National Semiconductor Corporation

Oved Oz

Gideon Intrater

Yachin Afek

Meir Tsadik

Alberto Sandbank

Israel Greiss

Amos Intrater

Lev Epstein

Iddo Carmon

Omri Viner

Moshe Doron

Ronny Cohen

Lior Katzri

Raya Levitan

Ilan Shimony

Zvi Greenfeld

Yehezkel Tzadik

Itael Fraenkel

Andy Birenbaum

Sidi Yomtov

Donald B Alpert

Alon Shacham

An integrated data processing system includes a shared internal bus for transferring both instructions and data. A shared bus interface unit is connected to the shared internal bus and connectable via a shared external bus to a shared external memory array such that instructions and data held in the shared external memory array are transferrable to the shared internal bus via the shared bus interface unit. A general purpose (GP) central processing unit (CPU) is connected to the shared internal bus for retrieving GP instructions. The GP CPU includes an execution unit for executing GP instructions to process data retrieved by the GP CPU from the shared internal bus. A digital signal processor (DSP) module connected to the shared internal bus, the DSP module includes a signal processor for processing an externally-provided digital signal received by the DSP module by executing DSP command-list instructions. Execution of DSP command-list code instructions by the DSP module is independent of and in parallel with execution of GP instructions by the GP CPU. A shared internal memory that holds command-list code instructions and is connected for access by the DSP module for retrieval of command-list code instructions for execution by the DSP module and for access by the GP CPU for storage and retrieval of instructions and data.

Integrated circuit having CPU core operable for switching between two

The central processing unit of an integrated circuit data processing system includes both means for processing a first non-maskable interrupt (NMI) request received by the data processing system on a first NMI request line and means for processing a second NMI request received by the data processing system on a second NMI request line different from the first NMI request line and within a predefined time period after receipt of the first NMI request. Both. NMI requests are serviced by the data processing system even if the second NMI request is received prior to completion of processing of the first request.

Mechanism for handling non-maskable interrupt requests received from

The present invention is directed to various features of an integrated data processing system that includes a general purpose (GP) CPU core for processing data in accordance with a GP instruction set and a digital signal processor (DSP) module for processing data in accordance with command-list code. The DSP module is operable to execute the command-list code independent of and in parallel with execution of the GP instruction set by the CPU core. The system also includes test hook functions for facilitating production testing of the system.

Testing hooks for testing an integrated data processing system

An integrated circuit structure for use in identifying a value of an analog signal includes a central processing unit that executes instructions to perform data processing operations. The data processing operations include a successive approximation analog-to-dialog conversion operation to provide a digital value based upon an input data signal. A pulse with modulation (PWM) element converts the digital value to a square-wave output signal having a duty cycle corresponding to the digital value. A PWM element is adapted for connection to a low pass filter such that the square-wave output signal is provided as an input to the low pass filter. The low pass filter provides an output analog signal corresponding to the duty cycle of the square-wave output signal. An input port is adapted for connection to an output of a comparator. The comparator receives as inputs the output analog signal the low pass filter and the analog signal. The input port is connected to provide the output of the comparator as the input data signal to the central processing unit.

Integrated data processing system utilizing successive approximation

Parallel integrated circuit having DSP module and CPU core operable for

Integrated data processing system including CPU core and parallel,

An integrated data processing system includes a shared internal bus for transferring both instructions and data. A shared bus interface unit is connected to the shared internal bus and connectable via a shared external bus to a shared external memory array such that instructions and data held in the shared external memory array are transferrable to the shared internal bus via the shared bus interface unit. A general purpose (GP) central processing unit (CPU) is connected to the shared internal bus for retrieving GP instructions. The OP CPU includes an execution unit for executing GP instructions to process data retrieved by the GP CPU from the shared internal bus. A digital signal processor (DSP) module connected to the shared internal bus, the DSP module includes a signal processor for processing an externally-provided digital signal received by the DSP module by executing DSP command-list instructions. Execution of DSP command-list code instructions by the DSP module is independent of and in parallel with execution of GP instructions by the GP CPU. A shared internal memory that holds command-list code instructions and is connected for access by the DSP module for retrieval of command-list code instructions for execution by the DSP module and for access by the GP CPU for storage and retrieval of instructions and data.

Integrated CPU core and parallel, independently operating DSP module and

Integrated data processing system having CPU core and parallel

A microprocessor architecture that includes capabilities for locking individual entries into its integrated instruction cache and data cache while leaving the remainder of the cache unlocked and available for use in capturing the microprocessor's dynamic locality of reference. The microprocessor also includes the capability for locking instruction cache entries without requiring that the instructions be executed during the locking process.

Selectively locking memory locations within a microprocessor's on-chip

Growing community of inventors

Cfar Saba, Israel

Oved Oz