Patent · US Expired

Breakpoint detection circuit in a data processor and method therefor

US5717851A · kind A · utility

33Cited by
10References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 15, 1994
Grant dateFeb 10, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 15, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/3648
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Existing chip select comparator logic (42) is used to compare a portion of the address value with a range of chip select addresses to provide a match signal for use by both the chip select logic (70) and a breakpoint logic circuit (50.x). The match signal is generated by the chip select logic circuit and is reused by the breakpoint logic circuit to perform a different and distinct function. By using the match signal and a breakpoint enable bit, the breakpoint logic circuit selectively asserts a breakpoint signal. Subsequently, a central processing unit (12) receives the breakpoint signal and initiates a breakpoint exception operation to determine whether the breakpoint condition is met and whether further action should be taken.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.