Microcontroller with synchronised analog to digital converter
View Patent ↗A microcontroller is provided, which includes a control unit (UC), at least one digital to analog converter (DAC) as a peripheral of the said control unit, and a buffer register located between the said control unit and the said converter, receiving data and a first command to transfer the said data from the said control unit. The microcontroller includes means of synchronisation of the said converter including a register inserted between the said buffer register and the said converter, the said register receiving a second transfer command independent of the said control unit.
1. A microcontroller comprising:
a control unit (UC),
at least one digital to analog converter (DAC) as a peripheral of said control unit,
a buffer register located between said control unit and said converter, receiving data and a first command to transfer said data from said control unit, and
means of synchronisation of said converter including a register inserted between said buffer register and said converter, said register receiving a second transfer command independent of said control unit when a transition in a synchronisation signal, corresponding to a hardware interrupt, is detected.
2. The microcontroller according to claim 1 , wherein said hardware interrupt is generated by at least one timer internal to the microcontroller.
3. The microcontroller according to claim 1 , wherein said hardware interrupt corresponds to at least one of the elements belonging to the group comprising:
end of counting of a time base;
an exit from a comparison at a pre-programmed time;
an external signal associated with collection of the internal time; and
an external signal generating a software interrupt.
4. The microcontroller according to claim 1 , wherein the said synchronisation means also include a synchronisation block for the said register into which at least one synchronisation signal and the said first transfer command are input.
5. The microcontroller according to claim 1 , wherein the said digital to analog convener processes N-bit words, and the control unit outputs the said data in the form of M-bit words, where M<N, and the said microcontroller comprises means for formatting an N-bit word from two M-bit words.
6. The microcontroller according to claim 5 , wherein the said formatting means comprise means for extracting an N-bit word from two M-bit words, selecting either the N high order bits, or the N low order bits.
7. The microcontroller according to claim 5 , wherein M=8 and N=10.
8. The microcontroller according to claim 1 , wherein the said converter generates a predetermined wave shape.
9. The microcontroller according to claim 1 , wherein the said converter outputs an analog signal to at least one of the elements belonging to the group containing:
industrial logic controllers;
power supplies;
ballasts;
household appliances;
position slaving devices;
electric motor control means.
10. A microcontroller comprising:
a control unit (UC),
at least one digital to analog converter (DAC) as a peripheral of said control unit,
a buffer register located between said control unit and said convener, receiving data and a first command to transfer said data from said control unit, and
a further register inserted between said buffer register and said converter, said further register receiving a second transfer command independent of said control unit when a transition in a synchronisation signal, corresponding to a hardware interrupt, is detected.