Microcontroller having SRAM for storing program instructions and program interface for obtaining the program instructions from an external source

摘要

A microcontroller of the type adapted to be coupled to a microprocessor and arranged to operate as a slave to the microprocessor includes an execution unit for executing its own stored set of program instructions. The microcontroller includes a static random access memory for storing the program instructions and a program interface coupled to the static random access memory and arranged to be coupled to the microprocessor for obtaining the program instructions from the microprocessor. The program interface includes an address generator for addressing the storage locations of the static random access memory for programming the static random access memory with the program instructions obtained from the microprocessor. The microcontroller further includes a program verifier to permit the microprocessor to read the stored program instructions and the sum of the program instruction multiple-bit data bytes for verification.