JPH01253044A - Input/output controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for an IC socket, etc., and to prevent the reliability from decreasing by writing a register in a microprogram and data in a local memory, and including a debug routine which can return to a normal run mode from a bug mode. CONSTITUTION:The input/output controller 1 receives a command from a tester 2 and then the microprogram stored in the local memory 12 enters the debug routine. Then when the command from the tester 2 is inputted, the contents of registers are displayed on the tester 2 through a tester interface 13 and data inputted from the tester 2 are written in the registers; and the contents of the local memory 12 are displayed on the tester 2 and the data inputted from the tester 2 are written in the local memory 12. Then the debug routine is finished with a command inputted from the tester 12 and the normal processing is restarted. Consequently, the need to mount the IC socket, etc., is eliminated and the reliability is prevented from decreasing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input/output control device that incorporates a microprocessor and is controlled by a microprogram, and particularly relates to debugging of the microprogram.

Conventional technology Conventionally, when debugging a microprogram with this type of input/output control device, a debugging device dedicated to the microprocessor, a so-called in-circuit emulator, etc., is installed instead of the microprocessor to debug the microprogram. Ta.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional input/output control device described above, in order to debug a microprogram, it is necessary to purchase an in-circuit emulator dedicated to the microprocessor used in the human output control device.

This in-circuit emulator is expensive.

The drawback is that it is rarely used for purposes other than developing and debugging microprograms.

Furthermore, in order to make it possible to remove the microprocessor in the input/output control device, an IC socket or the like must be mounted, and this IC socket or the like has the disadvantage of lowering reliability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional situation,
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel input/output control device that makes it possible to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks inherent in the conventional technology.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, an input/output F'l control device according to the present invention includes a microprocessor that decodes and executes microinstructions, a microprogram executed by the microprocessor, and control information. A local memory that temporarily stores input/output data, a tester interface that mediates the human output of information between the microprocessor and the external tester, and allows the input/output control device and external tester to be connected and detached, and commands input from the external tester. is decoded, the microprogram is changed from normal running mode to debug mode, the state of the microprocessor at the time of transition to debug mode is displayed on an external tester, and the register local memory of the microprocessor is displayed according to commands from the tester. It is composed of a microprogram including a debug routine for performing operations, writing data to registers and local memory, and returning from debug mode to normal running mode.

Embodiment Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an input/output control bag M1 according to the present invention includes a microprocessor 11. Local memo U12, tester interface 13 and device interface 14
and are connected to each other by an internal bus 15. Further, the tester interface 13 is connected to the tester 2 through a general-purpose interface such as R3-232CJ. The device interface 14 is connected to the input/output device 3 to input/output data and control the input/output device.

Normally, the input/output control device 1 receives commands from a host device (not shown) and controls input/output devices.
Upon receiving the command from the tester 2, the microprogram stored in the local memory 12 enters a debug routine and waits for command input from the tester 2.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a microprogram debug routine.

In FIG. 2, the debug routine inputs commands from tester 2 and performs processing corresponding to the commands.
In other words, the contents of the register are transferred to the tester interface 13.
Display on tester 2 via , and write the data input from tester 2 to the register.

The contents of the local memory 12 are displayed on the tester 2, and data input from the tester 2 is written into the local memory 12.

A command input from the tester 2 can terminate the Tebug routine and return to normal processing.

Effects of the Invention As explained in Section 2, according to the present invention, a tester interface is provided in the input/output control device, and data input/output to and from the tester is performed through microprogram processing, thereby creating a relatively inexpensive general-purpose interface. Since the microprocessor is not removed, an IC socket or the like is not required, and a decrease in reliability can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an input/output control device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a debug routine in a microprogram. 1164 person output control device, 260. Tester, 3°9. Input/output device, 11. , , microprocessor (
MPU), 12. , ,Local memory, +3.
, ,Tester Interface, 14. , , device interface

Claims (1)

[Claims] An input/output control device that performs main control using a microprogram, comprising: a microprocessor that decodes and executes microinstructions, a microprogram executed by the microprocessor, and control necessary to execute the microprogram. a local memory for temporarily storing information and input/output data; a tester interface that mediates input/output of information between the microprocessor and the external tester and makes the input/output control device and the external tester detachable; Decoding commands input from an external tester, changing the microprogram from normal running mode to debug mode, displaying the microprocessor status at the time of transition to debug mode in the debug mode on the tester, and receiving instructions from the tester. a microprogram including a debug routine that can display registers and local memory of the microprocessor according to the instructions, write data to the registers and local memory, and return from debug mode to normal running mode. An input/output control device.