Patents by Inventor Dale Sparling

Dale Sparling 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).

  • Patent number: 10969849
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing power modes in microcontrollers (MCUs) using power profiles. In one embodiment of the method, a central processing unit (CPU) of the MCU executes a first instruction for calling a subroutine stored in a memory of the MCU, wherein the first instruction comprises a first parameter to be passed to the subroutine. Thereafter the CPU writes a first value to a first special function register (SFR) of the MCU in response to executing the first instruction, wherein the first value is related to the first parameter. The MCU operates in a first power mode in response to the CPU writing the first value to the first SFR. The CPU also executes a second instruction for calling the subroutine, wherein the second instruction comprises a second parameter to be passed to the subroutine. In response the CPU writes a second value to a second SFR of the MCU in response to executing the second instruction, wherein the second value is related to the second parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventor: Dale Sparling
  • Patent number: 10789192
    Abstract: A method and system for programming a microcontroller (MCU) to implement a data transfer, the MCU having a flash memory, a central processing unit (CPU) and a direct memory access controller (DMAC). In one embodiment, the method includes calling a function stored in the flash memory, wherein a first parameter is passed to the function when it is called, wherein the first parameter identifies a first data structure that is stored in flash memory, and wherein the first data structure includes first DMAC control values. The CPU reads the first DMAC control values in response to the CPU executing instructions of the function. The CPU then writes the first DMAC control values to respective control registers of the DMAC in response to the CPU executing instructions of the function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC.
    Inventor: Dale Sparling
  • Publication number: 20190361510
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing power modes in microcontrollers (MCUs) using power profiles. In one embodiment of the method, a central processing unit (CPU) of the MCU executes a first instruction for calling a subroutine stored in a memory of the MCU, wherein the first instruction comprises a first parameter to be passed to the subroutine. Thereafter the CPU writes a first value to a first special function register (SFR) of the MCU in response to executing the first instruction, wherein the first value is related to the first parameter. The MCU operates in a first power mode in response to the CPU writing the first value to the first SFR. The CPU also executes a second instruction for calling the subroutine, wherein the second instruction comprises a second parameter to be passed to the subroutine. In response the CPU writes a second value to a second SFR of the MCU in response to executing the second instruction, wherein the second value is related to the second parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventor: Dale Sparling
  • Patent number: 10372184
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing power modes in microcontrollers (MCUs) using power profiles. In one embodiment of the method, a central processing unit (CPU) of the MCU executes a first instruction for calling a subroutine stored in a memory of the MCU, wherein the first instruction comprises a first parameter to be passed to the subroutine. Thereafter the CPU writes a first value to a first special function register (SFR) of the MCU in response to executing the first instruction, wherein the first value is related to the first parameter. The MCU operates in a first power mode in response to the CPU writing the first value to the first SFR. The CPU also executes a second instruction for calling the subroutine, wherein the second instruction comprises a second parameter to be passed to the subroutine. In response the CPU writes a second value to a second SFR of the MCU in response to executing the second instruction, wherein the second value is related to the second parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC.
    Inventor: Dale Sparling
  • Publication number: 20190018810
    Abstract: A method and system for programming a microcontroller (MCU) to implement a data transfer, the MCU having a flash memory, a central processing unit (CPU) and a direct memory access controller (DMAC). In one embodiment, the method includes calling a function stored in the flash memory, wherein a first parameter is passed to the function when it is called, wherein the first parameter identifies a first data structure that is stored in flash memory, and wherein the first data structure includes first DMAC control values. The CPU reads the first DMAC control values in response to the CPU executing instructions of the function. The CPU then writes the first DMAC control values to respective control registers of the DMAC in response to the CPU executing instructions of the function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventor: Dale SPARLING
  • Publication number: 20170371661
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing power modes in microcontrollers (MCUs) using power profiles. In one embodiment of the method, a central processing unit (CPU) of the MCU executes a first instruction for calling a subroutine stored in a memory of the MCU, wherein the first instruction comprises a first parameter to be passed to the subroutine. Thereafter the CPU writes a first value to a first special function register (SFR) of the MCU in response to executing the first instruction, wherein the first value is related to the first parameter. The MCU operates in a first power mode in response to the CPU writing the first value to the first SFR. The CPU also executes a second instruction for calling the subroutine, wherein the second instruction comprises a second parameter to be passed to the subroutine. In response the CPU writes a second value to a second SFR of the MCU in response to executing the second instruction, wherein the second value is related to the second parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventor: Dale Sparling