Back to results
US 2007/0164796 A1Published application
Multifunctional timer/event counter device and method of using such a device
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.l.
InventorsJean-Francois Link, Dragos Davidescu, Sandrine Lendre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multifunctional timer/event counter device includes at least one counter controlled by a clock signal, and a control register including at least one binary number that will at least define a behavior of the counter. The device also includes a function module including at least one synchronization signal reception input and a reception input for at least one function control signal, the function module being capable of modifying the binary number as a function of at least the synchronization signal and the function control signal.
Claims33
A multifunctional timer/event counter device comprising:
- a counter controlled by a clock signal;
- a counter register including a binary number representative of a state of said counter;
- and
- a control register comprising at least a binary number that will define a behavior of said counter, wherein the device also includes a function module including a synchronization signal reception input and a reception input for at least one function control signal, said function module being capable of modifying said binary number in the control register as a function of at least said synchronization signal and said function control signal, the synchronization signal being used to clock or start the counter.
1 more element
A method for implementing a multifunctional timer/event counter device comprising:
- a counter controlled by a clock signal;
- a counter register including a binary number that will define a state of said counter;
- and
- a control register including at least one binary number that will at least define a behavior of said counter;
- wherein according to a first operating mode and during at least a first clock cycle, a function module executes the following steps:
- reception of a synchronization signal;
- reception of a function control signal ;
- and
- modification of said binary number in the control register according to said synchronization signal and said function control signal, the synchronization signal being used to clock or start the counter.
6 more elements
A multifunctional timer, comprising:
- a counter configured to receive a clock signal;
- a counter register coupled to the counter;
- a control register coupled to the counter, the control register operable to store values that define the operation of the counter;
- and
- a function module coupled to the control register and configured to receive a synchronization signal and a function control signal, the function module operable responsive to the synchronization and function control signals to modify values stored in the control register to control the operation of the counter and further operable to start the counter responsive to the synchronization signal.
2 more elements
A network of multifunctional timers, comprising:
- a plurality of multifunctional timers, each timer including,
- a counter configured to receive a clock signal;
- a counter register coupled to the counter;
- a control register coupled to the counter, the control register operable to store values that define the operation of the counter;
- and
- a function module coupled to the control register and configured to receive a synchronization signal and a function control signal, the function module operable responsive to the synchronization and function control signals to modify values stored in the control register to control the operation of the counter and further operable to start the counter responsive to the synchronization signal;
- a first selection module coupled to the function module, the first selection module adapted to receive a plurality of received synchronization signals and adapted to receive a first selection control signal, the first selection module operable responsive to the first selection control signal to output one of the received synchronization signals as the synchronization signal to the function module;
- and
- a second selection module coupled to the counter register to receive signals indicative of the state of the counter and coupled to the control registers to receive signals indicative of the operation of the counter, and the second selection module adapted to receive a second selection control signal, the second selection module operable responsive to the second selection control signal to provide on an output a synchronization signal corresponding to one of the signals received from the counter and control registers;
- and
- wherein the plurality of timers are interconnected by coupling the outputs from the second selection modules contained in at least some of the timers to the first selection modules contained in other ones of the timers.
8 more elements
An electronic system, comprising:
- electronic circuitry including at least one multifunctional timer, each timer including,
- a counter configured to receive a clock signal;
- a counter register coupled to the counter;
- a control register coupled to the counter, the control register operable to store values that define the operation of the counter;
- and
- a function module coupled to the control register and configured to receive a synchronization signal and a function control signal, the function module operable responsive to the synchronization and function control signals to modify values stored in the control register to control the operation of the counter and further operable to start the counter responsive to the synchronization signal;
- a first selection module coupled to the function module, the first selection module adapted to receive a plurality of received synchronization signals and adapted to receive a first selection control signal, the first selection module operable responsive to the first selection control signal to output one of the received synchronization signals as the synchronization signal to the function module;
- and
- a second selection module coupled to the counter register to receive signals indicative of the state of the counter and coupled to the control registers to receive signals indicative of the operation of the counter, and the second selection module adapted to receive a second selection control signal, the second selection module operable responsive to the second selection control signal to provide on an output a synchronization signal corresponding to one of the signals received from the counter and control registers;
- and
- wherein the plurality of timers are interconnected by coupling the outputs from the second selection modules contained in at least some of the timers to the first selection modules contained in other ones of the timers.
8 more elements
A method of performing timing functions, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of first synchronization signals;
- selecting one of the first synchronization signals responsive to a first selection signal;
- receiving a function control signal;
- responsive to the function control signal and the selected one of the first synchronization signals, setting a plurality of control values;
- storing the plurality of control value signals;
- initiating a count responsive to the synchronization signal, the count having characteristics determined by the control value signals;
- generating state signals indicative of the state of the count;
- storing the state signals;
- receiving a second selection control signal;
- responsive to the second selection control signal, selecting one of the stored control value signals and state signals;
- and
- providing the selected control value or state signal as a synchronization signal.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.