Processor having an extended operating voltage range

A microcontroller processor unit having an extended operating voltage range comprising, in combination on a single chip:

• a RISC microcontroller core;
• a processing unit voltage regulator coupled to said RISC microcontroller core for controlling an operating voltage of said RISC microcontroller core;
• a control unit coupled to said processing unit voltage regulator and said RISC microcontroller core for setting a regulated voltage level of said processing unit voltage regulator;
• a voltage supply coupled to said processing unit voltage regulator for supplying said operating voltage for said RISC microcontroller core wherein said operating voltage will have an upper and lower operating voltage level, and said processing unit voltage regulator functions as a voltage regulator for voltages above said regulated voltage level and said regulator passes said operating voltage for voltages below said regulated voltage level;
• a high voltage input/output (I/O) port coupled to said voltage supply for allowing peripheral devices which operate at said operating voltage supplied by said voltage supply to be coupled to said processing unit;
• high voltage interface logic coupled to said high voltage I/O port and said processing unit for allowing communication compatibility between said peripheral devices coupled to said high voltage I/O port and said processing unit;
• an I/O regulator coupled to said voltage supply for supplying a regulated I/O device voltage level;
• wherein said control unit is coupled to said I/O regulator for setting said regulated I/O device voltage level of said I/O regulator, said control unit is a register having a plurality of bits for setting said regulated voltage level of said processing unit voltage regulator;
• a regulated I/O port coupled to said I/O regulator for allowing peripheral devices which operate at said regulated I/O device voltage level to be coupled to said processing unit;
• and
• interface logic coupled to said, regulated I/O port and said processing unit for allowing communication compatibility between said peripheral devices coupled to said regulated I/O port and said processing unit.

A microcontroller processor unit having an extended operating voltage range comprising, in combination on a single chip:

• a processing unit;
• a processing unit voltage regulator coupled to said processing unit for controlling an operating voltage of said processing unit;
• a control unit coupled to said processing unit voltage regulator and said processing unit for setting a regulated voltage level of said processing unit voltage regulator, said control unit is a register having a plurality of bits for setting said regulated voltage level of said processing unit voltage regulator;
• a voltage supply coupled to said processing unit voltage regulator for supplying said operating voltage for said processing unit wherein said operating voltage will have an upper and lower operating voltage level, wherein said processing unit voltage regulator functions as a voltage regulator for voltages above said regulated voltage level and said regulator passes said operating voltage for voltages below said regulated voltage level;
• a high voltage input/output (I/O) port coupled to said voltage supply for allowing peripheral devices which operate at said operating voltage supplied by said voltage supply to be coupled to said processing unit;
• and
• high voltage interface logic coupled to said high voltage I/O port and said processing unit for allowing communication compatibility between said peripheral devices coupled to said high voltage I/O port and said processing unit.