command signal, and sending/receiving the data signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

exiting the programming mode, wherein exiting the programming mode comprises;

lowering a relatively high voltage level applied to the integrated circuit to signal the exiting; and

resetting the integrated circuit.

7. A method for programming a memory on an integrated circuit comprising:

sending a periodic carrier signal with a frequency equal to a frequency of a clock internal to the integrated circuit;

modulating a plurality of cycles of the periodic carrier signal to send a command to the integrated circuit; and

modulating a plurality of cycles of the periodic carrier signal to send/receive data to/from the memory on the integrated circuit.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

modulating a cycle of the periodic carrier signal to send a synchronization signal to the integrated circuit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the synchronization signal, the command, and the data form a frame.

10. An integrated circuit device comprising:

a processing unit;

an EEPROM for providing instructions to the processing unit;

an oscillator for providing a clock to the processing unit;

programming circuitry for programming the EEPROM;

a first pin for providing timing to the oscillation circuitry during an operating mode and for providing a relatively high voltage to the EEPROM during a programming mode; and

a second pin for communicating with the EEPROM.

11. The integrated circuit device of claim 10, wherein the device comprises a microcontroller.

12. An integrated circuit comprising:

a processing unit;

an EEPROM for providing instructions to the processing unit;

an oscillator for providing a clock to the processing unit;

oscillation circuitry for coupling the oscillator to the processing unit; and

in-system programming circuitry coupled to the oscillation circuitry for entering, exiting, and performing in-system programming responsive to signals received from the oscillation circuitry.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

at least one oscillation pin, coupled to the oscillation circuitry, for receiving externally generated oscillation signals and programming signals.