Abstract: A method of performing a direct memory access has the steps of selecting a peripheral device for performing a direct memory access through a direct memory access controller; providing a partial address by the peripheral device to the direct memory access controller; and forming the source or destination address by combining the partial address with selected bits from a source register within the direct memory access controller.

Abstract: Peripheral functions of an integrated circuit device may be pooled and dynamically mapped to available external input-output connections of the integrated circuit device by using a set of configuration registers. To provide system robustness, the configuration registers may implement various levels of write protection, error correction and monitoring circuitry. One or more peripheral output functions may be mapped to one or more external output connections. Not more than one output function may be active at the same time on the same output connection. Outputs and inputs may be mapped to the same external input-output connection with or without the output being controllable for placement into an inactive state, e.g., high impedance or open collector. When the input is required to receive external data over the external input-output connection, the output may be placed into the inactive state.

Abstract: A method of performing a direct memory access has the steps of selecting a peripheral device for performing a direct memory access through a direct memory access controller; providing a partial address by the peripheral device to the direct memory access controller; and forming the source or destination address by combining the partial address with selected bits from a source register within the direct memory access controller.

Abstract: Peripheral functions of an integrated circuit device may be pooled and dynamically mapped to available external input-output connections of the integrated circuit device by using a set of configuration registers. To provide system robustness, the configuration registers may implement various levels of write protection, error correction and monitoring circuitry. One or more peripheral output functions may be mapped to one or more external output connections. Not more than one output function may be active at the same time on the same output connection. Outputs and inputs may be mapped to the same external input-output connection with or without the output being controllable for placement into an inactive state, e.g., high impedance or open collector. When the input is required to receive external data over the external input-output connection, the output may be placed into the inactive state.

Abstract: A processor processes a variable cycle interrupt disable instruction DISI X is provided. The instruction disables interrupt processing for a variable number of processor cycles corresponding to the value specified by the instruction operand X. The DISI X instruction may be strategically used by programmers to prevent interrupts from being taken during certain intervals within a program.

Abstract: A controller offers various security modes for protecting program code and data stored in memory and ensuring that the protection is effective during all normal operating conditions of the controller. The controller includes configuration settings that segment program memory into a boot segment, a secure segment and a general segment, each with a particular level of security including no enhanced protection. The boot code segment (BS) is the most secure and may be used to store a secure boot loader. The secure code segment (SS) is useful for storing proprietary algorithms from third parties, such as algorithms for separating ambient noise from speech in speech recognition applications. The general code segment (GS) has the least security. The controller is configured to prevent program flow changes that would result in program code stored in high security segments from being accessed by program code stored in lower security segments.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to functional pathway configurations at the interfaces between integrated circuits (ICs) and the circuit assemblies with which the ICs communicate. More particularly, the present invention relates generally to the functional pathway configuration at the interface between one or more semiconductor integrated circuit dice, including an IC package and the circuitry of a system wherein the integrated circuit dice is a digital signal controller. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a 18, 28, 40, 44, 64 or 80 pin functional pathway configuration for the interface between the digital signal controller and the system in which it is embedded.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to functional pathway configurations at the interfaces between integrated circuits (ICs) and the circuit assemblies with which the ICs communicate. More particularly, the present invention relates generally to the functional pathway configuration at the interface between one or more semiconductor integrated circuit dice, including an IC package and the circuitry of a system wherein the integrated circuit dice is a digital signal controller. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a 18, 28, 40, 44, 64 or 80 pin functional pathway configuration for the interface between the digital signal controller and the system in which it is embedded.

Abstract: An instruction set is provided that features ninety four instructions and various address modes to deliver a mixture of flexible micro-controller like instructions and specialized digital signal processor (DSP) instructions that execute from a single instruction stream.

Abstract: A processor configuration for processing multi-precision shift instructions is provided. The multi-precision shift instructions are executed following a previous shift instruction of the same increment, such as a logical or arithmetic left or right shift operation. The first shift instruction shifts a first memory word by the shift increment and stores this shifted value into memory. The second, and any subsequent, multi-precision shift instruction shifts the next memory word by the shift increment and concatenates the bits shifted out of the previously shifted memory word into bit positions of the memory word presently being shifted. This concatenated value is then stored back to memory and forms another part of the multi-precision shifted value.

Abstract: Bit value transfer operation instructions are provided. The bit value transfer operation instructions themselves include four instructions, each for selecting a bit value contained in a source bit position of a data memory location and writes the bit value to a destination bit position of another data memory location. Moreover, the instructions specify a source bit position of a data memory location containing a bit value to select, a destination bit position of another data memory location to write the bit value, and the data memory location of an operand from which to read or write the bit value. Processing a bit value transfer operation instruction includes fetching and decoding a bit value transfer instruction. The method further includes executing the bit value transfer instruction on a source bit position of a first data memory location to select a bit value in the source bit position of the first data memory location.

Abstract: A processor processes a variable cycle interrupt disable instruction DISI X is provided. The instruction disables interrupt processing for a variable number of processor cycles corresponding to the value specified by the instruction operand X. The DISI X instruction may be strategically used by programmers to prevent interrupts from being taken during certain intervals within a program.

Abstract: A method and A/D module for automatically triggering analog to digital sampling and conversion are provided. The A/D module selects various analog signals for input. Up to four of the selected signals are sampled due to the initiation of a sampling operation. The A/D periodically polls for a heartbeat condition. Upon the occurrence of the heartbeat condition the sampling is ended and a conversion sequence is automatically started to convert the selected signals to binary representations. When the conversion sequence is completed the binary representation is stored to memory and sampling sequence is automatically started.

Abstract: A device including a microcontroller fabricated on a semiconductor chip is used to control an LCD display of an external system intended to be controlled by the microcontroller. The microcontroller enters a sleep state in which it operates in a battery power conservation mode during periods of time when functional activity of the microcontroller is reduced. The microcontroller awakens from the sleep state for resumption of activity when such a period ends. Timing to the LCD is decoupled from the microcontroller's own internal clock when the independent internal on-chip clock, which may be an RC oscillator, is selected by the user of the device. This allows the chip to continue to drive the LCD display even though the microcontroller's internal clock has stopped during the sleep.

Abstract: A device, system and method for providing access to user memory in emulator systems. The emulator system contains an emulator system memory, a user system memory and an emulator device. The emulator device operates in a mode where program execution instructions originate in the emulation memory while read and write instructions target the user memory. Logic included in the emulator chip directs the read and write memory accesses to the user memory while instructions are fetched from the emulator memory.

Abstract: A data pointer for generating an indirect addressing mode address within a single cycle for a selected one of a plurality of multiple indirect addressing modes. The data pointer is used with a processor architecture scheme which allows for encoding of multiple addressing modes. A data pointer register is coupled to the processor architecture scheme for storing a current address of an operand to be used in a simple indirect addressing mode. An incrementer is coupled to the data pointer register for incrementing the current address of an operand to be used in a simple indirect data addressing mode by a set number thereby generating an address of an operand to be used in an indirect addressing mode with auto preincrement. An adder is coupled to the data pointer register for combining the current address of an operand to be used in a simple indirect data addressing mode with an offset number thereby generating an address of an operand to be used in an indirect addressing mode with offset.

Abstract: An improved reprogrammable memory device permits definition of a page within an array of memory cells which is variable in size, erasure of only that data contained within the defined variable page while uneffecting the remaining data in the array of memory cells and reprogramming the defined variable page.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing multiple of discrete voltage levels to drive a liquid crystal display (LCD) from an LCD module on board a microcontroller chip includes a charge pump with a switched-capacitor that develops the discrete voltages as multiples of the value of a base voltage that remains substantially without change irrespective of change in the supply voltage. A switched-capacitor charging circuit selectively charges a capacitor to produce successive additive charges individually retrievable from the capacitor. An LCD drive selectively transmits the discrete voltage levels to activate the LCD according to status of an external system under the control of the microcontroller. Voltage losses that may occur during the switched-capacitor charging are compensated to maintain the levels of the discrete voltages free of decay.