Patents by Inventor Zacharias Marthinus Smit

Zacharias Marthinus Smit has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140019991
    Abstract: A microcontroller device has a central processing unit (CPU); a data memory coupled with the CPU divided into a plurality of memory banks, a plurality of special function registers and general purpose registers which may be memory-mapped, wherein at least the following special function registers are memory-mapped to all memory banks a status register, a bank select register, a plurality of indirect memory address registers, a working register, and a program counter high latch; and wherein upon occurrence of a context switch, the CPU is operable to automatically save the content of the status register, the bank select register, the plurality of indirect memory address registers, the working register, and the program counter high latch, and upon return from the context switch restores the content of the status register, the bank select register, the plurality of indirect memory address registers, the working register, and the program counter high latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Joseph Julicher, Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Sean Steedman, Vivien Delport, Jerrold S. Zdenek, Ryan Scott Ellison, Eric Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8539210
    Abstract: A microcontroller device has a central processing unit (CPU); a data memory coupled with the CPU divided into a plurality of memory banks, a plurality of special function registers and general purpose registers which may be memory-mapped, wherein at least the following special function registers are memory-mapped to all memory banks: a status register, a bank select register, a plurality of indirect memory address registers, a working register, and a program counter high latch; and wherein upon occurrence of a context switch, the CPU is operable to automatically save the content of the status register, the bank select register, the plurality of indirect memory address registers, the working register, and the program counter high latch, and upon return from the context switch restores the content of the status register, the bank select register, the plurality of indirect memory address registers, the working register, and the program counter high latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Julicher, Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Sean Steedman, Vivien Delport, Jerrold S. Zdenek, Ryan Scott Ellison, Eric Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8065546
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Patent number: 8065544
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Patent number: 8065545
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Patent number: 8041973
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Patent number: 7996651
    Abstract: An n-bit microprocessor device has an n-bit central processing unit (CPU); a plurality of special function registers and general purpose registers which are memory-mapped to a plurality of banks, with at least two 16-bit indirect memory address registers which are accessible by the CPU across all banks; a bank access unit for coupling the CPU with one of the plurality of banks; a data memory coupled with the CPU; and a program memory coupled with the CPU, wherein the indirect address registers are operable to access the data memory or program memory and wherein a bit in each of the indirect memory address registers indicates an access to the data memory or to the program memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Julicher, Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Sean Steedman, Vivien Delport, Jerrold S. Zdenek, Ryan Scott Ellison, Eric Schroeder
  • Patent number: 7800250
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device provides a choice of external pins (connections) that may be user selectable for coupling an external filter/stabilization capacitor to an internal voltage regulator. However, connecting the output of a internal voltage regulator to an uncharged external filter/stabilization capacitor (or to a capacitor charged to a different voltage level than the internal regulation voltage) through a low impedance path can cause the regulator output voltage to sag/spike if the internal voltage regulator tries to charge/discharge the capacitor up/down to equilibrium with the regulator output voltage. To minimize this potential sag/spike, the voltage on the external filter/stabilization capacitor may be adjusted in a controlled manner to substantially the same voltage as the voltage on the output of the internal voltage regulator, and then the internal voltage regulator is operationally coupled through a low impedance to the external regulator filter/stabilization capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Hull, Vivien Delport, Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Sean Steedman, Jerrold S. Zdenek, Michael Charles, Ruan Lourens
  • Publication number: 20090144511
    Abstract: An n-bit microprocessor device has an n-bit central processing unit (CPU); a plurality of special function registers and general purpose registers which are memory-mapped to a plurality of banks, with at least two 16-bit indirect memory address registers which are accessible by the CPU across all banks; a bank access unit for coupling the CPU with one of the plurality of banks; a data memory coupled with the CPU; and a program memory coupled with the CPU, wherein the indirect address registers are operable to access the data memory or program memory and wherein a bit in each of the indirect memory address registers indicates an access to the data memory or to the program memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph Julicher, Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Sean Steedman, Vivien Delport, Jerrold S. Zdenek, Ryan Scott Ellison, Eric Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20090144481
    Abstract: A microcontroller device has a central processing unit (CPU); a data memory coupled with the CPU divided into a plurality of memory banks, a plurality of special function registers and general purpose registers which may be memory-mapped, wherein at least the following special function registers are memory-mapped to all memory banks: a status register, a bank select register, a plurality of indirect memory address registers, a working register, and a program counter high latch; and wherein upon occurrence of a context switch, the CPU is operable to automatically save the content of the status register, the bank select register, the plurality of indirect memory address registers, the working register, and the program counter high latch, and upon return from the context switch restores the content of the status register, the bank select register, the plurality of indirect memory address registers, the working register, and the program counter high latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph Julicher, Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Sean Steedman, Vivien Delport, Jerrold S. Zdenek, Ryan Scott Ellison, Eric Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20080272836
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Publication number: 20080272835
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Publication number: 20080272827
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Publication number: 20080272826
    Abstract: Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Zacharias Marthinus Smit, Keith Curtis, James (Jim) Simons, Jerrold S. Zdenek, John Charais
  • Publication number: 20080272657
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device provides a choice of external pins (connections) that may be user selectable for coupling an external filter/stabilization capacitor to an internal voltage regulator. However, connecting the output of a internal voltage regulator to an uncharged external filter/stabilization capacitor (or to a capacitor charged to a different voltage level than the internal regulation voltage) through a low impedance path can cause the regulator output voltage to sag/spike if the internal voltage regulator tries to charge/discharge the capacitor up/down to equilibrium with the regulator output voltage. To minimize this potential sag/spike, the voltage on the external filter/stabilization capacitor may be adjusted in a controlled manner to substantially the same voltage as the voltage on the output of the internal voltage regulator, and then the internal voltage regulator is operationally coupled through a low impedance to the external regulator filter/stabilization capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Richard HULL, Vivien DELPORT, Zacharias Marthinus SMIT, Sean STEEDMAN, Jerrold S. ZDENEK, Michael CHARLES, Ruan LOURENS