Patents Represented by Attorney William W. Holloway
  • Patent number: 7428666
    Abstract: When an INTERRUPT SERVICE ROUTINE (SECONDARY) CODE FLUSH signal is generated in a target processor during a test procedure, a sync marker is generated in a program counter trace stream. The sync marker includes a plurality of packets, the packets identifying that the sync marker is has been generated as a result of the INTERRUPT SERVICE ROUTINE CODE FLUSH signal. The interrupt service routine code flush sync marker identifies the absolute program counter address at the time of the generation of the INTERRUPT SERVICE ROUTINE CODE FLUSH signal and relates the INTERRUPT SERVICE ROUTINE CODE FLUSH signal sync marker to a timing trace stream. The INTERRUPT SERVICE ROUTINE CODE FLUSH signal is generated at the transition between the interrupt service routine (secondary) code instructions being removed from the pipeline flattener and the program (primary) code instructions being removed from the pipeline flattener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary L. Swoboda, Bryan Thome, Manisha Agarwala
  • Patent number: 7404106
    Abstract: In a target processor having a non-protected pipeline, the execution code is typically provided with interruptible code portions and with non-interruptible code portions. The non-interruptible code portions prevent implementation of a real time interrupt that would corrupt the code so that execution could not be resumed. A storage unit is provided that stores a signal permitting a code execution halt even during a non-interruptible code portion. In this manner, a program developer can determine the status of the processor at any point in the code execution. When the execution halt is initiated during a non-interruptible code segment, a bit is set in a bit position of a memory-mapped register. This bit position can be transferred from the target processor to the host processing unit during a transfer of status data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary L. Swoboda
  • Patent number: 7362152
    Abstract: In a digital pulse width modulation generator unit, a phase register is coupled to the clocked counter providing the generator unit time base. In response to a control signal, the contents of the phase register over-write the present counter, thereby changing the phase of pulse width modulated generator output signal. When a plurality of pulse width modulated generator units, the phases of the units can be controlled relative to a reference generator. The contents of the phase register can be altered by hardware or by software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: David A. Figoli
  • Patent number: 7325169
    Abstract: When a plurality of simultaneous, preselected target processor events are detected, a multiple-event sync marker is generated that identifies the preselected events and relates the occurrence of these events to timing trace stream. The sync marker for the plurality of preselected events differs from a single event sync marker by including at least one additional packet. The additional packet includes logic signals stored at locations related to each identified event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary L. Swoboda, Bryan Thome
  • Patent number: 7310749
    Abstract: When a DEBUG HALT signal is generated in a target processor during a test procedure, a debug halt sync marker is generated in a program counter trace stream. The debug halt sync marker includes a plurality of packets, the packets identifying that the sync marker is the result of a DEBUG HALT signal. The packets also identify the program counter address at the time of the generation of the DEBUG HALT signal and relate the debug halt sync marker to a timing trace stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary L. Swoboda, Bryan Thome, Lewis Nardini, Manisha Agarwala
  • Patent number: 7299386
    Abstract: A comparator unit includes first and second comparator components. The first and second comparator components exchange signals and generate signals when certain characteristics are met. The comparator unit finds application a target processor for generating event signals can be used in test and diagnostic environments to identify address signal groups having selected characteristics. Each comparator can determine a relationship of an address signal group to a selected address. When the two comparators are coupled together, the comparator unit can determine the relationship of an address signal group to a region defined by two addresses. In addition, the comparator unit can identify a relationship between two address signal groups, each address signal group being applied to a different one of the first and second comparators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary L. Swoboda, Jason L. Peck
  • Patent number: 7237151
    Abstract: When a RESET signal is generated in a target processor during a test procedure, a reset sync marker is generated in a program counter trace stream. The reset sync marker includes a plurality of packets, the packets identifying that the reset sync marker is the result of a RESET signal. The packets identify the program counter address at the time of the generation of the RESET signal and relate the reset sync marker to a timing trace stream. When the RESET signal is removed, a second (reset-off) sync marker is generated identifying the removal of the RESET signal, identifying the program counter address, and relating the second sync marker to the timing trance stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary L. Swoboda, Bryan Thome, Manisha Agarwala
  • Patent number: 7225365
    Abstract: When a NEW SECONDARY CODE EXECUTION START POINT signal is generated in a target processor during a test procedure after the return from an interrupt service routine (i.e., an original secondary code sequence), a sync marker is generated in a program counter trace stream. The sync marker includes a plurality of packets, the packets identifying that the sync marker is has been generated as a result of the NEW SECONDARY CODE EXECUTION START POINT signal. The new secondary program code start point sync marker identifies the absolute program counter address at the time of the generation of the NEW SECONDARY CODE EXECUTION START POINT signal and relates the NEW SECONDARY CODE EXECUTION START POINT signal sync marker to a timing trace stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary L. Swoboda, Bryan Thome, Manisha Agarwala
  • Patent number: 7210072
    Abstract: When a PROGRAM CODE FLUSH signal is generated in a target processor during a test procedure, a sync marker is generated in a program counter trace stream. The sync marker includes a plurality of packets, the packets identifying that the sync marker is has been generated as a result of the PROGRAM CODE FLUSH signal. The program code flush sync marker identifies the absolute program counter address at the time of the generation of the PROGRAM CODE FLUSH signal and relates the PROGRAM CODE FLUSH signal sync marker to a timing trace stream. The PROGRAM CODE FLUSH signal is generated at the transition between the program (primary) code instructions being removed from the pipeline flattener and the interrupt service routine (secondary) code instructions being removed from the pipeline flattener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary L. Swoboda, Bryan Thome, Manisha Agarwala
  • Patent number: 7103883
    Abstract: An interactive translation system (10) includes a front end (40), a back end (42), and a user interface (16). The front end (40) is operable to identify source elements (86) in a source file (24). The back end (42) is operable to generate a translation file having translation elements corresponding to translation of said identified source elements (86) and having an interface (16) for receiving inputs for modifying said translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Alan L. Davis, Jonathan F. Humphreys, Todd M. Snider
  • Patent number: 7089437
    Abstract: In order to measure the power consumed by a bus in a digital signal processor, each bus conductor has a lead electrically coupled thereto. The lead is coupled to apparatus that provides a signal each time the logic state of the bus is changed. The total number of logic signal changes for a given period of time is determined. Because power is consumed by the bus only during logic state transitions, the total number of logic state transitions can be multiplied by the power consumed by the bus during each transition to provide the total power consumed during a predetermined period of time. The power consumed by the bus during each logic state transition can be determined by simulation or other techniques. The power consumed by the operation of the bus can be further divided into power consumed by the internal (on-chip) bus and the external (off-chip) bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary L. Swoboda
  • Patent number: 7089447
    Abstract: In a data processing system in which the complete set of op-code signal groups are stored in a ROM unit, a programmable, non-volatile memory unit stores the address signal groups of the set of op-code signal groups currently controlling the operation of the data processing system. In addition, the programmable, non-volatile memory unit has error checking and correction signal groups associated with each op-code signal groups. To retrieve an op-code signal group from the ROM unit, the central processing unit applies a pointer/address signal group to the programmable, non-volatile memory. The op-code address and the error checking and correction signal group at the location specified by the pointer/address signal group is retrieved from the programmable, non-volatile memory unit, subjected to error checking and correction procedures and the resulting address signal groups is applied to the ROM unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Harland Glenn Hopkins
  • Patent number: 7055136
    Abstract: The invention relates to a software system and method for dynamically varying context sensitive menus of a software system. In this method, a menu item is added to a context sensitive menu of a graphical user interface (GUI) at the request of a subsystem module. Then, an activation event for the context sensitive menu is received from the GUI. The added menu item is displayed as either active or inactive based on a response to a query from the software system to a second subsystem module. The action associated with the menu item specified by the first subsystem module is executed when the menu item is selected only if it is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jonathan Dzoba, Paul Gingrich, Edmund Sim
  • Patent number: 7054958
    Abstract: In a data processing system including a plurality of digital signal processor subsystems, selected peripheral components are shared by the digital signal processor subsystems. In particular, the high level data link controller is shared by the subsystems. Using a first interrupt signal after each transfer of signal groups from the peripheral direct memory access unit, the data can be efficiently transferred from a channel memory of the peripheral direct memory access unit to the high level data link controller. A second interrupt from the high level data link controller when a last word of a packet is transferred thereto causes a new channel memory to be accessed. An abort signal is generated when a signal group for a packet being processed by the high level data link controller is not available in a timely manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ramesh A. Iyer, Henry D. Nguyen, Patrick J. Smith, Jay B. Reimer
  • Patent number: 7020600
    Abstract: In order to reduce the traffic over the communication bus between the host processing unit and an emulator server unit during the test of a target processing unit, the commands are divided into groups of test commands. A group of commands is transferred to the emulator server unit and stored in a memory unit of the emulator server unit. The emulator server unit then applies each command of the group of commands to a target processing unit. The resultant data generated as a result of the application of each command is stored in the emulator server unit. When all the commands of the group of commands have been executed by the target processing unit and the resultant data stored in the emulator server unit, the resultant data is transferred to the host processing unit in a single communication bus access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas E. Deao, Gary L. Swoboda
  • Patent number: 6865504
    Abstract: A reconfigurable cable/pod unit replaces the cable/pod unit coupling an emulation unit and a target processor. The reconfigurable cable/pod unit includes the discrete logic elements, a programmable unit and interface logic. The programmable unit and the interface unit permit the pod unit to assign conductors to the coupled cable. The interface unit includes storage and other logic elements that compensate for the differences in clock speeds and in rates of data exchange between the emulation unit and the target processor. No changes are necessary in the emulation unit to use the reconfigurable cable/pod unit. The reconfigurable cable pod unit permits, by changing the programming in the programmable unit, to operate in selectable modes, to provide a selectable interface to the target processor, to implement changes and upgrades in the testing procedures, and to test different types of target processors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Lee A. Larson, Gary L. Swoboda, Roland R. Hoar, Douglas E. Deao
  • Patent number: 6829759
    Abstract: A method for generating a translation display includes receiving a source file (414) including a plurality of source elements (422) and a translation file (418) including a plurality of translation elements (426) corresponding to the source elements (422). The source and translation files (414 and 418) are partitioned into a plurality of partitions (458). Each partition (458) has a group of source elements (422) and a group of all translation elements (426) corresponding to the group of source elements (422). The corresponding source and translation groups are aligned for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Alan L. Davis, Jonathan F. Humphreys, Todd M. Snider, Raj Kanagasabai
  • Patent number: 6823402
    Abstract: In a data processing system including a plurality of digital signal processor subsystems, selected peripheral components are shared by the digital signal processor subsystems. In particular, the high level data link controller is shared by the subsystems. When a packet is received by a shared high level data link controller, the data signal groups are processed and placed in a temporary storage unit. The address signal group of the received packet is applied to channel block unit where the digital signal processor subsystem, to which the packet is directed, is identified and an INTERRUPT signal corresponding to the identified digital signal processor subsystem is generated. The INTERRUPT signal is applied to a switch. The switch, which receives the signal groups from the temporary storage unit, directs the signal groups to a buffer memory in the channel associated with the identified signal processing subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick J. Smith, Jay B. Reimer, Ramesh A. Iyer, Henry D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6820222
    Abstract: In order to measure the power consumed by a central processing unit during execution of a software program, the trace components are used to determine the input signals and the output signals and interrupt conditions for each clock cycle. The input signals and the output signals can be applied to a simulation model of the central processing system to determine the state of the central processing unit for each clock cycle. The simulation model is also used to determine the power dissipated for each state. Combining the knowledge of the progression of states of the central processing unit with the power consumed by the central processing unit for each state, the consumption of power by the central processing unit can be determined as a function of execution of the program. By comparing the power consumed with the portion of the program being executed, the program can be adjusted to reduce the power required during the execution of the program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary L. Swoboda
  • Patent number: 6795879
    Abstract: In order to analyze the conditions leading to a stall or a wait state in a digital signal processing unit, READY signals, that are typically applied to the execution unit of a central processing unit, are applied to external conductors. The external conductors are applied to input terminals of a logic “AND” gate. The output terminals of the logic “AND” gate provided a logic “1” in a no-stall condition and a logic “0” in a stall condition. The output signals of the logic “AND” gate are stored in a memory unit and can be retrieved to determine when a stall condition occurred. The external conductors also apply the READY signal to a stall analyzer unit. The stall analyzer unit identifies the specific condition causing the stall condition by which external conductor has the logic “0” signal applied thereto. An indicia of this stall condition is stored in the memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary L. Swoboda