Patent ID: 6408170
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: G06F,H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
A control circuit for controlling, supporting and monitoring a microcontroller, which control circuit is built up outside the microcontroller, which is resettable by means of the control circuit, and which control circuit includes a watchdog circuit, wherein function signals are supplied to the control circuit from various microprocessor controlled devices with which function signals'presettable function modes of said devices are associated in that the control circuit supplies a read-request signal to the microcontroller when it determines that the function signals change, which read-request signal induces the microcontroller to evaluate the changed function signal and read data associated with said signal, and in that the control circuit, in case the microcontroller is in an inactive state and not responsive during the time when the function signals change, supplies a reset signal to this microcontroller prior to supplying the read-request signal, which reset signal brings the microcontroller into an active state, and after supplying the reset signal to the microprocessor, the control circuit activates the watchdog circuit.