Method and apparatus for momentarily interrupting power to a microprocessor to clear a fault state

An apparatus for indicating the state of initialization readiness of a data processing system and for initializing said data processing system regardless of the operating state, comprising:

• first timing means for producing a first timing signal with a first time interval to provide said data processing system with notice of an impending initialization;
• second timing means, synchronized with said first means, for producing a second timing signal with a second time interval, said second time interval being a greater time interval than said first time interval;
• means for generating an initialization status signal to indicate the state of initialization readiness of said data processing system;
• switching means for momentarily interrupting electrical power supplied by a power source to said data processing system;
• and
• initialization means for applying an initialization signal within said second time interval to said switching means in response to said initialization status signal or applying said initialization signal to said switching means in response to said second timing signal;
• wherein said switching means operates to momentarily interrupt said electrical power to said data processing system in response to said initialization signal and thereby resets said data processing system.

An apparatus for initializing a data processing system, regardless of the operating state of said data processing system comprising:

• a computer for processing operating data, said computer providing an initialization status signal to indicate the state of initialization readiness of said computer;
• a power source for supplying electrical power to said computer;
• a switch for momentarily interrupting said electrical power to said computer;
• a memory storage device, connected to said computer, for storing said operating data, wherein said memory storage device remains powered when said switch operates to momentarily interrupt electrical power to said computer;
• a first timer for producing a first timing signal with a first time interval to provide said computer with notice of an impending initialization;
• a second timer for producing a second timing signal with a second time interval, said second time interval being a greater time interval than said first time interval;
• and
• an initialization circuit for applying an initialization signal within said second time interval to said switch in response to said initialization status signal or applying said initialization signal to said switch in response to said second timing signal;
• wherein said switch operates to momentarily interrupt said electrical power in response to said initialization signal and thereby resets said computer;
• and
• wherein said initialization circuit generates a reset signal to cause said computer to execute an initialization program and a timing reset signal to synchronously reset said first timer and said second timer in response to said switch operating to restore said electrical power to said computer.

An apparatus for indicating the state of initialization readiness of a data processing system and for initializing said data processing system regardless of the operating state, comprising:

• first timing means for producing a first timing signal with a first time interval to provide said data processing system with notice of an impending initialization;
• second timing means, synchronized with said first means, for producing a second timing signal with a second time interval, said second time interval being a greater time interval than said first time interval;
• means for generating an initialization status signal to indicate the state of initialization readiness of said data processing system;
• switching means for momentarily interrupting electrical power supplied by a power source to said data processing system;
• and
• initialization means for applying a reset signal within said second time interval for initializing said data processing system in response to said initialization status signal or applying said initialization signal to said switching means in response to said second timing signal;
• wherein said switching means operates to momentarily interrupt said electrical power to said data processing system in response to said initiliazation signal and thereby resets said data processing system.

An apparatus for initializing a data processing system, regardless of the operating state of said data processing system comprising:

• a computer for processing operating data, said computer providing an initialization status signal to indicate the state of initialization readiness of said computer;
• a switch for momentarily interrupting electrical power supplied by a power source to said computer;
• a memory storage device, connected to said computer, for storing said operating data, said memory storage device operative to remain powered when said switch operates to momentarily interrupt said electrical power to said computer;
• a first timer for producing a first timing signal with a first time interval to provide said computer with notice of an impending initialization;
• a second timer for producing a second timing signal with a second time interval, said second time interval being a greater time interval than said first time interval;
• and
• an initialization circuit for applying a reset signal to said computer in response to said initialization status signal to cause said computer to execute an initialization program or applying an initialization signal to said switch in response to said second timing signal,
• wherein said switch operates to momentarily interrupt said electrical power to said computer in response to said initialization signal and thereby resets said computer,
• wherein said initialization circuit synchronously resets said first timer and said second timer by applying a timing reset signal to each of said first timer and said second timer in response to said initialization status signal and within said second time interval or by applying said timing reset signal in response to said switch operating to restore said electrical power to said computer.

An apparatus for initializing a data processing system, regardless of the operating state of said data processing system, comprising:

• notice means for applying a warning signal upon expiration of a first time interval to said data processing system to provide notice of initialization to said data processing system;
• means for generating an initialization status signal subsequent to said warning signal to indicate the state of initialization readiness of said data processing system;
• switching means for momentarily interrupting electrical power by a power source to said data processing system;
• and
• interrupt means for applying an interrupt signal in response to said initialization status signal or upon expiration of a second time interval to cause said switching means to momentarily interrupt said electrical power and thereby reset said data processing system regardless of the operating state of said data processing system,
• wherein said notice means and said interrupt means are reset when said switching means operates to restore said electrical power to said data processing system.