Serial port interface system and method for an analog-to-digital converter
US5886658A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/05
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A novel serial port interface system and method are disclosed. The serial port interface system achieves a three-pin interface mode with only a serial data input pin, a serial data output pin, and a serial clock pin by allocating a bit in an on-chip register to identify a three-pin conversion-done mode. In this three-pin mode, the serial data output pin signals an external device that data is ready to be accessed. Also disclosed with this three-pin conversion-done mode is a single conversion data read and a continuous conversion data read that may be selected through two separate bits in an on-chip register. In another aspect, a multiple register access capability is disclosed that allows multiple on-chip registers to be accessed with a single read/write command. This is accomplished by allocating a register select address in a command register to identify a group of registers, such as all of the set-up registers (gain, offset and configuration). An invalid command lock mode is also disclosed that places the serial port interface in a hold state, if an invalid command is decoded, to protect on-chip registers from corruption. Control of the serial port interface is removed from an e…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.