Tjaart van der Walt <tjaart@wasp.co.za> wrote:

> You should see the patents that Mchip hold. Brownout, Power-up timer
> etc. I think this is probably what Mchip is sueing for.

    You're correct, Tjaart... The six patents referenced in the suit
    are:

        5473758:  System having input output pins shifting between
                  programming mode and normal mode to program memory
                  without dedicating input output pins for
                  programming mode

        5606511:  Microcontroller with brownout detection

        5454114:  Microcontroller power-up delay

        5033025:  On-chip register setting and clearing

        5469557:  Code protection in microcontroller with EEPROM
                  fuses

        5446864:  System and method for protecting contents of
                  microcontroller memory by providing scrambled data
                  in response to an unauthorized read access without
                  alteration of the memory contents

> I just hope that whatever Scenix did to get 100Mips out of a flash
> chip, is protected by the same patent system that prevents Scenix
> from using on-chip brownout protection.

    A search of IBM's patent server (whose database is current as of
    4 November 1997) shows NO patents EVER assigned to Scenix
    Semiconductor, Inc.

    -Andy

=== Andrew Warren - fastfwd@ix.netcom.com
=== Fast Forward Engineering - Vista, California
=== http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2499