Debug Support Unit Dedicated Registers Microprocessor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional debugging methods are inefficient and complex, requiring dedicated hardware resources and software instructions, which limits their effectiveness and flexibility, especially in modern complex microprocessor systems.
Innovation Solution
A hardware-based debugging support unit with dedicated debug registers and a debug control circuit that enables debugging operations without the need for software instructions, allowing direct control over the processor's execution pipeline and memory access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional debugging methods using software instructions and stubs are used, then debugging functionality is achieved, but device complexity and resource allocation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the debugging functionality from the main processor by implementing a dedicated Debug Support Unit (DSU) with specialized hardware components. The DSU includes a debug state machine, comparison logic, and control registers that are separate from the main processor architecture, allowing debugging operations to be performed independently without complicating the core processor design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a Debug Support Unit as an intermediary component between the processor and the debugging interface. The DSU mediates all debugging operations by interceptoring processor signals, performing comparisons, and controlling debug state transitions, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining comprehensive debugging capability.
2Reliability
If dedicated hardware resources are allocated for debugging, then debugging reliability improves, but resource allocation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The Debug Support Unit is designed to perform multiple debugging functions using a unified hardware structure. The same comparison logic and state machine handle various debugging operations including breakpoint monitoring, instruction tracing, and system state inspection, eliminating the need for separate dedicated hardware for each debugging function and optimizing resource utilization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If software-based debugging with stubs is implemented, then debugging flexibility is achieved, but productivity and debugging efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the software-based stub mechanism with a hardware-based comparison and control system. Instead of using software instructions to implement breakpoints and debugging stops, the DSU uses hardware comparison logic to automatically detect target conditions and control processor execution, significantly improving debugging speed and efficiency while maintaining flexibility through programmable control registers.
4Ease of operation
If conventional debugging interfaces using UART and serial communication are used, then communication capability is achieved, but device complexity and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the debugging communication interface with the existing processor support logic. The DSU utilizes the same UART controller and serial communication infrastructure already present in the processor system, merging debugging communication capabilities with the main system's communication resources rather than implementing a separate dedicated communication interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A debug-enabled processing device includes a processor, a communication transceiver circuit, and a debug support unit. The debug support unit has a plurality of dedicated debug registers to facilitate debugging a software program under execution by the processor. One of the plurality of debug registers is a control register having at least four bits, which are used to enable/disable a plurality of debugging operations. Others of the debug registers include a set of index registers that may be configured to pass data to and from the processor.