Microcontroller waveform generation
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- providing a microcontroller integrated circuit including a programmable processor, an embedded memory operatively coupled to the processor, waveform control circuitry operatively coupled to the processor and the embedded memory, and several terminals each structured for coupling to the microcontroller integrated circuit;
executing a process by the processor, including storing a waveform bit pattern in the embedded memory, wherein the processor has read/write access to the embedded memory;
with the waveform control circuitry, controlling transmission of the waveform bit pattern stored in the embedded memory through one or more of the terminals external to the microcontroller integrated circuit in accordance with desired synchronous timing;
during the transmission, executing an instruction sequence for a different process with the processor; and
controlling input of information into the microcontroller integrated circuit from a circuit device external to the microcontroller integrated circuit in response to the transmission of the waveform bit pattern, wherein the waveform bit pattern is used to strobe the information into the microcontroller integrated circuit.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention is a microcontroller (24) including an embedded memory (42), waveform control circuitry (44) operatively coupled to the memory (42), several terminals (52), and a programmable processor (30). Processor (30) is responsive to execution of the first sequence of instructions to store a waveform bit pattern in memory (42) with a desired transmission timing. Waveform circuitry (44) is responsive to processor (30) to control transmission of the waveform bit pattern stored in memory (42) through one or more of the terminals (52) in accordance with the timing while processor (30) executes the second sequence of instructions to perform a different process.
27 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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providing a microcontroller integrated circuit including a programmable processor, an embedded memory operatively coupled to the processor, waveform control circuitry operatively coupled to the processor and the embedded memory, and several terminals each structured for coupling to the microcontroller integrated circuit; executing a process by the processor, including storing a waveform bit pattern in the embedded memory, wherein the processor has read/write access to the embedded memory; with the waveform control circuitry, controlling transmission of the waveform bit pattern stored in the embedded memory through one or more of the terminals external to the microcontroller integrated circuit in accordance with desired synchronous timing; during the transmission, executing an instruction sequence for a different process with the processor; and controlling input of information into the microcontroller integrated circuit from a circuit device external to the microcontroller integrated circuit in response to the transmission of the waveform bit pattern, wherein the waveform bit pattern is used to strobe the information into the microcontroller integrated circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus, comprising:
- a microcontroller integrated circuit device including;
an embedded memory; waveform control circuitry operatively coupled to the embedded memory; several terminals each structured to provide a connection external to the microcontroller integrated circuit; and a programmable processor configured to execute a first sequence of instructions to store a waveform bit pattern in the embedded memory with a desired transmission timing, the waveform control circuitry being responsive to the programmable processor to control synchronous transmission of the waveform bit pattern stored in the embedded memory through one or more of the terminals in accordance with the desired timing while the processor executes a second sequence of instructions to perform a different process with the processor; wherein the processor has read/write access to the embedded memory; wherein the microcontroller integrated circuit is configured to receive input data from a circuit device external to the microcontroller integrated circuit in response to the waveform bit pattern, wherein the waveform bit pattern is used to strobe the input data into the microcontroller integrated circuit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
- a microcontroller integrated circuit device including;
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13. A method, comprising:
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providing a microcontroller integrated circuit including a programmable processor, an embedded memory operatively coupled to the processor, waveform control circuitry operatively coupled to the processor and the embedded memory, and several input/output pins, the input/output pins each being structured to be selectively switched between the embedded memory and at least one different embedded device, wherein the processor has read/write access to the embedded memory; and executing a first instruction sequence with the processor; wherein execution of the first instruction sequence directs storage of a waveform bit pattern in the embedded memory; the waveform control circuitry initiating transmission of the waveform bit pattern stored in the embedded memory through one or more of the input/output pins and controlling timing of the transmission; executing a second instruction sequence with the processor during the transmission, the transmission being under control of the waveform control circuitry; and controlling input of information into the microcontroller integrated circuit from a circuit device external to the microcontroller integrated circuit in response to the transmission of the waveform bit pattern, wherein the waveform bit pattern is used to strobe the information into the microcontroller integrated circuit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus, comprising:
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a microcontroller integrated circuit device including;
an embedded memory;waveform control circuitry operatively coupled to the embedded memory; several input/output pins, the input/output pins being structured to each be selectively switched between the embedded memory and at least one different embedded device; and a programmable processor including means for executing a first sequence of instructions to store a waveform bit pattern in the embedded memory and designate timing for the waveform bit pattern, wherein the processor has read/write access to the embedded memory; wherein the waveform control circuitry includes means for controlling synchronous transmission of the waveform bit pattern stored in the embedded memory through one or more of the input/output pins in accordance with the timing while the processor executes a second sequence of instructions to perform a different process with the processor; and wherein the microcontroller integrated circuit is configured to receive input data from a circuit device external to the microcontroller integrated circuit in response to the waveform bit pattern, wherein the waveform bit pattern is used to strobe the input data into the microcontroller integrated circuit.
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Specification