System for embedded microcontroller and method

• US 8,903,706 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Forster, Frank, Pfeiffer, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Eun
• Application Number:
  US12/874,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20130167125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 703/23, 703/28, 703/27
• US Class Current: 703/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3652 in-circuit-emulation [ICE] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software

Abstract

The invention is system for emulating a target application comprises a computer, and a capsular including a microcontroller, a programmable non-volatile memory, a numeric display, a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data, a real time clock and at least one input device interacting with a program run on the microcontroller. The capsular is couplable to the computer and adapted to fit in a housing. The input device is operable both when the capsular is inside the housing and when the capsular is outside the housing.

Claims

1. A system for emulating a target embedded microcontroller system in a target application comprising:

comprising;

a computer;

a housing; and

a capsular including

a microcontroller, of a same type as a microcontroller in the target embedded microcontroller system and operable to run the same software program,

a programmable non-volatile memory,

a numeric display,

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data,

a real time clock, and

at least one input device interacting with a program run on said microcontroller,

wherein said capsular is adapted to couple to said computer and adapted to fit in said housing;

wherein said capsular is operable to be placed in a target environment of the target embedded microcontroller system; and

said input device is operable when said capsular is inside said housing and when said capsular is outside said housing.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

said capsular further includes a top plate configured to serve as an antenna.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein:

said top plate has a cutout for said display.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said capsular has a maximum diameter of less than 5 cm.