Patent Abstract:
A controller with attachments for controlling specific electronic circuits is disclosed. Each attachment has a connector connectable to the electronic circuit to be controlled, and a memory accessible by the controller that contains configuration data for accessing the electronic circuit, and operational software for operating the electronic circuit.

Full Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 9/350,894, filed Jul. 7, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,687,814. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to application specific attachments allowing communication and control between a portable universal controller and a controlled application device. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Processes and machines routinely incorporate electronics for control and monitoring. The electronics for such processes and machines is typically localized and application specific. Often related local processes or machines are networked for the purposes of central control or monitoring of the larger system, process or machine of which they are a part. 
     A characteristic of all of the aforementioned processes, machines and systems is that specific equipment is controlled by electronic circuits, which may be formed as circuit boards, circuit modules, integrated circuits, chips or dies, etc. These electronic circuits are manufactured to suit specific needs and perform application specific functions and consequently have different circuitry and mounting systems. Consequently, each electronic circuit requires an associated application specific controller for the purposes of operating, monitoring, controlling, testing, debugging, programming, registering, initialization, identification, etc. 
     In many situations, it is inefficient to maintain all the different controllers that are required to control a broad range of electronic circuits. Therefore, there is a need for a portable, universal controller. A practical portable, universal controller must overcome several problems. Because electronic circuits have different functions, are from different manufacturers, and are installed at different periods, the nature of the electronics, software, and electronic interface may be very different. 
     The controller will also have to accommodate many different types of connectors depending on the nature of the electronic communication with respect to both types and number of contacts and the physical shape of the connectors used in peripheral equipment. It can be seen that any portable controller that is burdened with all of the software, communication electronics and connectors required to effectively operate a useful range of electronic circuits, or all of the localized equipment in a given system, will be complex and expensive. Moreover, it would be inflexible and unable to easily accommodate new localized equipment. What is required is a portable controller that practically and effectively will operate diverse electronic circuits. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the need for a single, practical, flexible and universal portable controller for controlling different electronic circuits, such as circuit boards, circuit modules, integrated circuits, chips, dies, etc. The invention includes a processor based portable controller which includes a reconfigurable programmable logic device. An application specific attachment is connected to both the universal controller and an electronic circuit. The attachment has a connector compatible with the I/O terminal of the electronic circuit and a memory which contains configuration data for electronically accessing the electronic circuit and operational software for operating the electronic circuit. The universal controller reads the configuration data of the electronic circuit from the memory of the application attachment and configures the programmable logic device giving the controller access to the electronic circuit. The universal controller also reads the operational software from the application attachment&#39;s memory and implements the operational software in order to control the electronic circuit. The universal controller may be used to operate, debug, control, program, initialize, identify, monitor, test, or register an electronic circuit. Those skilled in the art with appreciate the many, varied uses for the universal controller. 
     The advantages and features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the invention, which is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of a controller with an interface attachment. 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart of the operation of an electronic circuit by a controller with an interface attachment. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of the testing of an electronic circuit by a controller with an interface attachment. 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic block diagram of the control of an electronic circuit by a controller with an interface attachment. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of the operation of an electronic circuit in the form of an integrated circuit by a controller with an interface attachment. 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic block diagram of the testing of an integrated circuit by a controller with an interface attachment. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram of a controller with application attachments used in series. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram of a controller for operating an electronic circuit in the form of an integrated circuit with application attachments used in series. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart of the programming of a custom application attachment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a universal controller system is illustrated which includes a portable, universal controller  10  and an application attachment  20 . Also illustrated is an electronic circuit  30  which is to be controlled. 
     The universal controller  10  includes a housing  100 , a CPU  101 , a display  102 , such as an LCD, a keypad  104 , random access memory  106 , read only memory  108 , a reconfigurable programmable logic device  110 , an internal communication bus system  112 , a multi-pin socket connector  114 , an application input/output connector  116 , and a second input/output connector  118 . All of the elements of the universal controller  10  are connected to, and operate through, the internal communications bus system  112 , except the multi-pin connector  114 , which is connected to the reconfigurable programmable logic device  110 . 
     Each application attachment  20  includes a housing  200 , a multi-pin plug connector  202 , an input/output connector  204 , a non-volatile memory  206 , for example, a flash memory, and an application connector  208 . The flash memory  206  stores the operational software and application configuration data necessary for the electronic circuit  30 . The multi-pin plug connector  202  of the application attachment  20  is internally connected with the application connector  208 . The application connector  208  may be mounted on housing  200  or attached to the application attachment  20  by a cable, depending on the characteristics of the electronic circuit  30 . The multi-pin socket connector  114  of the universal controller  10  and the multi-pin plug connector  202  of the application attachment  20  must each have enough terminals to conform to the electronic circuit  30  with the largest number of terminals expected. Often, other electronic circuits  30  expected to the used with the universal controller  10  will require a smaller number of terminals. Thus, the application connector  208  will often have less terminals than the multi-pin plug connector  202 . 
     The application connector  208  is connected to the multi-pin connector on a terminal-to-terminal basis until all the terminals of the application specific connector  208  are exhausted, sometimes leaving some of the pins of the multi-pin plug connector  202  unconnected. In the example shown, the electronic circuit  30  requires less than all of the terminals of multi-pin socket connector  202 . 
     The flash memory  206  is connected to the input/output connector  204 . The multi-pin connector  202  and input/output connector  204  are located on the housing  200  of the application specific attachment  20 , and the multi-pin connector  114  and application input/output connector  116  are located on the housing  100  of the universal controller  10 , in a manner that they engage together when the application specific attachment is attached to the universal controller  10 . The application attachment  20  may also mechanically attach to the universal controller  10  in any one of many ways known in the art. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, input/output connector  116  of the universal controller  10 , and input/output connector  204  of the application attachment  20  may be part of multi-pin socket connector  114  and multi-pin plug connector  202 , respectively. In this embodiment, a signal connector pair is used to provide the required signal paths for the invention. 
     The electronic circuit  30  may be a circuit board, circuit module, integrated circuit, chip, die, etc. That is, the electronic circuit  30  can be any type of electronic circuit, in any form, which can be operated on in any way, for example, programmed, monitored, tested, debugged, registered, initialized, identified, controlled, etc. The electronic circuit has a connector  302  electronically connected to it. 
     In practice, when it is desired to operate an electronic circuit  30 , an application attachment  20  matching the electronic circuit  30  is attached to the universal controller  10  and to the electronic circuit  30 . Connections between the controller and the attachment which are not needed for accessing configuration or operational software are kept in a passive state until a valid configuration is established. Data and one or more programs relating to the electronic circuit  30  prestored in flash memory  206  are loaded into RAM  106  for use by CPU  101 . CPU  101  runs the programs transferred from flash memory  206  using the transferred data to configure PLD  110  and conduct the predetermined operations on electronic circuit  30 . Since all control software and data for an electronic circuit are stored in application attachment  20 , an operator need merely choose a new application attachment  20  when the operator desires to use the universal controller  10  with a different electronic circuit  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the overall control program executed by CPU  101  is shown. Upon powering on, the universal controller implements at step  401  the universal controller&#39;s operations software, which causes a menu of operations to appear on display  102  at step  402 . One of the entries on the menu is “Application Operation.” Other entries will be for other operations of the universal controller  10 , such as self diagnostic routines and the like. An operator then responds at step  404  with the appropriate keystroke to select application operation. In response, CPU  101  accesses at step  406  the flash memory  206  through the universal bus  112 , reads the configuration data and operational software for the electronic circuit  30  stored in the flash memory  206  at step  408 , and loads the configuration data and operational software in random access memory  106  at step  410 . CPU  101  then configures PLD  110  according to the application&#39;s configuration data at step  412 . With this configuration, data and address signals will be properly routed between various source pins of connector  302  and the address and data lines of the internal communication bus system  112 . CPU  101  then runs the application software at step  414  causing operation of the electronic circuit  30 . With appropriate software, memory and processing capacity, the universal controller can be used for any type of operation which can be performed on any electronic circuit. Once operation of the electronic circuit  30  is completed, the universal controller  10  can be turned off and disconnected, or left connected for another operation. 
     An example of a specific application with which the invention can be used is to test the erase time of an electronic circuit in the form of a memory device  304 , as shown in FIG.  3 . In this example, a particular electronic circuit  30 A has, among other things, a four terminal connector  302 A, an internal bus  303 A, and a memory device  304 A. 
     The operator selects the appropriate application attachment. The application specific connector  208  of the application attachment  20  is a four terminal connector that matches the application connector  302 A. Contained in the flash memory  206  of the application attachment  20  are the configuration data for the application connector  302 A, internal bus  303 A, and a program for testing the erase time of the memory device  304 A of the electronic circuit  30 A. The operator attaches the application attachment  20  to the universal controller  10  and attaches the application connector  208  of the application attachment  20  to the application connector  302 A of the electronic circuit  30 A. When the operator initiates the test routine, CPU  101  of the controller  10  accesses and reads the flash memory for the configuration data and operational software for the electronic circuit  30 A. Based on the configuration data, CPU  101  configures PLD  110  to route signals from the appropriate address and data lines of internal communication bus system  112  through to the appropriate terminals of multi-pin socket connector  114  of the universal controller  10  and multi-pin plug connector  202  of the application attachment  20 , through to application connector  208  of the application attachment  20 , through to application connector  302 A of the electronic circuit  30 A. The universal controller  10  then initiates the erase time test program contained in the operational software. Under the test program, the time required to completely access the memory device  304 A and erase it is recorded and compared to a standard, and a pass/fail indication appears on the display  102 . The operational software could also include other memory-related routines, such as a check for bad memory locations. With changes in software, the universal controller  10  could also be used to program, debug, identify, monitor, initialize, register, test or otherwise control the memory device  304 A. 
     In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the direct connections between multi-pin plug connector  202  of the application attachment  20  and application connector  208  of the application attachment  20  are replaced by logic circuitry  210 . The logic circuitry  210  may afford direct connections, logic connections or a combination of both direct and logic connections, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. 
     In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the universal controller  10  is used to operate electronic circuits in the form of integrated circuits, or similar electronic circuits. These integrated circuits could be newly manufactured or removed from an existing electronic environment. In this embodiment, the application connector  208  is an integrated circuit socket appropriate for the integrated circuits in question. The integrated circuit socket is situated on the housing  200  of the application attachment  20  and connects directly to the application connector  208 . 
     In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the direct connections between multi-pin plug connector  202  of the application attachment  20  and application connector  208  of the application attachment  20  is replaced by IC testing electronics  212 , which incorporate direct and/or logic connections and testing hardware suitable for testing integrated circuit application  30 B, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. 
     In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 5 , attachments may be used in series to accommodate families of applications. This approach will be most useful when certain electronic circuits share basic characteristics but have minor software or hardware differences. In this embodiment, a primary application attachment  20 P will include a multi-pin plug connector  202 P for connection with the universal controller  10  and a multi-pin sub-connector  208 P of adequate capacity for the designated family of electronic circuits. Also included will be a flash memory  206 P holding at least the configuration data for the sub-connector  208 P, and possibly configuration data for the ultimate electronic circuit  30 . The flash memory  206 P may also hold operational programming for the ultimate electronic circuit  30 . The primary application attachment  20 P may also have a second input/output connector  210 P internally connected to the first input/output connector  204 P. 
     The secondary application attachment  20 S has a multi-pin connector  202 S that matches the multi-pin sub-connector  208 P of the primary application attachment  20 P. An application connector  208 S is provided and is electrically connected to the multi-pin connector  202 S, terminal for terminal until the terminals of the application connector  208 S are exhausted. The secondary application attachment  20 S may also have a flash memory  206 S containing configuration data and operational programs for the particular electronic circuit  30 . 
     As an example, a series attachment system would be useful when dealing with families of electronic circuits  30 , such as integrated circuits, with identical electronics but different sockets, as shown in FIG.  6 . In this example, the flash memory  206 P of the primary application attachment  20 P would hold the operation programming for a family of electronic circuits  30  (here integrated circuits). The flash memory  206 S of the secondary application attachment would hold the configuration data for the specific electronic circuit  30 . For example, the configuration data for a particular  16  pin integrated circuit  30 C would route the address and data lines of the internal communication bus system  112  to the appropriate power pin  1 , input pins  2  through  8 , and output pins  9  through  16 . 
     In another example, series attachments can be used for monitoring electronic circuits having analog sensors. In this example, an analog/digital converter, required for each electronic circuit, would be included in the primary application attachment  20 P. The memory  206 S of the secondary application attachment  20 S would contain the configuration data and operations software specific to each electronic circuit. 
     Electronic circuits requiring supervoltages to operate may also be efficiently operated through series attachments. For example, a supervoltage is required to access test modes of certain dynamic random access memories (DRAMs). For these type of applications, the primary application attachment could include a voltage pump for multiplexing a supervoltage with logic signals, and any software necessary for this operation would be included in the flash memory of the primary application attachment. In this example, the secondary application attachments would have the appropriate connector, configuration data, and operation software for the particular electronic circuit, e.g. a memory device. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the examples used to illustrate series attachment could also be implemented with a single attachment. Such choices will depend on the particular economies of scale for each type of application. 
     A useful feature of the invention is its adaptability to custom applications, including one-time applications. For custom applications, attachments could be produced with unprogrammed flash memory and a specific connector that is likely to be used. An alternative would be to produce these unprogrammed attachments with several widely used connectors. Another alternative would be to produce the attachments with screw or similar terminals to allow any connector required to be connected to the multi-pin connector of the attachment. 
     A personal computer or similar device can be used to program the flash memory of the attachment with the appropriate software and configuration data. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the operator would first load at step  500  and implement at step  502  the custom application software in the personal computer. When running, the program first will inquire at step  504  on the availability of a record of the configuration data for the application. If no record is available, the program will prompt the operator at step  506  to enter manually at step  508  the configuration data, which will be stored in the computer&#39;s memory at step  514 . If a record is available, the program will prompt to operator at step  510  to identify its location (which drive) at step  512 , and the configuration data will be stored in the computer&#39;s memory at step  514 . 
     The program then will inquire at step  516  on the availability of operational software for the application. If no software is available, the program will prompt at step  518  the operator to enter manually at step  520  the operational software which will be stored at step  526  in the computer&#39;s memory. If a record is available, the program will prompt at step  522  the operator to identify at step  524  its location, and the operational software will be stored at step  526  in the computer&#39;s memory. 
     The program then will inquire at step  528  whether the configuration data and operational software should be transferred to the application attachment. If no, the program will end. If yes, the program will transfer at step  530  the configuration data and operational software to the flash memory  206  of the attachment  20  via a connection to the input-output port  204  of the attachment  20 , or through terminals of connector  202 , if a separate input-output port  204  is not used. 
     The present invention provides a portable universal controller which can operate different types of electronic circuits using an application attachment for each different type of electronic circuit that provides the specific connection, configuration data and operational software required to control a specific electronic circuit. By providing the application specific data in an attachment, the present invention constitutes a flexible, truly universal controller for electronic circuits. 
     Variations of the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be understood that although the present invention has been described with references to preferred embodiments, various modifications, known to those skilled in the art, may be made to the structures and steps presented herein without departing from the invention, which is defined in the claims appended hereto. 
     The detailed workings of the processor and circuits, etc., set forth herein will also be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In addition, those skilled in the art will recognize that the circuits and functions set forth may be realized by microprocessors, catalog and custom integrated circuits, etc., or combinations thereof as a matter of engineering choice.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6