IP Library Granted Patent US 8,522,081
Granted Patent B2
US 8,522,081 · App. 13/102,158 · Granted Aug 27, 2013

Microcomputer outputting failure detection result

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,522,081
App. No.
13/102,158
Granted
Aug 27, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

When a CPU executes a failure detection program, the CPU causes a program counter expected value register to store an expected value of an address which is stored in a program counter after a detection time passes from the start of execution of the failure detection program, and causes a detection time counter to start counting of the detection time. When the detection time counter finishes counting of the detection time, the first comparator outputs as a failure detection result a result of comparison between the address stored in the program counter and the expected value stored in the program counter expected value register.

Claims (22)

1. A microcomputer, comprising:

a CPU including a program counter which updates and stores an address of an instruction of a program to be executed next when an instruction of the program is executed, the CPU configured to execute instructions of the program of which addresses stored in the program counter in order;

a program counter expected value register which stores an expected value of an address to be stored in the program counter;

a first comparator which compares the address stored in the program counter with the expected value stored in the program counter expected value register; and

a detection time counter which counts a detection time,

wherein when the CPU executes a failure detection program, the CPU causes the program counter expected value register to store the expected value of the address which is stored in the program counter after the detection time passes from the start of execution of the failure detection program, and causes the detection time counter to start counting of the detection time, and

wherein when the detection time counter finishes counting of the detection time, the first comparator outputs as a failure detection result a result of comparison between the address stored in the program counter and the expected value stored in the program counter expected value register.

2. The microcomputer according to claim 1 ,

wherein when the first comparator outputs a comparison result indicating inconsistency, the CPU determines that a failure of the CPU is detected and performs failure countermeasure processing.

3. The microcomputer according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a detection time register which stores a detection time; and

a second comparator which compares the detection time stored in the detection time register with a count value of the detection time counter,

wherein when instructed by the CPU to start counting, the detection time counter starts up counting of a count value,

wherein when the CPU executes the failure detection program, the CPU causes the detection time register to store the detection time, and

wherein when the second comparator outputs a comparison result indicating a match between the detection time stored in the detection time register and the count value of the detection time counter, the first comparator outputs as a failure detection result a result of comparison between the address stored in the program counter and the expected value stored in the program counter expected value register.

4. The microcomputer according to claim 3 ,

wherein when the CPU executes the failure detection program, the CPU causes the detection time counter to start up counting from 0 (zero).

5. The microcomputer according to claim 1 ,

wherein when instructed by the CPU to start counting, the detection time counter starts down counting of a count value.

6. The microcomputer according to claim 5 ,

wherein when the CPU executes the failure detection program, the CPU causes the detection time counter to start down counting from the detection time, and

wherein when the count value of the detection time counter becomes 0 (zero), the first comparator outputs as a failure detection result a result of comparison between the address stored in the program counter and the expected value stored in the program counter expected value register.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 059410/0438 →
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 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 Jul 2, 2015
From: SPANSION, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036052/0016 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2011
From: IGARASHI, TOSHIYUKI
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 026238/0097 →