Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for detecting anomalies in a clock signal. Example methods include sensing a clock signal that exhibits alternating phases during normal operation; responsive to sensing the start of a first phase, generating a pulse; and if the pulse terminates before sensing the end of the first phase, asserting a clock stopped detection signal. Example clock anomaly detection apparatus includes a clock signal input for coupling to a clock signal that, during normal operation, oscillates between first and second clock states. An anomaly detection output is asserted if the clock signal remains in the first clock state longer than a first phase expected duration or remains in the second clock state longer than a second phase expected duration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an architecture that uses hierarchical statistically multiplexed counters to extend counter life by orders of magnitude. Each level includes statistically multiplexed counters. The statistically multiplexed counters includes P base counters and S subcounters, wherein the S subcounters are dynamically concatenated with the P base counters. When a row overflow in a level occurs, counters in a next level above are used to extend counter life. The hierarchical statistically multiplexed counters can be used with an overflow FIFO to further extend counter life.

Abstract: A two pin communication interface bus and control circuits are used with circuit boards, integrated circuits, or embedded cores within integrated circuits. One pin carries data bi-directionally and address and instruction information from a controller to a selected port. The other pin carries a clock signal from the controller to a target port or ports in or on the desired circuit or circuits. The bus may be used for serial access to circuits where the availability of pins on ICs or terminals on cores is minimal. The bus is used for communication, such as serial communication related to the functional operation of an IC or core design, or serial communication related to test, emulation, debug, and/or trace operations of an IC or core design.

Abstract: An event counter circuit can be configured to monitor operation of a system where a moving average register circuit can be configured to store a moving average value updated in each cycle of operation of the system by adding a number of system events occurring during a current cycle of the system operation to either 1) a current moving average value stored in the moving average register circuit or 2) a keep value generated by partitioning the current moving average value into the keep value and a transfer value representing system events not included in a determination of the moving average value for subsequent cycles of operation of the system.

Abstract: Circuitry comprises control circuitry to control an operating state of a data handling device of a set of two or more redundant data handling devices configured to perform identical data handling functions; the control circuitry being configured to control an operating state of the respective controlled data handling device as a state transition from a current operating state of that data handling device to a target operating state in response to the issue of a respective state change signal; the control circuitry comprising a detector responsive to issue of the state change signal in respect of a first threshold number representing some but not all of the data handling devices, to detect whether the state change signal is issued in respect of a further one or more of the devices so that a second threshold number of data handling devices is reached.

Abstract: A compensating initialization module may be automatically inserted into a design to compensate for register retiming which changes the designs behavior under reset. The device configuration circuitry may provide an adjustment sequence length as well as a start signal to the initialization module to properly reset the retimed user logic implemented on the integrated circuit after initial configuration and unfreezing of the integrated circuit. The auto initialization module may control the c-cycle initialization process and indicate to the user logic when c-cycle initialization has completed. The user logic may subsequently begin a user-specified reset sequence. When the user-specified reset sequence ends, the user logic implemented on the integrated circuit may begin normal operations. Additionally, a user reset request may also trigger the auto initialization module to begin a reset process.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a voltage generation circuit, and voltage generation circuit generates a required voltage according to internal data requested in response to an operation are provided. The voltage generating circuit includes a plurality of registers A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, voltage generating blocks A-2, B-2, C-2 and a voltage switch. The registers A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1 hold data provided from control logic. The voltage generating blocks A-2, B-2, C-2 generate voltage based on voltage control data held by the registers A-1, B-1, C-1. The voltage switch selects voltages based on selection control data held by the register D-1. The connecting element includes signal lines for sequentially transmitting the voltage control data or the selection control data, signal lines for sequentially transmitting a clock signal CLK and signal lines for controlling output of data held by the registers.

Abstract: An example managed network device includes a control unit and a storage medium that stores a file that includes a variable value. The control unit provides an execution environment for a simple network management protocol (SNMP) engine operable by the control unit to establish, based on a set of authentication parameters, secure SNMP communication with a network management system, determine whether the file is corrupted, determine whether the variable value stored in the file is readable, determine whether the variable value is greater than or equal to a maximum value, and, responsive to determining that the file is corrupted, that the variable value is not readable, or that the variable value is greater than or equal to the maximum value: re-initialize the variable value, notify a network management system, and maintain the secure simple networking management protocol communication with network management system using the set of authentication parameters.

Abstract: A method of updating a counter in a flash memory includes a first phase where a set of values capable of being taken by the counter are programmed in at least one page of the flash memory. A second phase of updating the counter programs a state zero in the flash memory each time the counter is incremented/decremented.

Abstract: A counter in a non-volatile memory including at least two sub-counters, each counting with a different modulo, an increment of the counter being transferred on a single one of the sub-counters and the sub-counters being incremented sequentially.

Abstract: A counter is provided, where, as the number of events that occur increases, the frequency in which the events are counted is scaled.

Abstract: Various structures and methods are disclosed related to configurable scrambling circuitry. Embodiments can be configured to support one of a plurality of protocols. Some embodiments relate to a configurable multilane scrambler that can be adapted either to combine scrambling circuits across a plurality of lanes or to provide independent lane-based scramblers. Some embodiments are configurable to select a scrambler type. Some embodiments are configurable to adapt to one of a plurality of protocol-specific scrambling polynomials. Some embodiments relate to selecting between least significant bit (“LSB”) and most significant bit (“MSB”) ordering of data. In some embodiments, scrambler circuits in each lane are adapted to handle data that is more than one bit wide.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms dynamically configure shift registers among registers composing data registers in a circuit such as a Programmable Logic Device (PLD). A configuration bit stream used to configure the PLD may have a reduced size if “phantom bits” not corresponding to configuration elements are removed. Shift registers may be dynamically configured such that registers which do not correspond to physical configuration elements may be skipped. Thus, a PLD may be programmed with a configuration bit stream without phantom bits.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a counter having a first generator to generate signals having different frequencies, and a second generator to generate counter values of the counter. Each of the counter values may be based at least in part on a number of transitions of a respective signal among the signals. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: A prescaling counter includes a prescaling unit and a counter. The prescaling unit includes a programmable divider that is arranged to divide an event clock that includes signaled events to generate a prescaled clock in response to a prescaling value. The counter includes a register that includes a lower count register and an upper count register for generating a count result. The counter is arranged to increment the lower count register in response to the prescaled clock and to increment the upper count register in response to a terminal condition in the lower count register. The prescaling value is generated in response to the upper count register.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide an integrated circuit (“IC”). The IC includes multiple configurable circuits that configurably perform operations of a user design based on configuration data. The IC also includes a configurable trigger circuit that receives a set of configuration data that specifies an operational event. The configurable trigger circuit also determines whether the operational event has occurred during implementation of the user design of the IC. Additionally, the operational trigger event outputs a trigger signal upon determining that the operational trigger event has occurred.

Abstract: Methods and structures that implement an event counter in a RAM are provided. A method includes providing a count-RAM, a carry-RAM, and a pre-counter corresponding to an event source. A column in the count-RAM and a column in the carry-RAM represent a value of a value of the event counter. The method further includes storing a count of the event counter received via the pre-counter in the count-RAM and the carry-RAM in a transposed, bit-serial format, such that location zero of the count-RAM and the carry-RAM counts the least significant bit (LSB) of the event counter.

Abstract: A counter/timer circuit and method of generating timed output signals using the counter/timer circuit, uses multiple counters that are configurable to operate as one or more counters. The counters are controlled by control signals from a control logic circuitry of the counter/timer circuit, where at least some of the control signals are dependent on event signals generated by an event generation module of the counter/timer circuit. The generated event signals are based on at least one of: an input signal, an output signal, and a counter match, qualified by a state value associated with the counters.

Abstract: A counter in a non-volatile memory including at least two sub-counters, each counting with a different modulo, an increment of the counter being transferred on a single one of the sub-counters and the sub-counters being incremented sequentially.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a counter having a first generator to generate signals having different frequencies, and a second generator to generate counter values of the counter. Each of the counter values may be based at least in part on a number of transitions of a respective signal among the signals. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: A transient electrical energy strike detector is disclosed. The detector may be integral with the circuitry of a fire alarm panel of a fire alarm system and may identify and record transient electrical energy strikes sustained by the electrical protection circuitry of the system. Particularly, voltage fluctuations in the fire alarm panel circuitry that are outside of a predefined operating voltage range may be identified by the pulse detector as representing transient electrical energy strikes. The pulse detector may increment a counter upon the occurrence of each identified transient energy strike, and may maintain a comprehensive record of such strikes in a memory unit, including a magnitude, duration, time, and date of each strike.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving a solid state memory device that includes a status register configured to be read with a combined parallel and serial read scheme. One such solid state memory includes a status register configured to store a plurality of bits indicative of status information of the memory. One such method of providing status information in the memory device includes providing the status information of a memory device in a parallel form. The method also includes providing the status information in a serial form after providing the status information in a parallel form in response to receiving at least one read command.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide an integrated circuit (“IC”). The IC includes multiple configurable circuits that configurably perform operations of a user design based on configuration data. The IC also includes a configurable trigger circuit that receives a set of configuration data that specifies an operational event. The configurable trigger circuit also determines whether the operational event has occurred during implementation of the user design of the IC. Additionally, the operational trigger event outputs a trigger signal upon determining that the operational trigger event has occurred.

Abstract: A method of using a counter stored in flash memory includes providing a base value field, a selector field, and a plurality of increment fields. The base value field represents a base value for the counter, and the selector field indicates a first one of the increment fields. The method further includes changing a bit of the first increment field from an erased value to a written value to indicate a change in a value stored in the counter.

Abstract: A phase-change memory (PCM) includes a matrix of storage cells, including at least a first group with at least one cell. Each cell includes a phase change material having at least a first resistance value and a second resistance value, such that the first group can have an identical message encoded therein in at least a first way and a second way. The memory also includes a controller configured to encode the identical message in the at least first group the first or second way, based on which way causes the least amount of writing cost, given current levels of the group. Another embodiment of memory includes a matrix of storage cells. Each of the storage cells has at least two levels, such that each of the storage cells can have an identical message encoded therein in at least a first way and a second way.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and apparatus employing an ultralow power, pulsed data collection apparatus having multiple detector channels, such as 64 channels. The system and apparatus has a small volume and power requirements, enabling launch and deployment from commercial spacecraft, such as pursuit to the CubeSat and other nanosatellite protocols.

Abstract: A counter in a non-volatile memory including at least two sub-counters, each counting with a different modulo, an increment of the counter being transferred on a single one of the sub-counters and the sub-counters being incremented sequentially.

Abstract: Methods and structures that implement an event counter in a RAM are provided. A method includes providing a count-RAM, a carry-RAM, and a pre-counter corresponding to an event source. A column in the count-RAM and a column in the carry-RAM represent a value of a value of the event counter. The method further includes storing a count of the event counter received via the pre-counter in the count-RAM and the carry-RAM in a transposed, bit-serial format, such that location zero of the count-RAM and the carry-RAM counts the least significant bit (LSB) of the event counter.

Abstract: A circuit for counting in an N-bit string a number of bits M, having a first binary value includes N latch circuits in a daisy chain where each latch circuit has a tag bit that controls each to be either in a no-pass or pass state. Initially the tag bits are set according to the bits of the N-bit string where the first binary value corresponds to a no-pass state. A clock signal having a pulse train is run through the daisy chain to “interrogate” any no-pass latch circuits. It races right through any pass latch circuit. However, for a no-pass latch circuit, a leading pulse while being blocked also resets after a pulse period the tag bit from “no-pass” to “pass” state to allow subsequent pulses to pass. After all no-pass latch circuits have been reset, M is given by the number of missing pulses from the pulse train.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving a solid state memory device that includes a status register configured to be read with a combined parallel and serial read scheme. One such solid state memory includes a status register configured to store a plurality of bits indicative of status information of the memory. One such method of providing status information in the memory device includes providing the status information of a memory device in a parallel form. The method also includes providing the status information in a serial form after providing the status information in a parallel form in response to receiving at least one read command.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide an integrated circuit (“IC”). The IC includes multiple configurable circuits that configurably perform operations of a user design based on configuration data. The IC also includes a configurable trigger circuit that receives a set of configuration data that specifies an operational event. The configurable trigger circuit also determines whether the operational event has occurred during implementation of the user design of the IC. Additionally, the operational trigger event outputs a trigger signal upon determining that the operational trigger event has occurred.

Abstract: A method of using a counter stored in flash memory includes providing a base value field, a selector field, and a plurality of increment fields. The base value field represents a base value for the counter, and the selector field indicates a first one of the increment fields. The method further includes changing a bit of the first increment field from an erased value to a written value to indicate a change in a value stored in the counter.

Abstract: A method of using a counter stored in flash memory includes providing a base value field, a selector field, and a plurality of increment fields. The base value field represents a base value for the counter, and the selector field indicating a first increment field of the plurality of increment fields. The method further includes changing a bit of the first increment field from an erased value to a written value to indicate a change in a value stored in the counter.

Abstract: A counter is efficiently implemented in non-volatile memory by using two binary counters and selectively using one or the other as a current counter. Writes to the binary counters are minimized by using two linear counters and using the state of the binary counters to determine which binary counter contains the current count. Write operations can be performed to the “not current” binary counter with the final write operation being to the linear counters. The linear counter write operations can be in program-only mode so that a power failure will not result in a loss of counts.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring threshold values for fixed time delay counters of a System on a Chip (SoC) uses a reference clock signal and one or more frequency sub-range control signals corresponding to a frequency sub-range of the reference clock signal. A frequency sub-range of the reference clock signal is determined using the frequency sub-range control signals and the determined frequency sub-range is used to select a counter threshold value. The selected counter threshold value is provided to a counter and the counter then is updated at each cycle of the reference clock signal for a predetermined count based on the counter threshold value.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring threshold values for fixed time delay counters of a System on a Chip (SoC) uses a reference clock signal and one or more frequency sub-range control signals corresponding to a frequency sub-range of the reference clock signal. A frequency sub-range of the reference clock signal is determined using the frequency sub-range control signals and the determined frequency sub-range is used to select a counter threshold value. The selected counter threshold value is provided to a counter and the counter then is updated at each cycle of the reference clock signal for a predetermined count based on the counter threshold value.

Abstract: A method for the incrementation of counter statuses in memory cells, which are arranged respectively in rows and columns of a first memory adds a “1” to the memory content of a memory cell of a second memory, which corresponds to the memory cell at the start of a sequence of memory cells to be incremented in a row or column of the first memory in the case of every incrementation of a sequence of memory cells of the first memory, and adds a “?1” to the memory content of a memory cell of the second memory, which corresponds to the memory cell immediately following the memory cell at the end of the sequence of memory cells to be incremented associated with the start of the sequence, in the case of every incrementation of a sequence of memory cells of the first memory.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to an asynchronous down counter, which can be loaded with any value N and then decrement exactly N times. The counter comprises an array of cells, wherein each cell is configured to hold a digit in a redundant base-k representation of a number contained in the array of cells. Each cell further comprises a finite state machine that defines state transitions between states, where these states are held on wires and state transitions are synchronized between neighboring cells. Each cell is further configured to asynchronously borrow, if possible, from a more significant adjacent cell to increase a value of a digit in the cell. This asynchronous borrowing improves performance by ensuring that a decrement operation, which decrements a digit in a least significant cell in the array, will borrow from an adjacent more significant cell, without having to wait for the completion of a rippling sequence of borrows from more significant cells.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide an integrated circuit (“IC”). The IC includes multiple configurable circuits that configurably perform operations of a user design based on configuration data. The IC also includes a configurable trigger circuit that receives a set of configuration data that specifies an operational event. The configurable trigger circuit also determines whether the operational event has occurred during implementation of the user design of the IC. Additionally, the operational trigger event outputs a trigger signal upon determining that the operational trigger event has occurred.

Abstract: A method comprises loading by logic a storage location with a count value. The count value comprises a plurality of upper order bits and a plurality of lower order bits. The method further comprises detecting, by said logic, an event and, based on detecting the event, sequentially changing the count value with the lower order bits changing according to base-1 counting and the upper order bits changing according to a counting scheme in which the upper order bits encode all possible binary values of the upper order bits.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a large number of simultaneous events implements a hybrid counter array device having a first counter portion comprising counter devices, each counter device for receiving signals representing occurrences of events from an event source and providing a first count value corresponding to a lower order bits of the hybrid counter array. A second counter portion comprises a memory array device having addressable memory locations in correspondence with the counter devices, each addressable memory location for storing a second count value representing higher order bits. A control device monitors each of the counter devices and initiates updating a value of a corresponding second count value stored at the corresponding addressable memory location. The system includes interrupt pre-indication for providing fast interrupt trigger to a processor device when a count value related to an event equals a threshold value.

Abstract: An implementation-efficient, multiple-counter value hardware performance counter is disclosed. A hardware counter of one embodiment includes a memory array and a hardware incrementer. The array stores counter values that are indexable by an index constructed based at least on the number of events to which the counter values correspond. The index may be constructed as a concatenation of a number of bits binarily representing the number of events, and a number of bits binarily representing the number of qualifiers to the events. The incrementer reads the counter values from the array, increments the counter values, and writes the resulting counter values back into the array. The array may be divided into banks over which the counter values are stored, where each bank has a separate instance of the incrementer. Each bank may have a separate instance of the index that indexes only those counters stored in the bank.

Abstract: Timing circuitry may use control circuitry to control calibration circuitry to calibrate a counter so that an adder and a calibration period counter are not required. Concatenation circuitry may be used to concatenate a portion of the counter value and the calibration value to provide a calibrated value to the counter. The results from match circuitry may be used to provide status and control information to a calibration history bit and to an enable circuit. The counter may be an up counter or a down counter.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving a solid state memory device that includes a status register configured to be read with a combined parallel and serial read scheme. One such solid state memory includes a status register configured to store a plurality of bits indicative of status information of the memory. One such method of providing status information in the memory device includes providing the status information of a memory device in a parallel form. The method also includes providing the status information in a serial form after providing the status information in a parallel form in response to receiving at least one read command.

Abstract: A hybrid counter array device for counting events with interrupt indication includes a first counter portion comprising N counter devices, each for counting signals representing event occurrences and providing a first count value representing lower order bits. An overflow bit device associated with each respective counter device is additionally set in response to an overflow condition. The hybrid counter array includes a second counter portion comprising a memory array device having N addressable memory locations in correspondence with the N counter devices, each addressable memory location for storing a second count value representing higher order bits. An operatively coupled control device monitors each associated overflow bit device and initiates incrementing a second count value stored at a corresponding memory location in response to a respective overflow bit being set.

Abstract: A system that includes a controller for enabling an enumeration operation. The enumeration operation is performed by a controller (110) and logic elements (120) in a system, such that each logic element in the system assigns itself a unique identifier. Each logic element can then be controlled by another source or have a means to communicate with other logic elements in the system. The unique identifier enables greater system flexibility, thereby reducing cost and improving efficiency.

Abstract: A pulse data recorder system and method are provided. Upon the arrival or occurrence of an event or signal, the state of a digital switch is set. Upon receiving a pulse from a readout clock, the state of the switch is stored in a buffer memory, and the state of the switch is reset. As the readout clock is run, a time history of the state of the switch is obtained. The pulse data recorder can feature a plurality of unit cells, for use in imaging or other multiple pixel applications.

Abstract: A hybrid counter array device for counting events. The hybrid counter array includes a first counter portion comprising N counter devices, each counter device for receiving signals representing occurrences of events from an event source and providing a first count value corresponding to a lower order bits of the hybrid counter array. The hybrid counter array includes a second counter portion comprising a memory array device having N addressable memory locations in correspondence with the N counter devices, each addressable memory location for storing a second count value representing higher order bits of the hybrid counter array. A control device monitors each of the N counter devices of the first counter portion and initiates updating a value of a corresponding second count value stored at the corresponding addressable memory location in the second counter portion. Thus, a combination of the first and second count values provide an instantaneous measure of number of events received.

Abstract: A counting device includes a set of memory cells, which are configured to store respective bits of a count code. A controller is coupled to the memory cells so as to increment, in response to occurrences of a count input, the count code in the set of the memory cells from an initial value up to a preset bound in each of a plurality of successive iterations, and to shift the bits of the count code that are respectively stored in the memory cells in each of the iterations relative to a preceding iteration.

Abstract: To provide a memory system which determines a memory state such as an exhaustion level and allows a memory to be efficiently used. The memory system includes a NAND type flash memory 1 in which data can be electrically written/erased, a nonvolatile memory 2 which counts the number of erase operations of the NAND type flash memory 1 and retains the number of erase operations and a maximum number of erase operations, and a controller 3 which has a connection interface 31 to be given a self-diagnosis command from a computer 4, and retrieves the number of erase operations and the maximum number of erase operations from the nonvolatile memory 2 based on the self-diagnosis command and outputs the number of erase operations and the maximum number of erase operations to the computer 4 through the connection interface 31.