Microcontroller programmable system on a chip with programmable interconnect

• US 8,555,032 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monterey Research, LLC (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Snyder, Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Coleman, Eric
• Application Number:
  US13/169,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20110283057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 712/32
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25033 structure, control, syncronization, data, alarm, connect I-O line to interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/08 Clock generators with changeable or programmable clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/36 for access to common bus or bus system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/40 Bus structure for computer networks G06F15/163; for optical bus networks H04B10/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7817 Specially adapted for signal processing, e.g. Harvard architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7867 with reconfigurable architecture
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06G 7/06 Programming arrangements, e.g. plugboard for interconnecting functional units of the computer; Digital programming hybrid computers G06J
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/10 Programming or data input circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/32 being a piezoelectric resonator selection of piezoelectric material H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/364 the amplifier comprising field effect transistors H03B5/366 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 19/004 Switched capacitor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/012 Modifications of generator to improve response time or to decrease power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/014 Modifications of generator to ensure starting of oscillations
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/02315 Stabilisation of output, e.g. using crystal

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a microcontroller device having a microprocessor, programmable memory components, and programmable analog and digital blocks. The programmable analog and digital blocks are configurable based on programming information stored in the memory components. Programmable interconnect logic, also programmable from the memory components, is used to couple the programmable analog and digital blocks as needed. The advanced microcontroller design also includes programmable input/output blocks for coupling selected signals to external pins. The memory components also include user programs that the embedded microprocessor executes. These programs may include instructions for programming the digital and analog blocks “on-the-fly,” e.g., dynamically. In one implementation, there are a plurality of programmable digital blocks and a plurality of programmable analog blocks.

Claims

1. A microcontroller circuit comprising:

a bus;

a microprocessor coupled to the bus;

a memory coupled with the bus, wherein the memory comprises a non-volatile memory;

a plurality of functional units coupled with the bus, wherein the plurality of functional units comprises;

an analog functional block dynamically configurable and programmable to perform one or more of a plurality of analog functions according to a configuration state stored in the non-volatile memory, and

a dynamically configurable and programmable digital functional block; and

a programmable interconnect, wherein the interconnect is dynamically configurable to connect the analog functional block with the digital functional block.

2. The microcontroller circuit of claim 1, wherein the configuration state stored in the non-volatile memory identifies the one or more analog functions.

3. The microcontroller circuit of claim 1, wherein the analog functional block comprises at least one multifunction circuit configured to perform at least one fixed function in addition to the one or more of the plurality of analog functions.

4. The microcontroller circuit of claim 1, wherein said digital functional block is configurable to perform one of a plurality of predetermined digital functions.

5. The microcontroller circuit of claim 1, wherein the programmable interconnect is configured to transmit analog data and digital data between the analog function block and the digital functional block.

6. The microcontroller circuit of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises an erasable memory.

7. The microcontroller circuit of claim 1, wherein said memory further comprises a random access memory.

8. The microcontroller circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of functional units further comprises a programmable input/output block coupled with the programmable interconnect.

9. The microcontroller circuit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of functional units is dynamically programmable according to a user input.

10. The microcontroller circuit of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller circuit is manufactured on a single integrated circuit semiconductor chip.

11. A microcontroller circuit comprising:

a bus;

a processor coupled with the bus;

a plurality of analog functional blocks coupled with the processor;

a dynamically configurable and programmable digital functional block;

a programmable interconnect coupled with the plurality of analog functional blocks, wherein the programmable interconnect is dynamically configurable to connect any of the plurality of analog blocks with the digital functional block; and

a non-volatile memory coupled with the plurality of analog functional blocks, wherein the non-volatile memory is configured to store a configuration state for each of the plurality of analog functional blocks, wherein at least one of the analog function blocks is configured to perform an analog function identified by the configuration state, and wherein the programmable interconnect is configured to connect the plurality of analog functional blocks based on the configuration state.

12. The microcontroller circuit of claim 11, wherein the analog functional block comprises at least one multifunction circuit configured to perform at least one fixed function in addition to the one or more of the plurality of analog functions.

13. The microcontroller circuit of claim 11, wherein the plurality of analog functional blocks comprises at least one continuous time analog circuit.

14. The microcontroller circuit of claim 11, wherein said digital functional block is configurable to perform one of a plurality of predetermined digital functions.

15. The microcontroller circuit of claim 11, wherein the digital functional block is configured to perform a digital function identified by the configuration state.

16. The microcontroller circuit of claim 11, wherein the programmable interconnect is configured to transmit analog data and digital data between the analog function block and the digital functional block.

17. The microcontroller circuit of claim 11, wherein the non-volatile memory is an erasable memory.

18. The microcontroller circuit of claim 11, further comprising a programmable input/output block coupled with the programmable interconnect.

19. The microcontroller circuit of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of functional units is dynamically programmable according to a user input.

20. The microcontroller circuit of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller circuit is manufactured on a single integrated circuit semiconductor chip.