Patents by Inventor Robert Walter Metzler, Jr.

Robert Walter Metzler, Jr. 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).

  • Clock controller with clock source fail-safe logic
    Patent number: 7296170
    Abstract: A microcontroller integrated circuit with a clock controller and a processor automatically switches the source of the clock signal that clocks the processor from a failed fast external precision oscillator to a slow internal backup oscillator, then enables a fast internal precision oscillator, and finally switches to the fast internal precision oscillator. A failure detection circuit within the clock controller detects a failure of the external precision oscillator and sends an associated interrupt signal to the processor. The clock controller decouples the external oscillator from the processor and couples the backup oscillator to the processor. The microcontroller integrated circuit then enables the fast internal precision oscillator, decouples the backup oscillator, and couples the fast internal precision oscillator to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventors: Melany Ann Richmond, Robert Walter Metzler, Jr.