Abstract: An electronic system (6) has a power management logic circuit (920). A first power supply connector (1902) is electrically coupled to the power management logic circuit (920) and a second power supply connector (1904) is also electrically coupled to the power management logic circuit (920). The power management logic circuit (920) has a first logic section (920A) connected to the first power supply connector (1902), and the first logic section (920A) has a suspend output (SUSPEND#). A second logic section (920B) is connected to the second power supply connector (1904) for operation independent of the first logic section (920A) when power is available at the second power supply connector (1904, . . . RTCPWR) and suspended at the first power supply connector (1902, VCC).Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic system, such as a computer system, having a first level write through cache and a smaller second-level write-back cache, is disclosed. The disclosed computer system includes a single integrated circuit microprocessor unit that includes a microprocessor core, a memory controller circuit, and first and second level caches. The microprocessor unit is connected to external dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The first level cache is a write-through cache, while the second level cache is a write-back cache that is much smaller than the first level cache. In operation, a write access cache miss to the first level cache that is a cache hit in the second level cache effects a write to the second level cache, rather than to DRAM, thus saving a wait state. A dirty bit is set for each modified entry in the second level cache. Upon the second level cache being full of modified data, a cache flush to DRAM is automatically performed.

Abstract: An electronic system (100) includes a register (TONTOFF) for data and a clock circuit (2340, 708) coupled to the register and responsive to the data in the register to generate a series of clock pulses (CPU.sub.-- CLK). The series of clock pulses occupies time intervals (2550) interspersed with time intervals free of clock pulses (2552), as an output having a ratio of the time intervals responsive to the data. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microprocessor device (102) includes a central processing unit (702) having a clock input, a clock generator (OSC, PLL) of clock pulses, a logic circuit (708) having an output to supply a clock control signal (SUSP), and a clock gate (3610) fed by the clock pulses and having a clock gate output (CPU.sub.-- CLK) coupled to the clock input of the central processing unit. The clock gate (3610) responds to the clock control signal (SUSP) to prevent said clock pulses (CPU.sub.-- CLK) from reaching the central processing unit within one clock cycle of a change in said clock control signal. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system (100) for computer power management for a computer (102) having a clock (706), includes a plurality of sampling circuits (2360, 2350, 4630, 4720, 4810, 3400, 5300, 5400) responsive to different system activity levels and producing system activity signals representative of the system activity levels. More circuitry (120, 106, 4640) is responsive to the system activity signals and supplies weighted activity output signals adjustably weighting the system activity levels. Filter circuitry (702, 4680) continually responds to the weighted activity output signals to produce a series of duty cycle-related control signals (TONTOFF) representative of directions to pulse-width modulate (MASKCLK) the clock of the computer with such duty cycle. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and circuitry for testing a memory in a computer system, to determine the sizes of individual memory banks, is disclosed. The disclosed circuitry is provided within a memory controller unit of a microprocessor unit, and includes circuitry for enabling the selection of an individual memory bank of a memory, such as dynamic random access memory, which is arranged as multiple banks of arbitrary size. In operation, a memory bank is selected, and a first data word is written to the bottom memory address of the bank (which, for banks other than the first bank, is the top memory address of the previous bank). A second data word is written to a second memory location that is spaced apart from the bottom address by a trial value of the bank size.

Abstract: An electronic device for use in a computer system, and having a small second-level write-back cache, is disclosed. The device may be implemented into a single integrated circuit, as a microprocessor unit, to include a microprocessor core, a memory controller circuit, and first and second level caches. In a system implementation, the device is connected to external dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The first level cache is a write-through cache, while the second level cache is a write-back cache that is much smaller than the first level cache. In operation, a write access that is a cache hit in the second level cache writes to the second level cache, rather than to DRAM, thus saving a wait state. A dirty bit is set for each modified entry in the second level cache. Upon the second level cache being full of modified data, a cache flush to DRAM is automatically performed. In addition, each entry of the second level cache is flushed to DRAM upon each of its byte locations being modified.

Abstract: A method and circuitry for generating column addresses for a memory based upon signals on an address bus in a computer system, are disclosed. The disclosed circuitry is provided within a memory controller unit of a microprocessor unit, and includes circuitry for receiving address lines from the address bus, and for receiving control register bits indicating a particular memory array type. The memory array type indicates the number of the address bits which are to be forwarded to the memory as the column address, rather than as the row address. The memory is of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) type, for which row and column addresses are time-multiplexed over the same lines. The microprocessor unit may be integrated onto a single integrated circuit chip with the memory controller, and may include a first level write-through cache in combination with a significantly smaller second level write-back cache.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (110) includes, on a single chip, distinct supply voltage terminals and internal on-chip supply conductors connected respectively thereto, including a ground terminal (GND) and terminals for first and second supply voltages (VCC3, VCC5), and a terminal for a selectable supply voltage (VCCDK) and also has a power-good terminal (PWRGOOD5). A plurality of peripheral control circuits (910, 938, 932) are connected by an on-chip internal bus (904). The peripheral control circuits (910, 938, 932) connect to different ones of the internal on-chip supply conductors for operation on the first and second supply voltages (VCC3, VCC5), and the selectable supply voltage (VCCDK). Reset circuitry (2390) is provided for at least one of the peripheral control circuits. A control latch (PMU.sub.-- CNTRL) has a bit (VCCDRV5V) to which the reset circuitry (2390) is responsive.

Abstract: An electronic system (100) includes a register (TONTOFF) for data and a clock circuit (2340, 708) coupled to the register and responsive to the data in the register to generate a series of clock pulses (CPU.sub.-- CLK). The series of clock pulses occupies time intervals (2550) interspersed with time intervals free of clock pulses (2552), as an output having a ratio of the time intervals responsive to the data. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microcomputer integrated circuit (102) has a central processing unit (CPU) (702) first power management circuit (708) responsive to a system management interrupt (SMI) input for controlling operations of the CPU (702). A card interface integrated circuit (112) is adapted for coupling a card (24) to the microcomputer integrated circuit (102) and has a second power management circuit logic (1620, 1630) that responds to a plurality of interrupt event inputs (in CSC REGs A, B) and concentrates these inputs to a single card system management interrupt output (CRDSMI#). A peripheral processor integrated circuit (110) has a third power management circuit (920) including a plurality of system management interrupt (SMI) sources, and a SMI unit (2370). The SMI unit (2370) has an output (SMI#) connected to the SMI input of the microprocessor integrated circuit. The SMI unit (2370) responds to the card SMI output of the card interface integrated circuit (112) as well as the plurality of SMI sources.

Abstract: An electronic system including circuitry for generating column addresses for a memory in the system, based upon signals on an address bus in the system, is disclosed. The disclosed system includes a microprocessor unit having a memory controller unit, within which circuitry for receiving address lines from the address bus, and for receiving control register bits indicating a particular memory array type, is provided. The memory array type indicates the number of the address bits which are to be forwarded to the memory as the column address, rather than as the row address. The memory is of a dynamic random access (DRAM) type, for which row and column addresses are time-multiplexed over the same lines. The microprocessor unit may be integrated onto a single integrated circuit chip with the memory controller, and may include a first level write-through cache in combination with a significantly smaller second level write-back cache.

Abstract: An electronic system (6) has a power management logic circuit (920). A first power supply connector (1902) is electrically coupled to the power management logic circuit (920) and a second power supply connector (1904) is also electrically coupled to the power management logic circuit (920). The power management logic circuit (920) has a first logic section (920A) connected to the first power supply connector (1902), and the first logic section (920A) has a suspend output (SUSPEND#). A second logic section (920B) is connected to the second power supply connector (1904) for operation independent of the first logic section (920A) when power is available at the second power supply connector (1904, RTCPWR) and suspended at the first power supply connector (1902, VCC).

Abstract: An electronic device (PPU 110) includes a data source (7201) supplying data and successive control signals indicative of valid-data, wherein transitions occur in the data during intervals between the signals indicative of valid-data, and a selector (7205) having a first input connected to the data source (7201), and a second input (7214), and an output. A circuit (7207) is connected to the output of the selector (7205) to receive data from the data source (7201) via the selector (7205). A source of a quieting signal (7220) is connected to the second input (7214), and the selector (7205) is responsive to the control signals (7206) to select the quieting signal (7220) during at least a portion of the interval between the signals indicative of valid data, and to select the data source in response to at least some of the successive control signals indicative of valid-data. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic device and a method of operating the same to control access to configuration registers used by a memory controller, are disclosed. The disclosed device includes a single integrated circuit microprocessor unit that includes a microprocessor core, a memory controller circuit, a bus bridge circuit, and configuration registers. The microprocessor unit is connected to external dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The memory controller circuit is operable to perform an operation utilizing current information in one or more of the configuration registers. The bus bridge circuit includes a request logic circuit for supplying a request output signaling an impending access to one or more of the configuration registers. The memory controller circuit includes a reply logic circuit for supplying a reply output back to the request logic circuit after the operation utilizing current configuration register information is completed.

Abstract: A microprocessor device (102) includes a central processing unit (702) having a clock input, a clock generator (OSC, PLL) of clock pulses, a logic circuit (708) having an output to supply a clock control signal (SUSP), and a clock gate (3610) fed by the clock pulses and having a clock gate output (CPU.sub.-- CLK) coupled to the clock input of the central processing unit. The clock gate (3610) responds to the clock control signal (SUSP) to prevent said clock pulses (CPU.sub.-- CLK) from reaching the central processing unit within one clock cycle of a change in said clock control signal. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic device (PPU 110) includes a data source (7201) supplying data and successive control signals indicative of valid-data, wherein transitions occur in the data during intervals between the signals indicative of valid-data, and a selector (7205) having a first input connected to the data source (7201), and a second input (7214), and an output. A circuit (7207) is connected to the output of the selector (7205) to receive data from the data source (7201) via the selector (7205). A source of a quieting signal (7220) is connected to the second input (7214), and the selector (7205) is responsive to the control signals (7206) to select the quieting signal (7220) during at least a portion of the interval between the signals indicative of valid data, and to select the data source in response to at least some of the successive control signals indicative of valid-data. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Generally, and in one form of the invention, a method is presented for the photo-stimulated removal of reacted metal contamination 16 from a surface 11, comprising the steps of: covering the surface with a liquid ambient 14; exciting the reacted metal contamination 16 and/or the liquid ambient 14 by photo-stimulation sufficiently to allow reaction of the reacted metal contaminantion 16 with the liquid ambient 14 to form metal products; and removing the liquid ambient 14 and the metal products from the surface 11. Other methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Generally, and in one form of the invention, a method is presented for the photo-stimulated removal of trace metals 16 from a surface 11, comprising the steps of covering the surface 11 with an ambient species 14, exciting the trace metals 16 and/or the ambient species 14 by photo-stimulation sufficiently to allow reaction of the trace metals with the ambient species to form metal products, and removing the ambient species 14 and the metal products from the surface 11.Other methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic system (100) includes a first integrated circuit (IC) (112) having a card system management interrupt (SMI) output pin (CRDSMI#) and interrupt pins (IRQ3-5), and a logic circuit (1620, 1630) having an output connected to the card SMI pin. This logic circuit further has inputs connected to a first and second set of registers and logic for first and second cards (CARD A,B) respectively. Each of the first and second sets of registers and logic include a first register (CSC REG) having bits set by at least a card event (CDCHG) and a battery condition event (BWARN) respectively. A logic gate (2672) responds to combine the bits from the first register. A second register (INT AND GEN CTRL REG) has a bit (SMIEN) for steering the output of the logic gate (2672) for ordinary interrupt or for system management interrupt purposes depending on the state of the bit (SMIEN).