Semiconductor Event Controller Using Lookup Table Arbitration
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Solution Overview
Problem
As microcomputers increase in functionality, the complexity of logical configurations for event signal and start control signal associations grows, making it difficult to pre-install all necessary combinations, especially when multiple events occur simultaneously, and users may not have all required signals prepared.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a central processing unit, functional blocks that output event processing requests, and an event controller that arbitrates requests, generates event IDs, and outputs them to functional blocks for response processing, allowing flexible event handling without requiring pre-defined hardware control signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the numbers of event signals and start control signals increase to support more functions, then the functionality of the microcomputer is improved, but the number of combinations increases and the logical configuration becomes very complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an event link controller as an intermediary component between event signals and start control signals. This controller uses a lookup table (LUT) to store pre-defined associations between event signals and start control signals, thereby mediating the complex many-to-many relationships without requiring direct complex logic wiring between all possible signal pairs. The LUT acts as a mediator that simplifies the logical configuration while supporting multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining and storing the associations between event signals and start control signals in a lookup table before runtime operations. This allows the system to handle complex signal relationships without requiring complex real-time decision logic. The associations are prepared in advance, enabling flexible configuration while maintaining simple runtime operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all necessary event signal and start control signal combinations are pre-installed in the microcomputer, then various events can be processed, but it becomes difficult to install all necessary combinations when functions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the event signal to start control signal associations configurable and modifiable. Instead of having fixed hardwired logic, the system uses a lookup table that can be programmed to establish different associations based on application requirements. This dynamic configuration capability allows the system to adapt to various event processing needs without requiring physical reconfiguration or complex fixed logic for all possible combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The lookup table structure provides universality by serving as a single mechanism that can handle any combination of event signals and start control signals. Rather than requiring dedicated logic circuits for each specific signal pair, the universal LUT can store and retrieve any association, making the system capable of handling diverse event processing requirements with a single flexible component.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple start control signals are generated from one event signal or one start control signal is generated from multiple event signals, then the system becomes more flexible, but the number of combinations increases and logical configuration becomes very complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The event link controller serves as an intermediary that handles the many-to-many relationships between event signals and start control signals through the lookup table. Instead of requiring complex logic to directly manage which event signals generate which start control signals, the LUT mediates these relationships by storing the associations and retrieving the appropriate start control signals based on event signal inputs, thereby simplifying the logical configuration while maintaining flexible signal generation capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device is provided that can process various events while suppressing complication of logical configuration.The semiconductor device includes a central processing unit, a plurality of functional blocks, and an event controller. Each functional block includes an interrupt factor detection unit that detects an interrupt factor and outputs an event processing request based on the interrupt factor, an event ID input unit that receives an input of an event ID outputted from the event controller, an event response specification unit that determines whether or not the inputted event ID is an event ID that requires response and, when the inputted event ID is an event ID that requires response, specifies response content corresponding to the inputted event ID, and an event response processing unit that performs event response processing based on the specified response content.