VERSION-PROGRAMMABLE CIRCUIT MODULE

摘要

A circuit module contains a sub-circuit that is capable of providing a level of performance dependent on the version number that is stored in a version number memory. The version number is passed to the sub-circuit from a write-protected memory to the version memory in the multiplex mode with normal operating signals for the sub-circuit. In one embodiment various commands for the circuit module are received from outside the circuit module and distributed in the circuit module via a communication bus. A watchdog monitors received commands for an update command that commands updating of the version number in the version number memory and if so it passes said update command to the communication bus, replacing a version number in the update command by a version number from the write-protected memory. In another embodiment the version number is passed to the sub-circuit in time-slot multiplexing with the signals that are processed, for example in a blanking period of a video signal that is being processed.