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:
Jul. 30, 1996
Filed:
May. 27, 1993
Larry J Manson, Baroda Township, Berrien County, MI (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring validity of a volatile memory of a microcomputer in an electrical circuit supplied with electrical power. Loss of electrical power is sensed and upon sensing loss of power, counter is initialized. Data is obtained from a first critical memory location in the volatile memory and is stored in a second non-critical memory location in the volatile memory which is used for operating data storage during normal powered operation of the circuit. The circuit is then sensed for return of electrical power. Upon resumption of power, the data in the first memory location is compared with the data stored in the second memory location. If detection of a variance of data contents occurs between the first memory location and the second memory location, volatile memory is reset from a preset instruction. If no variance is detected, operation of the circuit is resumed utilizing the data stored in the first memory location.