Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Clock – pulse – or timing signal generation or analysis – Multiple or variable intervals or frequencies
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-30
2001-01-30
Heckler, Thomas M. (Department: 2787)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Clock, pulse, or timing signal generation or analysis
Multiple or variable intervals or frequencies
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182235
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuit devices and more particularly to microcontrollers that incorporate pulse width modulation circuitry.
2. Description of Related Art
The 8051 style microcontroller core is a microcontroller core that is commonly used in “embedded control” applications. The term “8051 microcontroller” hereinafter includes any microcontroller that executes, at least, a substantial portion of the well-known 8051 microcontroller instruction set. Embedded microcontrollers are frequently found in appliances (microwave ovens, toaster ovens, mixers, bread making machines), computers and computer related equipment (printers, modems, I/O cards, disk drives, scanners), automotive related devices (engine control, suspension control, diagnostics, traction control, anti-lock brakes), and manufacturing machinery (numeric control, stepper motor control, hydraulic presses, machine control, robotic control). Often more than one microcontroller can be found in a given machine, unit or device.
An 8-bit microcontroller is designed into many products and devices because of its small size, low power consumption and versatility. As the market for 8-bit microcontrollers continues to grow, manufacturers of microcontrollers scramble to make more efficient and useful microcontrollers which meet the needs of the industry.
Some microcontrollers include pulse width modulation circuitry in the integrated circuit. To date there have been drawbacks to the pulse width modulators incorporated into microcontroller circuitry. Such drawbacks include the inability of the user to change important aspects of the pulse width modulator such as the bit-width or resolution. Furthermore, prior pulse width modulators found in microcontrollers cannot be concatenated or divided to establish one large pulse width modulator or a plurality of smaller bit-width pulse width modulators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a single integrated circuit which combines a microcontroller with a user configurable pulse width modular.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a microcontroller and a user configurable pulse width modulator on the same integrated circuit wherein the bit width of the pulse width modulator can be configured by a user.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a user configurable pulse width modulator that can be divided into a plurality of pulse width modulators.
These and other objects are provided by the below described invention by providing a microcontroller that includes a user configurable pulse width modulator circuit that can be configured to provide, for example, one 16-bit, two 8-bit, or four 4-bit pulse width modulators.
A more complete appreciation of the present invention and the scope thereof can be obtained from the accompanying drawings which are briefly summarized below, the following detailed description of the presently-preferred embodiments of the invention, and the appended claims.
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Ma Edward Tang Kwai
Taylor, III Frank Victor
Wong Sai Bun Samuel
Dallas Semiconductor Corporation
Heckler Thomas M.
Jenkens & Gilchrist
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