Method and apparatus utilizing a flash memory device to maintain accurate unit timing

US6167482A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Motorola, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jurgen Schmidt · Los Alamos, US
• Horst Geib · Cochem, DE
• Erwin Nikl · Niedernhausen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 8, 1997
• Grant date: Dec 26, 2000
• Expiry date: Jul 8, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F9/24
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for re-programming a memory device in a micro-controller system is provided. The method includes the steps of installing a software RTC service routine running outside the flash memory device, wherein a counter measures the total re-programming procedure duration (100). The software RTC service routine running outside the flash memory device is stopped (102) and the current absolute unit time saved in a read/write accessible memory cell (104). A re-programming cycle is executed (106) and the former running application will be prepared to continue (108). The unit is set to the previous stored value (110) and the software RTC service routine running outside the flash memory device re-started (112). The software RTC service routine running outside the flash memory device is stopped (114) and the measured total re-programming duration added to the current RTC value (116). The application then recommences (118).