Stmicroelectronics S.a.

Renaud Ayrignac

Isabelle Sename

Andrew Cofler

Xavier Robert

The disclosure relates to a method for executing by a processor an instruction for saving/restoring several internal registers of the processor. The method comprises breaking down the saving/restoring instruction to generate micro-instructions for saving/restoring the content of a register, executing each of the micro-instructions, initializing a progress status of the saving/restoration of the registers, updating the progress status of the saving/restoration upon each generation of a micro-instruction for saving/restoring a register, saving the progress status in the event of an interruption in the saving/restoration of the registers to execute a higher-priority task, and restoring the progress status when the saving/restoration of the registers is resumed.

Method and device for saving and restoring a set of registers of a microprocessor in an interruptible manner

The systems and methods disclosed relate to a processor comprising a processing unit and a debugging that which can be connected to an external emulator for debugging a program executed by the processor, the debugging interface including internal resources at least partially accessible to the external emulator. According to one embodiment, the debugging interface includes a selecting circuit for selecting an internal resource of the debugging interface, according to a reference supplied by the processing unit, and an access circuit that transfers a datum between the resource selected and a data field accessible by the processing unit.

Processor comprising an integrated debugging interface controlled by the processing unit of the processor

A method for debugging a multitask program executed by a processor includes interrupting the processor during the execution of a task of the program, and activating a debugging mode of the processor, wherein the instructions executed by the processor are supplied by an external emulator. The method comprises steps during which: the processor sends an activation message to the external emulator every time the debugging mode is activated, and upon receiving the activation message, the external emulator sends an acknowledgement message to the processor containing at least one portion of the activation message received.

Method and device for debugging a program executed by a multitask processor

A method and device for detecting faults in an electronic circuit, such as a multiplexed latch includes n control inputs, p data inputs, and at least one output. The method involves trying to cause the electronic circuit to function to modify the state of the output with respect to a start state, knowing that if the state of the output effectively changes while the control inputs are inhibited, this means that at least one control input is stuck at logic 1.

Fault detection method for electronic circuit

A method and device for collecting logic values output from a logic unit having n inputs and p outputs included within an electronic circuit is provided by p test cells. These test cells are connected in parallel respectively to the p outputs of the logic unit such that the logic values of the outputs of the logic unit are loaded into the test cells in a normal mode, and are connected in series with each other to form a shift register for propagating logic values of the outputs of the logic unit to a collecting node in a test mode. In a first phase, the logic values of one out of two outputs of the logic unit are propagated to the shift register. Then, in a second phase, the logic values of the other outputs of the logic unit are propagated in the shift register. The logic values of the outputs of the logic unit are reloaded in the test cells between the first and second phase.

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La Riviere, France

Renaud Ayrignac