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:
Jun. 03, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 26, 2001
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
This invention relates to the structure and design of microprocessor ICs, in particular to the embedding or integration of a non-volatile flash memory ( ) into an IC. To integrate such a flash memory into an IC raises some problems which are solved by providing a dedicated flash bus ( ) which operationally links the flash memory ( ) with one or more microprocessors ( ) on the IC. Preferably, the flash bus ( ) controls the flash-memory-specific commands and has a width greater than, in particular a multiple of, the width of the microprocessor ( ) and/or the flash memory ( ) to compensate for the relatively slow access time of the flash memory. It is especially advantageous to structure the system as a master/slave bus system for operating the flash memory ( ) and to link the flash bus via bridges ( ) to the microprocessor/s ( ,) and through a shell ( ) to the flash memory ( ). For operating such a system, a flash bus arbiter ( ) may be necessary or advantageous.