JPH06338551A - Controlling method for evaluation chip - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an evaluation chip control method wherein a memory development, a pin development, and a module development can be widely and easily realized in a single chip microcomputer design where a product can be flexibly developed. CONSTITUTION:An evaluation chip 1 is capable of developing a single chip microcomputer and has not a decode function that a conventional one has. When memories are developed with a single chip microcomputer of a memory development product 2, the soft ware of an emulator is used, and the effective memories are controlled by the soft ware of this emulator 3. For instance, provided that a single chip microcomputer is possessed of an LCD controller driver function, when memories are developed with this single chip microcomputer, the LCD display RAM address of a single chip microcomputer are set variable by a soft wafer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of designing a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "microcomputer"), and particularly in the design of a single chip microcomputer having a function that enables flexible product development, memory development, pin development, and module development. The present invention relates to a technique effectively applied to a method of controlling an evaluation chip that can be expanded over a wide range.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, among microcomputer chips, a single-chip microcomputer containing a program memory is
By mounting various peripheral functions in a chip and improving its performance, it has contributed to miniaturization, weight reduction, and high performance of electronic devices.

This single-chip microcomputer is equipped with a central processing unit, a program memory, or a peripheral function such as a timer function and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) controller driver in the chip. With a microcomputer equipped with optimal functions, it is possible to maximize its capabilities by developing a program that operates optimally.

However, the single-chip microcomputer has a problem that the individual operations of the mounted functions cannot be easily confirmed at the time of debugging during program development. For this reason, an evaluation chip capable of externally measuring a part of a signal line connecting each function in the chip is prepared to address this problem.

This evaluation chip has a large number of functional modules mounted therein so that it can be applied to as many products as possible, leading to a reduction in design power.
Therefore, an evaluation chip design method that can cover many developed products is needed.

[0006]

In the prior art as described above, the following problems occur in the memory development, pin development and module development by the evaluation chip.

(1). Conventional ROM and RAM expansion is RO
M and RAM development is limited, but only one type of evaluation chip is used. This method can be used from an emulator to an evaluation chip ROM, RA
This is a method of inputting a signal for specifying a product to the M capacity control terminal (ASE terminal) and managing the memory of the emulator by using a signal obtained by decoding the memory area defined for each product according to this signal with the evaluation chip. .

In other words, this method is effective for high-speed emulator design because it is not necessary to decode the address on the emulator side to identify the memory area. However, to confirm whether the advance how memory expanded before product development must built a logic circuit corresponding to the evaluation chip to, the development of hard-dependent as shown in FIG.

Therefore, if the combination of the ROM and RAM capacities is tried to be developed in detail, it becomes impossible to cope with it, and if it is attempted, the evaluation chip must be remade. Further, there is a problem that the number of ASE terminals for product recognition is increased and a logic for controlling the capacity of ROM and RAM is required.

(2) If the LCD display RAM is a microcomputer with a built-in LCD controller driver and has a structure that can be used as a general-purpose memory, the memory mapping causes a problem as shown in FIG. That is, in order for the evaluation chip to cover any variation of the general-purpose RAM, the LCD display R
The address to which AM is mapped must be fixed and mapped to the lower address of the general-purpose RAM. However, if the address of the LCD display RAM is fixed, there is a problem that the continuity of the mapping between the LCD display RAM and the general-purpose RAM is lost and it is difficult to program.

(3). In the microcomputer with a built-in LCD controller driver, in the case of compact expansion of pins, A / D
The converter, I / O terminal, and power supply terminal can be supported by deleting the pins. However, since the LCD controller has a different function for multiplexing with respect to one pin, there is a problem that an evaluation chip is separately required when the terminal function is changed.

(4). In the case of a microcomputer with a built-in LCD controller driver, the standard specification version (without LCD) from which the LCD controller function, which is one of the module expansions, is deleted is one of the expansion products. In this case, the treatment of the LCD power supply terminal becomes a problem. That is, the standard specification version has a problem that the LCD power supply terminals (V1, V2 and V3) are not required.

Therefore, in the conventional evaluation chip, there is a demand for an evaluation chip designing method which is not versatile in memory expansion, pin expansion, and module expansion and can cover many expanded products.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling an evaluation chip that can easily and widely implement memory expansion, pin expansion, and module expansion in the design of a single-chip microcomputer that enables flexible product expansion. To do.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0016]

Among the inventions disclosed in the present application, a brief description will be given to the outline of typical ones.
It is as follows.

That is, the evaluation chip control method of the present invention is an evaluation chip that enables product development of a single-chip microcomputer. When the memory development is performed by the single-chip microcomputer, the evaluation chip is built in. Flexible memory expansion is performed within the existing memory capacity.

Further, the single chip microcomputer is an LC
In the case of having a D controller driver function, when the memory is expanded by the single chip microcomputer, the LCD display RAM address of the single chip microcomputer is changed by software.

Further, the LCD external expansion function is allocated to a plurality of pins at the time of compact expansion of the pin expansion in the single chip microcomputer.

Further, when the module is developed in the single chip microcomputer, one type of evaluation chip is provided with the LCD power supply pin and the standard pin replacing it.

[0021]

According to the above-mentioned evaluation chip control method, in the memory development of the single-chip microcomputer, the evaluation chip does not recognize the product, but the emulator software handles it, and the emulator software manages the effective memory. For RA
It is possible to flexibly expand the M and ROM capacities to the maximum specifications.

Further, the RAM address for LCD display is changed by software, and the R address for LCD display is changed by software.
Since the AM mapping is relocatable, the continuity of mapping at the memory address with the general-purpose RAM can be ensured.

Furthermore, in the memory development of the single chip microcomputer, the LCD external expansion function is assigned to a plurality of pins, and the external expansion function to be deleted can be moved when expanded from the 100-pin version to the 80-pin version, for example. Compact expansion of pins can be done without removing external extensions.

Further, in the module development of the single-chip microcomputer, an LCD power supply pin and a standard pin that replaces it are provided. For example, in a standard specification version without an LCD controller, a standard input / output terminal is provided instead of the LCD power supply terminal, and the LCD version The standard version can be covered.

As a result, since one evaluation chip can cover all the developed products of the series, it is possible to greatly reduce the design power for product development.

[0026]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence of an evaluation chip to memory expansion which is Embodiment 1 of the evaluation chip control method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the relocation register, the memory and the monitor signal in this embodiment.

First, the corresponding structure of the memory expansion of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The evaluation chip of this embodiment is
For example, it is an evaluation chip that enables product development of single-chip microcomputers. This evaluation chip 1 has the decoding function deleted compared to the conventional one, and when performing memory expansion with the single-chip microcomputer of memory expansion product 2. The software of the emulator 3 corresponds to this, and the software of the emulator 3 manages the effective memory.

For example, a single-chip microcomputer is an LC
When it has a D controller driver function, the LCD display RAM address of this single-chip microcomputer can be changed by software when the memory is expanded by this single-chip microcomputer.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a relocation register (RLCTR) which can be controlled by software (CPU instruction) is provided, which makes the mapping of the LCD display RAM relocatable and also provides a monitor signal (ASEMON3). ) Is provided so that the emulator can easily identify the unmounted area and the inaccessible area.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

Because of the above-mentioned configuration, the product development is limited in the conventional memory development because it is supported by the hardware of the evaluation chip 1. However, in the present embodiment, it is supported by the software of the emulator 3. Wide product deployment and easy.

As a result, the evaluation chip 1
It is possible to flexibly expand the RAM and ROM capacities up to the maximum specifications within the built-in memory capacity.

When the single-chip microcomputer has the LCD controller driver function, by changing the value of the relocation register as shown in FIG. 2 in relation to the variation of the RAM and the contents of the relocation register and the monitor signal. , The address of LCD display RAM is changed, resulting in general-purpose RAM
The continuity of mapping with can be maintained.

For example, RA set by the emulator 3
When the M capacity is 0.5 Kbyte, the continuity between the LCD display RAM and the general-purpose RAM can be obtained by setting the value of the relocation register to "11".

At this time, if the value of the relocation register is set to "00", "01", "10",
The presence of an unmounted area between the LCD display RAM and the general-purpose RAM can be identified by the monitor signal.

If the RAM capacity is 1.0 Kbyte, the continuity between the LCD display RAM and the general-purpose RAM can be maintained by setting the value of the relocation register to "10".

At this time, if the value of the relocation register is set to "00" or "01", there is an unmounted area between the LCD display RAM and the general-purpose RAM.
When set to "11", the presence of the inaccessible area can be identified by the monitor signal.

Similarly, by setting the value of the relocation register to "01" when the RAM capacity is 1.5 Kbytes and "00" when the RAM capacity is 2.0 Kbytes, the R for LCD display is set.
The continuity of mapping between AM and general-purpose RAM can be maintained.

Therefore, according to the evaluation chip 1 of this embodiment, when the memory of the single-chip microcomputer is expanded, the RAM of the RAM and ROM capacity is flexibly expanded to the maximum specifications by managing the memory by the software of the emulator 3. Can be further L
By varying the CD display RAM address with software, it is possible to ensure the continuity of mapping at the memory addresses of the LCD display RAM and the general-purpose RAM.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence of the evaluation chip to the pin expansion which is Embodiment 2 of the evaluation chip control method of the present invention.

The evaluation chip of this embodiment is
As in the case of the first embodiment, the evaluation chip 1 enables product development of a single-chip microcomputer, and the single-chip microcomputer has an LCD controller driver function. It is configured to assign external expansion functions to multiple pins.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when developing from the 100-pin version single-chip microcomputer 4 to the 80-pin version single-chip microcomputer 5, the 80-pin version LCD is attached to the segment terminals SEG 29 to 32 of the evaluation chip 1. The external expansion function is allocated, and the 100-pin version LCD external expansion function is allocated to the segment terminals SEG37 to SEG40.

When the LCD external expansion function is developed by the 100-pin version single-chip microcomputer 4, it becomes possible by setting the mode signal (ASEMODE) to "0", and by the 80-pin version single-chip microcomputer 5. When deploying, set to "1"
It is possible to control and determine to which segment terminal the external extension function assigned to a plurality of pins is assigned.

Therefore, in the evaluation chip 1 of this embodiment, in the pin development of the single-chip microcomputer, the LCD external expansion function is assigned to a plurality of pins and the assignment is controlled by the mode signal. Since the external expansion function to be deleted can be moved when expanded to the chip microcomputer, it is possible to perform compact expansion of the pin without deleting the external expansion function.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a mechanism for switching between an LCD version / standard specification version which is Embodiment 3 of the evaluation chip control method of the present invention.

The evaluation chip of this embodiment is
As in the case of the first embodiment, the evaluation chip 1 enables the product development of the single-chip microcomputer, and the single-chip microcomputer has the LCD controller driver function. The valuation chip 1 has a structure in which LCD power supply pins and standard pins replacing them are provided.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, three standard input / output terminals required for the standard version are added to the evaluation chip 1, and the number of terminals of the evaluation chip 1 is 3 in the number of terminals of the LCD version. It has specifications that only pins are added, and it is possible to switch between the LCD version and the standard specification version.

That is, power supply terminals (V1, V2, V3)
Since it is not preferable to use both as an input and an output terminal in terms of the circuit configuration, the emulator 3 is provided with 3 pins (PA4, PA5, PA6) in addition to the number of terminals of the LCD version which is always required.
The pins required for each product are connected via the user cable 7.

On the other hand, on the evaluation chip 1 side, when the evaluation chip 1 is used as the LCD controller built-in type, the added pin is protected so as not to function as an input / output terminal, and this protection is protected by the mode terminal (MODE). It is possible to switch between the power supply terminal side and the standard input / output terminal side by controlling with a signal from.

Therefore, according to the evaluation chip 1 of this embodiment, the LCD power supply pin and the standard pin that replaces it are provided in the module development of the single-chip microcomputer, and in the standard specification version, the standard input / output terminal is used instead of the LCD power supply terminal. By switching to, it is possible to cover the LCD version and the standard specification version and develop the product module.

Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the first to third embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

[0054]

The effects obtained by the typical ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.
It is as follows.

(1). When the memory is expanded by the single-chip microcomputer, the effective memory can be managed by the software of the emulator by flexibly expanding the memory within the memory capacity built in the evaluation chip. Therefore, it is possible to flexibly expand the memory capacity up to the maximum specification, and to easily perform the memory expansion that does not depend on the combination of ROM and RAM and the size of the capacity with one type of evaluation chip.

(2). When the single chip microcomputer has an LCD controller driver function, when the memory is expanded by this single chip microcomputer, the RA for LCD display is used.
By changing the M address by software, the mapping of the LCD display RAM can be made relocatable by the software.
Even for M, one evaluation chip for L
It is possible to maintain the continuity of mapping between the CD display RAM and the general-purpose RAM.

(3). When performing the compact expansion of the pin expansion in the single-chip microcomputer, the external expansion function to be deleted can be moved by allocating the LCD external expansion function to the pins at multiple locations. The segment terminal can be deleted while leaving it, and the pin can be compactly developed with one type of evaluation chip.

(4). When developing a module in a single-chip microcomputer, by providing an LCD power supply pin and a standard pin that replaces it with one type of evaluation chip, the standard specification version without the LCD controller is L-level.
Since it is possible to switch to the standard input / output terminal instead of the power source terminal for CD, it is possible to cover the LCD version and the standard specification version and develop the module with one kind of evaluation chip.

(5) According to the above (1) to (4), in the design of a single chip microcomputer that enables flexible product development, one type of evaluation chip can be used for memory development and pin development of all developed products of the series. Since it is possible to cover a wide range of developments and module developments with ease, it is possible to significantly reduce design power for product development.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence of an evaluation chip to memory development which is a first embodiment of a method for controlling an evaluation chip of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a relocation register, a memory, and a monitor signal in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence of the evaluation chip to the pin expansion which is Embodiment 2 of the evaluation chip control method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a mechanism for switching between an LCD version / standard specification version that is Embodiment 3 of the evaluation chip control method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence of the evaluation chip to memory development in an example of a conventional evaluation chip control method.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a problem relating to mapping between an LCD display RAM and a general-purpose RAM in an example of a conventional evaluation chip control method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Evaluation chip 2 Memory development products 3 Emulator 4 100-pin version single-chip microcomputer 5 80-pin version single-chip microcomputer 6 User device 7 User cable

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An evaluation chip that enables product development of a single-chip microcomputer, wherein when performing memory expansion by the single-chip microcomputer, the evaluation chip is flexible within the memory capacity built in the evaluation chip. A method for controlling an evaluation chip, characterized by performing memory expansion. 2. When the single-chip microcomputer has an LCD controller driver function,
When the memory is expanded by the single-chip microcomputer, LC of the single-chip microcomputer
The method for controlling an evaluation chip according to claim 1, wherein the D display RAM address is changed by software. 3. When the single chip microcomputer has an LCD controller driver function,
2. The method of controlling an evaluation chip according to claim 1, wherein the LCD external expansion function is assigned to a plurality of pins when the pin expansion in the single chip microcomputer is performed in a compact manner. 4. When the single-chip microcomputer has an LCD controller driver function,
2. The method for controlling an evaluation chip according to claim 1, wherein an LCD power supply pin and a standard pin replacing the LCD power supply pin are provided by one kind of evaluation chip when the module is developed in the single chip microcomputer.