Motorola Corporation

David Rivera

Gary L Miller

Vernon B Goler

James M Sibigtroth

I/O control modules (25-29) include a timer bus (71, 72) which may be segmented anywhere along its length. As a result, the channels (86, 87) are partitioned by each timer bus (71, 72) into separate blocks of channels (86, 87) which are provided with access to different timebases by their respective timer bus (71, 72). The channels within one timer bus block (e.g. 86) can be used to perform different function(s) with the potential for no loss of resolution because each channel in a timer bus block (e.g. 86) can concurrently receive the same timebase value from its corresponding timer bus (71). In one embodiment, one end of each timer bus (71, 72) is delineated by a master timer bus control channel (61, 63), and the other end of the timer bus is delineated by a slave timer bus control channel (62, 64).

Timer bus structure for an integrated circuit

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, I/O control modules (IOCMs 25-29) have channels which communicate by way of timer buses (71, 72) and pin/status buses (75-77). Channels (86, 87) are partitioned by each timer bus (71, 72) into separate blocks of channels (86, 87) which are provided with access to different timebase values from timebase channels (80, 81) by their respective timer bus (71, 72), so there is no loss of resolution because each channel in a timer bus block (e.g. 86) can concurrently receive the same timebase value from its corresponding timer bus (71). Pin/status buses (75-77) allow simultaneity of control among the channels (e.g. 58) coupled to the same pin/status bus (e.g. 76). Pin/status buses (75-77) and timer buses (71, 72) can be independently partitioned.

Integrated circuit input/output processor having improved timer

A data processor having an integral timer including a clock generator producing a specific frequency output comprises a counter chain having an input and output thereof for supplying a fixed frequency divide function. A programmable prescaler couples the clock generator output to the counter chain input for providing a predetermined divisor input to the counter chain. A postscaler operates in consonance with the programmable prescaler coupled to the counter chain output for providing a timer output compensated for the predetermined divisor input. In operation, the timer output has a frequency bearing a constant relationship to the clock generator output frequency independent of the predetermined divisor input of the programmable prescaler.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

David Rivera