Circuit arrangement for in-circuit emulation of a microcontroller

• US 6,366,878 B1
• Filed: 09/28/1998
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Grunert, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broda, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US09/163,626
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 703/23, 703/24, 703/25, 703/26, 703/27, 703/28, 716/1, 716/2, 716/3, 716/4
• US Class Current: 703/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/261 by simulating additional hardware, e.g. fault simulation

Abstract

A circuit configuration allowing for in-circuit emulation, comprising a memory containing an operating program; and a first and second microcontrolller. Each microcontroller has a computer core, at least five external connection ports, and a setable connecting device selectively connecting the computer core to the connection ports. A first connection port of the first microcontroller is connected to a first connection port of the second microcontroller. The memory is connected to at least a second one of the connection ports of the first microcontroller. The connecting devices are set to provide the computer core of the first microcontroller with the operating program contained in the memory, and are set to provide data transfer between the first connection port of the first microcontroller and the first connection port of the second microcontroller.

Claims

1. A circuit arrangement for in-circuit emulation, comprising:

a first and a second identical microcontroller which in each case have at least five external connections as well as a connecting device that serves to connect the connections inside the first and the second microcontroller to one another and to the internal function units of the first and the second microcontroller, and has a different setting in the first and second microcontrollers, and comprising a memory for an operating program with data and address connections, the identical connections of the two microcontrollers not being connected to one another, the data and address connections of the memory being connected in each case to one of the connections of the first microcontroller and the data connection of the memory being connected to one of the connections of the second microcontroller, the microcontrollers being mutually connected to one another via one connection in each case, and the remaining connections of the microcontrollers being connected to an application system, and the connecting devices providing the function units of the first microcontroller with the operating program from the memory, and the signal traffic at the remaining connections of the second microcontroller being connected via a terminal to the second microcontroller.

2. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the internal function units of the first and second microcontrollers each have an internal address connection and an internal data connection for calling the operation program as well as five internal connections;

the internal address connection and the internal data connection are connected to a first and a second external connection inside the first setting;

first, second and third internal connections are connected to a third external connection, and fourth and fifth internal connections are connected to a fourth and fifth external connection, and the internal data connection is connected to the fifth external connection inside the second microcontroller via connecting device thereof in a second setting; and

the first, second and third external connections are connnected to the fourth external connection.

3. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

the second external connection of the first microcontroller is connected to an address connection of the external memory;

a first external connection of the first microcontroller is connected to a data connection of the external memory;

the fifth external connection of the second microcontroller is connected to the data connection of the external memory; and

the fourth external connection of the second microcontroller is connected to the third external connection of the first microcontroller.

4. The circuit according to claim 1, including a clock synchronizing the first and second microcontrollers.

5. The circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of the external connections and the data and address connections include a multiplicity of individual signal lines.

6. The circuit arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the internal data connection of the internal function units is constructed in order to receive or transmit data and a portion of the address of the memory in a time-division multiplexed fashion;

and the internal address connection of the internal function units is constructed in order to transmit another portion of the address of the memory.

7. The circuit arrangement according to claim 6, wherein each one of the microcontrollers includes at least one further external connection which is connected in each case to a means for generating a constant signal level;

the microcontrollers in each case have a circuit for interrogating the signal level present during a reset operation; and

wherein the signal levels at the first and second microcontrollers are different.

8. A circuit configuration for in-circuit emulation, comprising:

a memory containing an operating program; and

a first and second microcontrolller, each said microcontroller having;

a computer core,

at least five external connection ports, and

a setable connecting device selectively connecting said computer core to said connection ports;

a first connection port of said first microcontroller connected to a first connection port of said second microcontroller;

said memory connected to at least a second one of said connection ports of said first microcontroller;

said connecting devices providing said computer core of said first microcontroller with the operating program contained in said memory; and

providing data transfer between said first connection port of said first microcontroller and said first connection port of said second microcontroller.

9. A circuit configuration for in-circuit emulation, comprising:

a memory for containing an operating program;

first and second microcontrollers having a respective;

input/output port,

internal function unit having an ALU, and

connecting device connecting said internal function unit to said input/output port, said connecting device having multiple settings,

at least one further input/output port;

said input/output port of said first microcontroller connected to said input/output port of said second microcontroller;

said connecting devices of said first and second microcontrollers providing at least a portion of the operating program contained in said memory to said function unit of said first microcontroller, and providing external signals applied to said at least one further input/output port of said second microcontroller to said input/output port of said first microcontroller.