Microchip Technology Inc.

Eric Schroeder

Joseph Harry Julicher

Sean Steedman

Vivien Neil Delport

Jerrold S Zdenek

Zacharias Marthinus Smit

Ryan Scott Ellison

Richard L Hull

A microcontroller device has a central processing unit (CPU); a data memory coupled with the CPU divided into a plurality of memory banks, a plurality of special function registers and general purpose registers which may be memory-mapped, wherein at least the following special function registers are memory-mapped to all memory banks: a status register, a bank select register, a plurality of indirect memory address registers, a working register, and a program counter high latch; and wherein upon occurrence of a context switch, the CPU is operable to automatically save the content of the status register, the bank select register, the plurality of indirect memory address registers, the working register, and the program counter high latch, and upon return from the context switch restores the content of the status register, the bank select register, the plurality of indirect memory address registers, the working register, and the program counter high latch.

Context switching with automatic saving of special function registers memory-mapped to all banks

An n-bit microprocessor device has an n-bit central processing unit (CPU); a plurality of special function registers and general purpose registers which are memory-mapped to a plurality of banks, with at least two 16-bit indirect memory address registers which are accessible by the CPU across all banks; a bank access unit for coupling the CPU with one of the plurality of banks; a data memory coupled with the CPU; and a program memory coupled with the CPU, wherein the indirect address registers are operable to access the data memory or program memory and wherein a bit in each of the indirect memory address registers indicates an access to the data memory or to the program memory.

Enhanced microprocessor or microcontroller

A multipurpose input/output circuit providing full input output current drive capability and special mode selection on a single device pin. The circuit includes first and second high voltage detectors coupled to the pin, at least one pin bias circuit, and a mode selector. The mode selector determines whether the pin operates as either an input or output. One of the high voltage detectors detects a high voltage on the pin and causes the bias circuit to disconnect the pin from the supply voltage. The other high voltage detector operates to detect a special mode voltage on the pin and set the device into a special mode.

High voltage multipurpose input/output circuit

Growing community of inventors

Pickerington, OH, United States of America

Eric Schroeder