The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 01, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 23, 1992
William S Herz, Newark, CA (US);
Sony Electronics Inc., Park Ridge, NJ (US);
Abstract
An interface circuit for providing asynchronous interrupt service for multiple peripheral devices in accordance with instructions from a host computer includes two dual universal asynchronous receivers-transmitters ('UARTs'), a dual port random-access memory ('RAM') and a microprocessor ('.mu.P'). The dual UARTs selectively read data separately from selected peripheral devices and selectively write that data to the dual port RAM for access by the host computer, and read data from the dual port RAM as stored therein by the host computer and write that data to a selected peripheral device, in accordance with addresses from the .mu.P. Following initiation of an interrupt sequence, the dual port RAM allows the host computer to selectively and asynchronously read data (e.g. from a peripheral device via a dual UART) therefrom and write necessary data or instructions (e.g. for the .mu.P or a peripheral device via a dual UART) thereto for the .mu.P to asynchronously provide interrupt service to the peripheral devices. This interface circuit configuration minimizes idle time for the host computer during interrupt servicing by the .mu.P.