Counter/timer circuit for a microcontroller

US4942559A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE
• Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Rod G. Fleck · Bellevue, US
• Mark Poret · Mesa, US
• Karl-Heinz Mattheis · San Jose, US
• Javier V. Magana · Austin, US
• Christoph Meinhold · Planegg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 7, 1989
• Grant date: Jul 17, 1990
• Expiry date: Jul 7, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B19/0423
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A counter/timer circuit for a microcontroller includes a central register and two auxiliary registers each having transfer outputs and counting inputs. Bistable output storage elements are each connected to a respective one of the transfer outputs. Interrupt request flags are also each connected to a respective one of the transfer outputs. Start/stop elements are each connected to a respective one of the counting inputs. Input control blocks are each connected to a respective one of the start/stop elements. First reload, capture and compare units are connected between one of the auxiliary registers and the central register, and second reload, capture and compare units are connected between the other of the auxiliary registers and the central register.