Apparatus and method for microcontroller debugging
US6915416B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 5, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/3644
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and method for microcontroller debugging. A preferred embodiment microcontroller integrated circuit comprises debug circuitry on the integrated circuit. The debug circuitry is capable of breaking normal instruction execution based on an address breakpoint, a stack pointer breakpoint, or a single step breakpoint. Upon detection of a valid breakpoint, the debug circuitry substitutes a jump to a debug program instruction in place of the next normal application program instruction. The debug program then may provide microcontroller status to a developer, allowing the developer to debug the application program. Upon completion of the debug program, control of the microcontroller is returned to the application program at the point of interruption.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.