X4163, X4165
PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
Power On Reset
WATCHDOG TIMER
The Watchdog Timer circuit monitors the microproces-
sor activity by monitoring the SDA and SCL pins. The
microprocessor must toggle the SDA pin HIGH to
LOW periodically, while SCL is HIGH (this is a start bit)
prior to the expiration of the watchdog time out period to
prevent a RESET/RESET signal. The state of two non-
volatile 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.
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.
– It prevents the processor from operating prior to sta-
bilization of the oscillator.
– It allows time for an FPGA to download its configura-
tion 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 V
exceeds the device V
threshold value
CC
TRIP
for
200ms
(nominal)
the
circuit
releases
RESET/RESET allowing the system to begin operation.
LOW VOLTAGE MONITORING
Additional protection mechanisms are provided with
memory Block Lock and the Write Protect (WP) pin.
These are discussed elsewhere in this document.
During operation, the X4163, X4165 monitors the V
CC
level and asserts RESET/RESET if supply voltage
falls below preset minimum The
a
V
.
TRIP
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
V
THRESHOLD RESET PROCEDURE
CC
The X4163, X4165 is shipped with a standard V
threshold (V
over normal operating and storage conditions. How-
ever, in applications where the standard V is not
CC
) voltage. This value will not change
TRIP
V
returns and exceeds V
for 200ms.
CC
TRIP
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
FN8120.1
May 12, 2006
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