X4163, X4165
PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
Power On Reset
WATCHDOG TIMER
The Watchdog Timer circuit monitors the microprocessor
activity by monitoring the SDA and SCL pins. The
microprocessor must periodically send a start bit followed by
a stop bit prior to the expiration of the watchdog time out
period to prevent a RESET/RESET signal. The start and
stop bits need to be separated by SCL toggling low then high
at least one time.
Application of power to the X4163, X4165 activates a
Power On Reset Circuit that pulls the RESET/RESET
pin active. This signal provides several benefits.
It prevents the system microprocessor from starting to
operate with insufficient voltage.
The state of two nonvolatile control bits in the Status
Register determine the watchdog timer period. The
microprocessor can change these watchdog bits, or they
may be “locked” by tying the WP pin HIGH.
It prevents the processor from operating prior to stabilization
of the oscillator.
It allows time for an FPGA to download its configuration prior
to initialization of the circuit.
EEPROM INADVERTENT WRITE PROTECTION
It prevents communication to the EEPROM, greatly reducing
the likelihood of data corruption on power up.
When RESET/RESET goes active as a result of a low
voltage condition or Watchdog Timer Time Out, any in-
progress communications are terminated. While
RESET/RESET is active, no new communications are
allowed and no nonvolatile write operation can start.
Nonvolatile writes in-progress when RESET/RESET
goes active are allowed to finish.
When VCC exceeds the device VTRIP threshold value for
200ms (nominal) the circuit releases RESET/RESET allowing
the system to begin operation.
LOW VOLTAGE MONITORING
During operation, the X4163, X4165 monitors the VCC level
and asserts RESET/RESET if supply voltage falls below a
preset minimum VTRIP. The RESET/RESET signal prevents
the microprocessor from operating in a power fail or
brownout condition. The RESET/RESET signal remains
active until the voltage drops below 1V. It also remains active
until VCC returns and exceeds VTRIP for 200ms.
Additional protection mechanisms are provided with
memory Block Lock and the Write Protect (WP) pin.
These are discussed elsewhere in this document.
V
THRESHOLD RESET PROCEDURE
CC
The X4163, X4165 is shipped with a standard V
CC
threshold (V
) voltage. This value will not change
TRIP
over normal operating and storage conditions. How-
ever, in applications where the standard V is not
TRIP
exactly right, or if higher precision is needed in the
value, the X4163, X4165 threshold may be
V
TRIP
adjusted. The procedure is described below, and uses
the application of a nonvolatile control signal.
Figure 1. Set V
Level Sequence (V = desired V values WEL bit set)
TRIP
TRIP
CC
VP = 12-15V
WP
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SCL
SDA
A0h
00h
01h
00h
FN8120.2
November 26, 2007
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