Multi-channel serial port with programmable features

A data processing device, comprising:

• a central processing unit (CPU) for executing instructions;
• a memory circuit connected to the CPU for storing a plurality of instructions which are executed by the CPU;
• and
• serial port interface circuitry connected to the CPU, operable to transmit and receive data, wherein the serial port interface circuitry further comprises:
• a data transmit output;
• a data transmit register connected to the data transmit output, the data transmit register operable to receive a plurality of transmit data words from the CPU;
• frame sync generation circuitry and control circuitry, operable to cause a serial data stream to be transmitted from the data transmit register via the data transmit output in a time-division multiplexed manner, such that a plurality of data channels exist in a frame of the transmitted serial data stream;
• at least a first control register operable to be loaded by an instruction executed by the CPU, wherein the first control register is operable to select a set of parameters for the frame, such that the set of parameters comprise a number of data channels in the frame;
• a multi-channel control register operable to be loaded by an instruction executed by the CPU to select a first mode of operation, the serial port interface circuitry operable in the first mode of operation to enable a first plurality of transmit data words from the plurality of data words to be transmitted in the plurality of data channels, such that each transmit data word in the first plurality of transmit data words is assigned to a respective channel in the plurality of data channels;
• wherein the multi-channel control register is operable to select a second mode of operation and to select a block of data channels from the plurality of data channels such that less than the entire plurality of data channels is selected, the serial port interface circuitry being operable in the second mode of operation to enable a second plurality of transmit data words from the plurality of data words to be assigned to the selected block of data channels;
• a transmit channel enable register for selecting a portion of the plurality of data channels and operable to be loaded by an instruction executed by the CPU, the serial port interface circuitry operable to mask transmission by the data transmit output of a non-selected portion of the plurality of data channels, such that each transmit data word assigned to the non-selected portion of data channels is not transmitted via the data transmit output;
• a data receive input;
• a data receive register connected to the data receive input;
• receive control circuitry, operable to cause a serial data stream to be received from the data received register via the data receive input in a time-division multiplexed manner, such that a plurality of receive data channels exist in a flame of the received serial data stream;
• a receive channel enable register for selecting a portion of the plurality of receive data channels and operable to be loaded by an instruction executed by the CPU, the serial port interface circuitry operable to disable reception of a non-selected portion of the plurality of receive data channels;
• and
• wherein the serial port interface circuitry is operable to select a portion of the receive data channels that is different from the selected portion of data channels for transmission.

A data processing device, comprising:

• a central processing unit (CPU) for executing instructions;
• a memory circuit connected to the CPU for storing a plurality of instructions which are executed by the CPU;
• and
• serial port interface circuitry connected to the CPU, operable to transmit and receive data, wherein the serial port interface circuitry further comprises:
• a data transmit output;
• a data transmit register connected to the data transmit output, the data transmit register operable to receive a plurality of transmit data words from the CPU;
• frame sync generation circuitry and control circuitry, operable to cause a serial data stream to be transmitted from the data transmit register via the data transmit output in a time-division multiplexed manner, such that a plurality of data channels exist in a frame of the transmitted serial data stream;
• at least a first control register operable to be loaded by an instruction executed by the CPU, wherein the first control register is operable to select a set of parameters for the frame, such that the set of parameters comprise a number of data channels in the frame;
• transmit channel enable register for selecting a portion of the plurality of data channels and operable to be loaded by an instruction executed by the CPU, the serial port interface circuitry operable to mask transmission by the data transmit output of a non-selected portion of the plurality of data channels, such that each transmit data word assigned to the non-selected portion of data channels is not transmitted via the data transmit output;
• a data receive input;
• a data receive register connected to the data receive input;
• receive control circuitry, operable to cause a serial data stream to be received from the data received register via the data receive input in a time-division multiplexed manner, such that a plurality of receive data channels exist in a frame of the received serial data stream;
• and
• a receive channel enable register for selecting a portion of the plurality of receive data channels and operable to be loaded by an instruction executed by the CPU, the serial port interface circuitry operable to disable reception of a non-selected portion of the plurality of receive data channels;
• and
• wherein the serial port interface circuitry is operable to select a portion of the receive data channels that is different from the selected portion of data channels for transmission.