Patent ID: 6237120
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A micro-controller integrated on a single substrate and in which a read-only information storage means for storing firmware, address control means for performing address control and input means for inputting information supplied thereto from a source external to the substrate, the micro-controller comprising:random access correcting information storage means located on the single substrate for receiving correcting information input thereto from the source external to the substrate through the input means and storing the correcting information upon any initialization of the micro-controller, wherein the correcting information is indicative of modifications for all defective information parts stored in the read-only information storage means, andswitching means located on the single substrate for selectively switching the access by the address control means from the defective information part in the read-only information storage means to the correcting information in the correcting information storage means,wherein the correcting information includes a correcting address, which is the same as an address of a defective information part in the read-only information storage means, and modifying information to replace the defective information part, the switching means comprises address comparing means for comparing an address to be accessed by the address control means and the correcting address and outputting an address coincidence signal when the correcting address and the address to be accessed by the address control means are the same, and access altering means connected to the address comparing means for causing the address control means to access the modifying information in the correcting information storage means instead of the defective information part in the read-only information storage means in response to the address coincidence signal,wherein the correcting information storage means comprises modifying information storing means for storing the modifying information and a correcting address storing means for storing the correcting address,wherein the access altering means comprises a control flag latch which is set to indicate that the read-only information storage means stores a defective information part, an interruption vector register for storing a leading address of the modifying information in the random access memory, an interruption control circuit responsive to the address coincidence signal as an interruption request signal for causing control by the address control means to move to the leading address in the interruption vector register by interruption processing, and means for gating the address coincidence signal to the interruption control circuit only when the control flag latch is set to indicate that there is a defective information part in the read-only information storage means.