Control circuit for a microcontroller
First Claim
1. A control circuit for controlling, supporting and monitoring a microcontroller, which control circuit is built up outside the microcontroller, which is resettable by means of the control circuit, and which control circuit includes a watchdog circuit, wherein function signals are supplied to the control circuit from various microprocessor controlled devices with which function signals'"'"'presettable function modes of said devices are associated in that the control circuit supplies a read-request signal to the microcontroller when it determines that the function signals change, which read-request signal induces the microcontroller to evaluate the changed function signal and read data associated with said signal, and in that the control circuit, in case the microcontroller is in an inactive state and not responsive during the time when the function signals change, supplies a reset signal to this microcontroller prior to supplying the read-request signal, which reset signal brings the microcontroller into an active state, and after supplying the reset signal to the microprocessor, the control circuit activates the watchdog circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A description is given of a control circuit situated outside a microcontroller, which control circuit serves to control, support and monitor the microcontroller. This is achieved in that function signals are supplied to the control circuit (2), with which function signals presettable function modes of a device (12, 13, 14) are associated, which device is controlled by said microcontroller (1), in that the control circuit (2) supplies a read-request signal to the microcontroller (1) when the function signals change, which read-request signal induces the microcontroller (1) to evaluate the changed external signal and/or read the data associated with said signal, and in that the control circuit (2), in case the microcontroller (1) is in an inactive state when the function signals change, supplies a reset signal to this microcontroller prior to supplying the read-request signal, which reset signal brings the microcontroller (1) into an active state, and after supplying the reset signal, the control circuit activates the watchdog circuit.
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Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A control circuit for controlling, supporting and monitoring a microcontroller, which control circuit is built up outside the microcontroller, which is resettable by means of the control circuit, and which control circuit includes a watchdog circuit, wherein function signals are supplied to the control circuit from various microprocessor controlled devices with which function signals'"'"'presettable function modes of said devices are associated in that the control circuit supplies a read-request signal to the microcontroller when it determines that the function signals change, which read-request signal induces the microcontroller to evaluate the changed function signal and read data associated with said signal, and in that the control circuit, in case the microcontroller is in an inactive state and not responsive during the time when the function signals change, supplies a reset signal to this microcontroller prior to supplying the read-request signal, which reset signal brings the microcontroller into an active state, and after supplying the reset signal to the microprocessor, the control circuit activates the watchdog circuit.
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11. A method for controlling, supporting and monitoring a microcontroller, the method comprising:
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providing a control circuit which includes a watchdog circuit built up outside the microcontroller, said microcontroller resettable by means of the control circuit;
supplying function signals to the control circuit from devices controlled by the microcontroller, with which function signals presettable function modes of said devices are associated;
supplying a read-request signal to the microcontroller by the control unit when the received function signals change, which read-request signal induces the microcontroller to evaluate the changed function signal and read data associated with said read-request signal;
supplying a reset signal to the microcontroller by the control circuit prior to supplying the read-request signal thereto, in case the microcontroller is in an inactive state when the function signals change, the reset signal bringing the microcontroller into an active state; and
activating the watchdog circuit after supplying the reset signal to the microcontroller by the control circuit.
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12. A system for controlling, supporting and monitoring a microcontroller, the system comprising:
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a control circuit means which includes a watchdog circuit means built up outside the microcontroller, said microcontroller resettable by means of the control circuit means;
means for supplying function signals from devices controlled by the microcontroller to the control circuit means, with which function signals presettable function modes of said devices are associated;
means for supplying a read-request signal to the microcontroller by the control circuit means when the function signals change, which read-request signal induces the microcontroller to evaluate the changed function signal and read data associated with said read-request signal;
means for supplying a reset signal to the microcontroller by the control circuit means prior to supplying the read-request signal thereto, in case the microcontroller is in an inactive state when the function signals change, the reset signal bringing the microcontroller into an active state; and
means for activating the watchdog circuit means after supplying the reset signal to the microcontroller by the control circuit means.
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Specification