DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to microcontrollers or microprocessors and, particularly, to the use of a microcontroller as a replacement of Non Volatile Memory (NVM) for existing micro processor system.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally a system is designed with microprocessors or microcontroller where memory section was external to these devices and would reside in non volatile memory like UV erasable programmable memory or electrically erasable programmable memory.

With advancement of technology, a newer generation microprocessors or microcontrollers are equipped with inbuilt program memory. This leads to obsolescence of UV erasable programmable read only memory that may be E2PROM or EEPROM for managing program memory. This in turn limits the life of the product.

There are many existing prior-art patent literature comprising the use of external memory along with the microcontroller/microprocessors, few of them are cited below:

In prior-art patent document US 8275599 is directed to the communication among various devices of computer system is disclosed. It includes embedded micro-controller and a non volatile memory carried on a body. The memory contains firmware which includes boot code adapted to boot the micro-controller to operate in one of the plurality of dedicated operating mode in response to a mode switch. These dedicated operating modes include a learning mode in which a bus signal generated by other bus devices are recorded in the non volatile memory, and an emulation mode in which recorded bus signals are retransmitted over the bus in response to received signals, to emulate a bus device.

In prior-art patent document US 6505105 is directed to the calibration of Electronic control unit without interrupting the normal operations of the sub system is disclosed. It’s an electrical control unit includes a micro-controller, a first non volatile memory bank a second non volatile memory bank and a volatile memory.

In prior-art document US 6829727 is directed to monitor program that is used to communicate commands and data, an in-circuit emulation system consisting of an emulation base and a slightly modified, flash-based architecture micro-controller. The signals shared with the emulation base are routed to a standard, simple connector. The connector is configured so that the printed circuit board can be easily switched between a development system and a production system.

However, above cited and the other existing traditional micro processor / micro controller systems are designed with microprocessors or microcontroller where memory section was external to these devices and would reside in non volatile memory like UV erasable programmable memory or electrically erasable programmable memory. With advancement of technology, newer generation microprocessors or microcontrollers are equipped with inbuilt program memory. This leads to obsolescence of UV E2PROM or EEPROM for managing program memory. This in turn limits the life of product.

Thus, in view of the above mentioned drawbacks of the existing micro processor / micro controller systems, there exists a need to enhance life of the existing micro processor / micro controller systems/ products, which were initially designed with UV E2PROM or EEPROM to hold program memory, by introducing alternate program memory. This alternate shall not cause any change in product redesign either at PCB level or at logic level in programming.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a microcontroller emulation using non volatile memory. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the subject matter.

In one implementation, the use of microcontroller as replacement of Non Volatile Memory (NVM) for micro processor system or legacy microcontroller system is disclosed.

In one implementation, the invention helps to reduce the redesigning of product where program memory resides external to microprocessor or microcontroller.

In one implementation, the purpose of the invention is to replace the obsolete UV EPROM or E2PROM.

In one implementation, a system comprising one or more microprocessor or microcontroller is disclosed. The system comprises of another microcontroller, storing a hex file, with at least four ports. The another microcontroller is configured to: receive a request from a address line by means of at least one port from the four ports; provide a response to the request using a data line by means of at least one port from the four ports; enable data synchronization by means of at least one port from the four ports.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer like features and components.

Figure 1 illustrates a microprocessor with external memory interface is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 2 illustrates a microcontroller emulating external memory is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 3 illustrates a Flow chart for microcontroller emulating external memory is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail.

The terms and words used in the following description are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

In one implementation, the invention discloses an electronic trip units are integral part of Air circuit breaker or molded case circuit breaker. These trip units consist of microcontroller or microprocessor. Earlier generation microprocessors or microcontrollers did not have inbuilt program memory or even if internal would have limited memory size not good enough to include all the code required for trip unit. To resolve these issue external memories were used with size of program memory according to application need.

Due to advancement of technology, these external memories are getting obsolete. To overcome the above mentioned issue, novel idea is implemented by replacing external memory with another microcontroller which would emulate UV EPROM or E2PROM. This would be drop in replacement on PCB without causing any change in circuit design or logic re-design of Trip Unit. This invention shall be detailed in subsequent section.

Referring now to figure 1 illustrates a microprocessor with external memory interface is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In one implementation, a typical interface of microprocessor or microcontroller with UV EPROM or E2PROM is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

Referring now to figure 2 illustrates a microcontroller emulating external memory is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In one implementation, the modified interface where microcontroller emulates UV EPROM or E2PROM and its interface with existing microprocessor or microcontroller are shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In one implementation, as shown in figure 2, when both the microcontrollers power up, they may initialize at least one internal registers. M1 (microcontroller) has faster booting time. The initial Intel Hex file may then be decoded and stored in Program memory of M1. This Hex file consists of address and opcode at that address. These decoded file is extracted and stored in RAM of M1 for faster access as a part of initialization routine. The two ports of 8 bits, for example, but not limited to, port 1 and port 2, are configured to receive address of opcode.

In one example, one port may function as data port, for example Port 3 as shown in figure 2. Whenever the main microcontroller sends query for Opcode with address, this is decoded by M1 and data is provided to Main microcontroller with similar format of NV E2PROM.

Figure 3 illustrates a Flow chart for microcontroller emulating external memory is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In one implementation, the flow chart for logic implementation in microcontroller or emulating external memory is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include those provided by the following features:

One feature of the invention is that, the proposed invention increases the life of product. This change would not call for any change in application logic. This change would not call for product redesigning and hence no effect to ongoing production of the product.

Apart from above mentioned features, the invention has some unique features. The features are listed below:

1. Low cost micro controller is used as an alternate to obsolete UV EPROM or E2PROM.
2. No change in application code or logic for above mentioned change.
3. Cost effective solution which enhances the life of product.
4. Minimum change in bill of material of product which does not affect the production.
5. Overall cost saving for replacing expensive obsolete UV EPROM or E2PROM with available low cost microcontroller.
6. Time saving in terms of product redesign and time to market

Accordingly, in one implementation, a system comprising one or more microprocessor or microcontroller is disclosed. The system comprises of another microcontroller, storing a hex file, with at least four ports. The another microcontroller is configured to: receive a request from a address line by means of at least one port from the four ports; provide a response to the request using a data line by means of at least one port from the four ports; enable data synchronization by means of at least one port from the four ports.

In one implementation, another microcontroller comprises of a data flash configured to store the hex file in decoded Intel hex form.

In one implementation, the request is received from the microprocessor or microcontroller.

In one implementation, the response is in a form of a subsequent opcode or data.

In one implementation, the present invention replaces the obsolete UV EPROM or E2PROM. This may increase the life of product. This change may not call for any change in application logic. This change may not call for product redesigning and hence no effect to ongoing production of the product.

In one example, another microcontroller (M1) is used as NV Memory for legacy products without having the need to redesign the entire board. Initially microcontroller powers up and initializes its 2 ports to operate as Address and data lines. Other port lines are used for data synchronization like ALE, PSEN, RD, WR signals. The entire hex file of NV memory is stored in data flash of M1 in decoded intel Hex form. Any query from main micro controller (M2) comes for data fetching, this data is processed by M1 and subsequent opcode or data is provided on DATA Bus to M2. So M1 replicates NV Memory without having any need to modify the interface between M1 and M2 or code modification of M2 for communication with M1.

Further, as the present system works without changing the PCB and other components of the system, the proposed invention may support legacy products. Generally the entire PCB schematic and design architecture is changed, but in the present invention only NVM is replaced with micro-controller without calling for design validation and subsequent certification.

Although the a microcontroller emulation using non volatile memory been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods or devices described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations a microcontroller emulation using non volatile memory.
,CLAIMS:A system comprising one or more microprocessor or microcontroller and CHARACTERIZED IN THAT comprising another microcontroller, storing a hex file, with at least four ports and configured to:
receive a request from a address line by means of at least one port from the four ports;
provide a response to the request using a data line by means of at least one port from the four ports;
enable data synchronization by means of at least one port from the four ports.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein another microcontroller comprises of a data flash configured to store the hex file in decoded Intel hex form.

3. The system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the request is received from the microprocessor or microcontroller.

4. The system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the response is in a form of a subsequent opcode or data.