Abstract: Two data processing units having the same function, one of which is used for a master and the other for comparison, are provided, control of a circuit unit is performed by the master, the master data processing unit and the circuit unit are operated in synchronization with a first clock signal, the second data processing unit is operated in synchronization with a second clock signal having the same cycle and different phase from the first clock signal, and processing results of both the data processing units are compared in a comparison circuit. Flip flops are disposed on a signal path from the circuit unit to the comparison data processing unit and on a signal path from the master data processing unit to the comparator, and both the first and second clock signals are used for latch clocks of the flip flops in accordance with input signals thereof.

Abstract: The data processor having CPUs each capable of accessing memories enables the processing of a memory error according to the processing mode of the data processor. The CPUs have a memory, and each include a first storing unit capable of storing CPU-identifying information which enables identification of CPU having accessed the memory. At the time of occurrence of a soft error owing to access to the memory, the CPU, having the memory, stores the CPU-identifying information for identifying the CPU having accessed the corresponding memory in the first storing unit, and notifies the interrupt controller of occurrence of a soft error of the memory. After having received an interruption of the memory soft error from the interrupt controller, the CPU uses information stored in the first storing unit to identify the CPU having made the access, and performs the error processing.

Abstract: A microcontroller in which respective CPUs execute different applications so as to improve processing performance, and the respective CPUs execute an application that requires safety and mutually compare the results thereof so as to enhance the reliability of write data is provided. The microcontroller has a plurality of processing systems made up of a first CPU, a second CPU, a first memory and a second memory, and for the instruction processing about specific processing set in advance, the write to peripheral modules which are not multiplexed is executed twice, and the write data of the first time and the second time are mutually collated.

Abstract: This invention provides communications systems that enable broadcasting while making use of the simplicity of the prior art and also provides control devices and information processing systems incorporating the communications system. In this invention, chip-select signals are provided for transmitting (TXCSi) and receiving (RXCSi) independently as well as for individual chips as in the prior art. That is, a group of signals indicating whether or not a slave node is selected as the node to transmit signals to a master node and the direction of communications are output from the master node to the slave node.

Abstract: A microcontroller in which an increase in hardware is suppressed and data correction capability for software error of RAM can be improved is provided. A microcontroller which performs processing according to a program includes a CPU and a RAM for storing data processed by the CPU, wherein multiplexed regions are defined in the RAM, and when these regions are accessed, an access to an address outputted by the CPU and a copy access to an address obtained by adding or subtracting a certain value to or from the address outputted by the CPU are performed. By this means, the same data can be stored in a plurality of regions and the reliability can be improved.

Abstract: A microcontroller capable of improving processing performance as a whole by executing different programs by a plurality of CPUs and capable of detecting abnormality for safety-required processing by evaluating results of the same processing executed by the plurality of CPUs. A plurality of processing systems including CPUs and memories are provided, data output from the CPUs in each of the processing systems is separately compressed and stored by compressors for each of the CPUs, respectively. The compressed storage data is mutually compared by a comparator, and abnormality of processing can be detected when the comparison result indicates a mismatch. Even when the timings by which the same processing results are obtained are different when the plurality of CPUs asynchronously execute the same processing, the processing results of both of them can be easily compared with each other since compression is carried out by the compressors.

Abstract: A copy-forgery-inhibited (CFI) pattern image is effectively printed irrespective of difference in information of (CFI) pattern setting between a host unit and a printing apparatus in relation to printing of a (CFI) pattern image. A (CFI) pattern image, for example, “COPY INHIBIT” is set on the printer side while a (CFI) pattern image “COPY” is set under a printing instruction delivered from a host PC. If determination is resulted in inconsistency between strings, indication for asking the user which (CFI) pattern image is given preference to be displayed on an UI screen of the printer. Further, similar indication is displayed on the host PC side. Thus, it is possible to render the user to determine whether the setting of a (CFI) pattern image on the host PC side is given preference to or the setting on the printer side is given preference to.

Abstract: The invention provides a code compression technology that is favorable for a micro controller or other embedded system, and for compressed codes, resulting from conversion of program codes into variable length codes, and grouped program codes, address conversion information for specifying the start address of each group and compressed code type information for specifying the code length of each compressed code contained in a group are stored in a memory, and by enabling a corresponding compressed code address to be calculated from a code address output by a CPU, code compression that is favorable for a micro controller or other embedded system is realized.

Abstract: Two data processing units having the same function, one of which is used for a master and the other for comparison, are provided, control of a circuit unit is performed by the master, the master data processing unit and the circuit unit are operated in synchronization with a first clock signal, the second data processing unit is operated in synchronization with a second clock signal having the same cycle and different phase from the first clock signal, and processing results of both the data processing units are compared in a comparison circuit. Flip flops are disposed on a signal path from the circuit unit to the comparison data processing unit and on a signal path from the master data processing unit to the comparator, and both the first and second clock signals are used for latch clocks of the flip flops in accordance with input signals thereof.

Abstract: A microcontroller and a controlling system having the same are provided, in which the increase in the program code for performing floating-point arithmetic, in particular, the increase in the amount of code due to a variable are suppressed, and the processing overhead for converting fixed-point data into floating-point data is reduced. The microcontroller includes a floating-point converter which inputs integer data and corresponding decimal point position data as fixed-point data and which converts the input data into floating-point data by acquiring a fraction part, an exponent part, and a sign of the floating type from the input data, and a floating-point arithmetic logic unit which receives the output of the floating-point converter and calculates the floating-point data. The floating-point converter acquires the exponent part by performing addition and subtraction of the decimal point position data and the shift amount of the fraction part to the integer data.

Abstract: The present invention prevents a data processor from undesirable operation stop due to an overflow of a plurality of register banks. A status register includes an overflow flag to indicate an overflow of the plurality of register banks. When an interrupt exception occurs in a state in which data has been saved to all banks of the register banks, and the accepted interrupt exception is permitted to use the register banks, a central processing unit saves data of a register set to a stack area and reflects an overflow state in the overflow flag. When the overflow flag indicates an overflow state, if data restoration from the register banks to the register set is directed, the central processing unit restores the data from the stack area to the register set.

Abstract: The present invention prevents a data processor from undesirable operation stop due to an overflow of a plurality of register banks. A status register includes an overflow flag to indicate an overflow of the plurality of register banks. When an interrupt exception occurs in a state in which data has been saved to all banks of the register banks, and the accepted interrupt exception is permitted to use the register banks, a central processing unit saves data of a register set to a stack area and reflects an overflow state in the overflow flag. When the overflow flag indicates an overflow state, if data restoration from the register banks to the register set is directed, the central processing unit restores the data from the stack area to the register set.

Abstract: A master unit sends a start signal to a slave unit. When receiving the start signal from the master unit, the slave unit sends, to the master unit, a synchronization field that is a data train (pulse signal) indicative of a transfer clock with which the slave unit is able to perform transferring and receiving operations. The master unit sends, to the slave unit, command data in accordance with the transfer clock indicated by the synchronization field sent from the slave unit. In response to the command data sent from the master unit, the slave unit sends, to the master unit, response data in accordance with the transfer clock indicated by the synchronization field. Thus, in a communication system employing a serial data transferring apparatus of the present invention, the master unit establishes the synchronization for the data transfer, while the slave unit is free from a burden of establishing the synchronization for the data transfer.

Abstract: This method is an error correction method such that, when an error is detected in a CPU with pipeline struct, a content of a register file is restored by a delayed register file which holds an execute completion state of an [Instruction N] correctly executed before this error, and a rollback control that re-executes an instruction from the [Instruction N+1] which is the next instruction of the [Instruction N] is performed. The method collects a parity check result of arbitrary Flip-Flops existing inside the CPU, and detects an error. As a result, the content of the register file is restored into the instruction execute completion state preceding to the instruction range likely to malfunction by the error, and the instruction can be roll backed from the beginning of the instruction range likely having malfunctioned by the error.

Abstract: In an A/D converter and a microcontroller including the same, the number of selection patterns of analog input channels is increased for each A/D conversion and the A/D conversion is conducted using an A/D converter having only fundamental functions without imposing load onto a CPU. The A/D converter or a DMA transfer device includes an A/D conversion table including one or more entries. Each entry includes enable bits for setting whether or not an A/D conversion is executed for the respective analog input channels and a plurality of count number bits for setting a number of executions of the A/D conversion.

Abstract: A microcontroller in which an increase in hardware is suppressed and data correction capability for software error of RAM can be improved is provided. A microcontroller which performs processing according to a program includes a CPU and a RAM for storing data processed by the CPU, wherein multiplexed regions are defined in the RAM, and when these regions are accessed, an access to an address outputted by the CPU and a copy access to an address obtained by adding or subtracting a certain value to or from the address outputted by the CPU are performed. By this means, the same data can be stored in a plurality of regions and the reliability can be improved.

Abstract: A copy-forgery-inhibited (CFI) pattern image is effectively printed irrespective of difference in information of (CFI) pattern setting between a host unit and a printing apparatus in relation to printing of a (CFI) pattern image. A (CFI) pattern image, for example, “COPY INHIBIT” is set on the printer side while a (CFI) pattern image “COPY” is set under a printing instruction delivered from a host PC. If determination is resulted in inconsistency between strings, indication for asking the user which (CFI) pattern image is given preference to be displayed on an UI screen of the printer. Further, similar indication is displayed on the host PC side. Thus, it is possible to render the user to determine whether the setting of a (CFI) pattern image on the host PC side is given preference to or the setting on the printer side is given preference to.

Abstract: An oxide phosphor includes an oxide consisting of at least Gd, Ce, Al, Ga, and O, and has the crystal structure of a garnet structure, the atomic ratio (Gd+Ce)/(Al+Ga+Gd+Ce) of which is more than 0.375 and 0.44 or less, and the atomic ratio Ce/(Ce+Gd) of which is 0.0005 or more and 0.02 or less. This oxide phosphor reduces composition misalignment occurring during sintering, being a drawback of a phosphor having (Gd1-xCex)3Al5-yGayO12 composition, and has a property of extremely small afterglow and high luminescence efficiency. By using this oxide phosphor as a scintillator of a radiation detector having a light detector, the radiation detector with low afterglow and high output can be obtained. Further, by applying this radiation detector to an X-ray CT apparatus, a tomogram with high resolution and high quality can be obtained.

Abstract: An air temperature sensor sensing an air temperature, supplied with a pulse signal as a driving signal from a pulse signal source, senses an air temperature based on the pulse signal. While the air temperature sensor is self-heated during an electrical current supplying time period by the pulse signal, it is cooled during an electrical current halting time period. Accordingly, the self-heating of the air temperature sensor by the driving signal is suppressed, and a thermal effect on air flow rate sensing elements disposed in an air flow downstream side of the air temperature sensor is also reduced.

Abstract: The luminance of phosphor is enhanced by forming a phosphor screen of a fluorescence generation unit by phosphor expressed by the following composition formula: (L1-a-bGdaCeb)3(Al1-cGac)5O12:Md wherein, a, b and c are each in the following ranges of 0?a?1.0, 0<b?0.1 and 0?c?1.0, M is dopant of a monovalent metal element and is included in phosphor by approximately 0<d?1000 wt-ppm. Dopant M of a monovalent metal element is at least one type of element selected from a group consisting of K, Na, Li, Cu, Ag and Au. Thus, a display using a white light of improved luminescence and having excellent characteristics can be realized.