Abstract: A secure storage system includes a storage device having a communication device and a memory. The communication device is for polling a communication medium. A security token is received from the communication medium via the communication device of the storage device. The security token received from the communication medium is compared to a second security token stored on the storage device. In one embodiment, a current location of the storage device is determined. The current location of the storage device is compared to an approved security zone. Access to the memory is provided if the security token received from the communication medium matches the second security token stored on the storage device and the current location of the storage device lies within the approved security zone. A time-out counter is set to a non-zero value after access to the memory is provided.

Abstract: An Integrated Circuit (IC) package is disclosed comprising an IC chip with a microcontroller therein having an n-bit data bus, and up to n pins electrically coupled to the microcontroller. The IC package also includes a control register coupled to the microcontroller for receiving enable and disable signals from the microcontroller. One or more of the pins have one or more functional block associated thereto. Each functional block defines a specified function for its corresponding pin. Thus, each pin having a plurality of corresponding functional blocks has a number of potential functions equal to the number of corresponding functional blocks. The specific function for a given pin is selected by the enable signal from the control register which selects the appropriate functional block upon appropriate command from the microcontroller. BY using pins with multiple functions, the instant invention permits an n-bit architecture microcontroller to use less than or equal to n pins.

Abstract: A microcontroller circuit having firmware selectable oscillator trimming includes, in combination, a microcontroller, an oscillator located within the microcontroller for providing a system clock signal for the microcontroller, and a memory portion for providing trimming data to the oscillator for trimming frequency of the system clock. The microcontroller circuit includes microcontroller logic which has the trimming data stored therein for transfer to the memory portion. Additionally, the microcontroller logic permits the user to alter the trimming data after it has been transferred to the memory portion, thereby permitting the user to alter the amount of modification of the system clock frequency from the amount associated with the trimming data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microcontroller that may be configured to operate without the accompaniment of any external components. The microcontroller can function in a proper manner from the application of only power and signal lines with no external components required. The microcontroller has integrated internal reset and oscillator circuitry into the microcontroller. The microcontroller has also integrated simple external components such as current limiting resistors and pull u and pull down resistor into the microcontroller in order to avoid application specific external components.