Control circuit for a microcontroller
US6408170B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 18, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D30/70
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A description is given of a control circuit situated outside a microcontroller, which control circuit serves to control, support and monitor the microcontroller. This is achieved in that function signals are supplied to the control circuit (2), with which function signals presettable function modes of a device (12, 13, 14) are associated, which device is controlled by said microcontroller (1), in that the control circuit (2) supplies a read-request signal to the microcontroller (1) when the function signals change, which read-request signal induces the microcontroller (1) to evaluate the changed external signal and/or read the data associated with said signal, and in that the control circuit (2), in case the microcontroller (1) is in an inactive state when the function signals change, supplies a reset signal to this microcontroller prior to supplying the read-request signal, which reset signal brings the microcontroller (1) into an active state, and after supplying the reset signal, the control circuit activates the watchdog circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.