I thought Intels 8751 used I/O pins for programming internal code memory
and also they have an 'encryption array' to prevent code being read out...
maybe Intel licenced this from Microchip, I don't know, does anyone else?


Just asking......Paul
>
>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