Distributed microcontroller
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
InventorGiovanni Scozzola
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microcontroller includes distinct electronic functions and an interconnection circuit capable of transmitting in wireless fashion data between the functions. The microcontroller can be operated by writing configuration characteristics into a memory of the interconnection circuit for electronic functional circuits that do not have configuration characteristics contained in the memory and erasing configuration characteristics from the memory for electronic functional circuits that have configuration characteristics contained in the memory but are determined to not be able to wirelessly communicate with the interconnection circuit. Data can be wirelessly transmitted between the interconnection circuit and electronic functional circuits having configuration characteristics contained in the memory.
Claims21
A microcontroller comprising:
- a plurality of distinct electronic functional circuits;
- and
- an interconnection circuit capable of wirelessly transmitting data between the functional circuits.
A method of operating a microcontroller, the method comprising:
- determining electronic functional circuits that can wirelessly communicate with an interconnection circuit;
- writing configuration characteristics into a memory of the interconnection circuit for electronic functional circuits that do not have configuration characteristics contained in the memory;
- erasing configuration characteristics from the memory for electronic functional circuits that have configuration characteristics contained in the memory but are determined to not be able to wirelessly communicate with the interconnection circuit;
- and
- wirelessly transmitting data between the interconnection circuit and electronic functional circuits having configuration characteristics contained in the memory.
The method of claim ii, wherein the determining, writing and erasing steps are periodically carried out during operation of the microcontroller.
The method of claim ii, further comprising:
- determining a program to be executed;
- determining the electronic functional circuits used by the program;
- determining whether the electronic functional circuits used by the program are able to wirelessly communicate with the interconnection circuit;
- establishing a wireless connection between the electronic functional circuits;
- and
- executing the program.
A computing system comprising:
- a plurality of separately packaged semiconductor chips;
- wherein a first one of the chips comprises an interconnection circuit;
- wherein a second one of the chips comprises a processor;
- wherein a third one of the chips comprises a memory;
- wherein each of the chips in the plurality of separately packaged semiconductor chips includes a circuit for wireless communication and a circuit for wireless charging;
- and
- wherein none of the chips in the plurality of packaged semiconductor chips includes external conductive contacts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.