Semiconductor Log Acquisition Without CPU Intervention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor devices face challenges in controlling the acquisition range and conditions of log data before the CPU starts controlling the device or the system begins, and they struggle to write acquired log data into external memories like DDR SDRAM without software intervention.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a CPU access detection unit, internal signal detection unit, internal memory, setting input unit, and detection condition setting unit that allows for the detection and storage of log data based on predefined conditions, enabling log data acquisition and forwarding to external memory without CPU intervention during system initialization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If log data acquisition is enabled before CPU control starts, then log data can be captured during system initialization, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection units and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by enabling log data acquisition before the CPU starts controlling the device. The log acquisition unit is activated during system initialization to capture log data generated during the startup phase, ensuring that critical initialization events are recorded. This allows the system to collect essential debug information that would otherwise be missed if logging only started after CPU takeover.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the log acquisition function into distinct components: a log acquisition unit that operates independently from the CPU, an internal memory unit for storing log data, and a detection condition setting unit for configuring what to monitor. This modular structure allows the log acquisition system to function autonomously during initialization while maintaining manageable complexity through functional separation.
2Loss of information
If log data is stored in internal memory before CPU intervention, then data can be preserved during initialization, but access control and data management become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the log acquisition unit to autonomously manage log data storage and forwarding without requiring CPU intervention during initialization. The unit automatically writes captured log data to the internal memory unit and can directly forward it to external memory when available, eliminating the need for complex CPU-mediated access control during the critical startup phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a dedicated log acquisition unit that acts as a mediator between the system's internal operations and the memory storage. This unit handles all log data transactions, including writing to internal memory and forwarding to external memory, thereby simplifying access control by centralizing management in a single component rather than requiring complex permission systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If detection conditions are settable through setting input unit, then log acquisition can be customized, but the ease of operation decreases due to additional configuration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the detection condition setting unit to handle multiple configuration tasks through a single interface. This unit can set various detection conditions for different types of log data, configure internal memory parameters, and manage external memory forwarding all through one unified setting mechanism, thereby reducing operational complexity despite providing extensive customization capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device includes a CPU access detection unit configured to detect a predetermined access among accesses from a CPU to the semiconductor device, based on an access detection condition; an internal signal detection unit configured to detect a predetermined internal signal among internal signals from a function module in the semiconductor device, based on an event detection condition, the predetermined access and the predetermined internal signal being subjects for the log acquisition; an internal memory unit configured to store at least one of log data for the predetermined access detected by the CPU access detection unit and log data for the predetermined internal signal detected by the internal signal detection unit; a setting input unit configured to receive an input of setting data; and a detection condition setting unit configured to set the access detection condition and the event detection condition based on the setting data.