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. 14, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 16, 1998
David L Feldman, Palo Alto, CA (US);
ZF Microsystems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
Multi-chip computer module with a CPU and other functional circuits such as serial and parallel interfaces, a hard drive interface, a floppy disk interface, a keyboard interface, and flash memory. During initialization, the module can check the wiring of a connector coupled to a serial port to determine the mode in which the module should operate, and in an operational mode, normal serial communications can be carried on through the serial port. Fail safe BIOS operation is provided by storing a BIOS program both in a read only memory (ROM) and in a flash memory, with the flash memory serving as the source of the BIOS program under normal operating conditions. If the flash memory should become erased or otherwise corrupted, the ROM can serve as the source of the BIOS program and allow the flash memory to be reprogrammed.