Embedded system development platform
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsStephen E. Hodges, David Alexander Butler, Shahram Izadi, Chih-Chieh Han
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular development platform is described which enables creation of reliable, compact, physically robust and power efficient embedded device prototypes. The platform consists of a base module which holds a processor and one or more peripheral modules each having an interface element. The base module and the peripheral modules may be electrically and/or physically connected together. The base module communicates with peripheral modules using packets of data with an addressing portion which identifies the peripheral module that is the intended recipient of the data packet.
Claims20
A modular prototype development platform comprising:
- a base module that sends, by a processor, data packets over a bus to individual ones of a plurality of peripheral modules, individual ones of the data packets including an addressing portion and a data portion;
- the plurality of peripheral modules, wherein an individual peripheral module of the plurality of peripheral modules includes an interface element that reads the addressing portion of a data packet to determine if the data portion of the data packet is for the individual peripheral module, the data portion including an instruction for the individual peripheral module to power up or power down within a sequence determined by the base module, wherein the sequence specifies that the individual peripheral module is to be powered up or powered down before or after one or more other peripheral modules of the plurality of peripheral modules are to be powered up or are powered down, and
- wherein the base module, the plurality of peripheral modules, and the bus form at least part of a single embedded prototype development device.
A device comprising:
- a base module that sends, by a processor, one or more data packets over a bus to individual ones of a plurality of peripheral modules, individual ones of the one or more data packets including an address and a data portion that includes an instruction to manage power consumption of the plurality of peripheral modules based at least in part on a staggered timing sequence determined by the base module to power up or power down the plurality of peripheral modules;
- and
- the plurality of peripheral modules, an individual peripheral module of the plurality of peripheral modules including an interface element that:
- reads the address of a data packet to determine if the address corresponds to an address associated with the individual peripheral module that includes the interface element;
- and
- manages the powering up or powering down of the individual peripheral module within the staggered timing sequence based at least in part on the data portion that includes the instruction;
- and
- wherein the base module, the plurality of peripheral modules, and the bus form a single prototype embedded device.
A method comprising:
- running proxy code on a processor of a base module connected to a plurality of peripheral modules in an embedded device prototype;
- receiving first signals at the base module from a computer;
- converting, by the processor of the base module, the first signals for transmission to the plurality of peripheral modules;
- addressing the first signals to at least a first peripheral module and a second peripheral module of the plurality of peripheral modules;
- transmitting the first signals to the first peripheral module and the second peripheral module of the plurality of peripheral modules, the first signals instructing the second peripheral module to power up or to power down after a predetermined time period has expired and after the first peripheral module has already powered up or powered down;
- receiving second signals at the base module from the first peripheral module and the second peripheral module of the plurality of peripheral modules;
- converting, by the processor of the base module, the second signals for transmission to the computer;
- and
- transmitting the second signals to the computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.