IP Library Granted Patent US 7,149,830
Granted Patent B2
US 7,149,830 · App. 10/947,538 · Granted Dec 12, 2006

Semiconductor device and microcontroller

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,149,830
App. No.
10/947,538
Granted
Dec 12, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device in which input terminals for external interrupts can be set as desired. A plurality of external input terminals can be specified as interrupt terminals which output an input signal to an external interrupt circuit via an interrupt terminal selector. A selection control circuit specifies whether a plurality of external input terminals are used as interrupt terminals. According to the selection control circuit, the interrupt terminal selector outputs to the external interrupt circuit an input signal entered from an external input terminal which is specified as an interrupt terminal out of the plurality of external input terminals.

Claims (30)

1. A semiconductor device provided with prescribed terminals to receive external signals, for generating an interrupt signal based on a prescribed external signal, said semiconductor device comprising:

selection control unit for specifying at least one external input terminal to be used as an interrupt terminal out of a plurality of external input terminals;

selection unit connected to said plurality of external input terminals, for selecting said at least one external input terminal specified as said interrupt terminal by said selection control unit and outputting at least one external signal entered from said at least one external input terminal selected; and

interrupt control unit for generating at least one interrupt signal according to a waveform of said at least one external signal output from at least one interrupt terminal selected by said selection unit,

wherein said selection control unit is a storage unit for storing specification information specifying whether each of said plurality of external input terminals is used as an interrupt terminal, and the specification information is changeable from outside.

2. A semiconductor device provided with prescribed terminals to receive external signals, for generating an interrupt signal based on a prescribed external signal, said semiconductor device comprising:

selection control unit for specifying at least one external input terminal to be used as an interrupt terminal out of a plurality of external input terminals;

selection unit connected to said plurality of external input terminals, for selecting said at least one external input terminal specified as said interrupt terminal by said selection control unit and outputting at least one external signal entered from said at least one external input terminal selected;

interrupt control unit for generating at least one interrupt signal according to a waveform of said at least one external signal output from at least one interrupt terminal selected by said selection unit; and

signal processing unit for executing a prescribed signal process with an external signal entered from an external input terminal out of said plurality of external input terminals, wherein

said external input terminal is connected to said signal processing unit as well as to said selection unit.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein said selection unit outputs to said interrupt control unit a result of a logical OR operation of said external signals entered from said external input terminals specified as said interrupt terminals out of said plurality of external input terminals connected.

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 3 , wherein a number of said interrupt control unit connected to said selection unit is fewer than a total number of said external input terminals connected to the selection unit.

5. A microcontroller provided with prescribed terminals to receive external signals, for generating an interrupt signal based on a prescribed external signal and performing a process according to the interrupt signal, said microcontroller comprising:

selection control unit for specifying at least one external input terminal to be used as an interrupt terminal out of a plurality of external input terminals;

selection unit connected to said plurality of external input terminals, for selecting said at least one external input terminal specified as said interrupt terminal by said selection control unit and outputting at least one external signal entered from said at least one external input terminal selected; and

interrupt control unit for generating at least one interrupt signal according to a waveform of said at least one external signal output from at least one interrupt terminal selected by said selection unit, and outputting said at least one interrupt signal to a central processing unit for performing a process according to said at least one interrupt signal,

wherein said selection control unit is a storage unit for storing specification information specifying whether each of said plurality of external input terminals is used as an interrupt terminal, and the specification information is changeable from outside.

6. A microcontroller provided with prescribed terminals to receive external signals, for generating an interrupt signal based on a prescribed external signal and performing a process according to the interrupt signal, said microcontroller comprising:

selection control unit for specifying at least one external input terminal to be used as an interrupt terminal out of a plurality of external input terminals;

selection unit connected to said plurality of external input terminals, for selecting said at least one external input terminal specified as said interrupt terminal by said selection control unit and outputting at least one external signal entered from said at least one external input terminal selected;

interrupt control unit for generating at least one interrupt signal according to a waveform of said at least one external signal output from at least one interrupt terminal selected by said selection unit, and outputting said at least one interrupt signal to a central processing unit for performing a process according to said at least one interrupt signal; and

signal processing unit for executing a prescribed signal process with an external signal entered from an external input terminal out of said plurality of external input terminals,

wherein said external input terminal is connected to said signal processing unit as well as to said selection unit.

7. The microcontroller according to claim 5 , wherein said selection unit outputs to said interrupt control unit a result of a logical OR operation of said external signals entered from said external input terminals specified as said interrupt terminals out of said plurality of external input terminals connected.

8. The microcontroller according to claim 7 , wherein a number of said interrupt control unit connected to said selection unit is fewer than a total number of said external input terminals connected to the selection unit.

9. The semiconductor device according to claim 5 , wherein said selection unit outputs to said interrupt control unit a result of a logical OR operation of said external signals entered from said external input terminals specified as said interrupt terminals out of said plurality of external input terminals connected.

10. The semiconductor device according to claim 9 , wherein a number of said interrupt control unit connected to said selection unit is fewer than a total number of said external input terminals connected to the selection unit.

11. The microcontroller according to claim 6 , wherein said selection unit outputs to said interrupt control unit a result of a logical OR operation of said external signals entered from said external input terminals specified as said interrupt terminals out of said plurality of external input terminals connected.

12. The microcontroller according to claim 11 , wherein a number of said interrupt control unit connected to said selection unit is fewer than a total number of said external input terminals connected to the selection unit.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 059410/0438 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2021
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.,
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057501/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 052487/0808 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Oct 28, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050896/0366 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2015
From: SPANSION, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036038/0467 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2013
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 031205/0461 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2010
From: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 024794/0500 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2008
From: FUJITSU LIMITED
To: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 021985/0715 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2004
From: NAKATSUHAMA, NORIHIRO; NAGATOMI, YOSHIAKI; KAWABATA, KENICHI; YAMAMOTO, TOMOHIDE; NAKATA, KENJI; AONO, HIRONORI; KONISHI, MASATOSHI
To: FUJITSU LIMITED
Reel/Frame 016000/0972 →