Configurable Watchdog Timer (WD)

Overview

A watchdog is used in systems to prevent system lockup due to software or hardware failures. For normal operation, the timeout counter has to be reset by the CPU in a regular interval. Depending on the watchdog configuration, the watchdog asserts the reset_req and int_req outputs upon expiration of the timeout counters.
To avoid malfunction software to reconfigure the watchdog, all configuration registers are protected by a special lock key. The timeout interval can be configured over a wide range:
* min: 65536 system clock cycles
* max: 67'108'864 system clock cycles
Using a system clock of 40MHz, this results in a timeout window of 1.6ms – 1.67s.

Key Features

  • Two timeout outputs
  • Configurable timeout interval
  • Configuration register protected with lock key
  • Timeout interval with 40Mhz clock:
    • min: 1.6ms
    • max: 1.67s
  • Supports synchronous bus interfaces such as AMBA APB version 2.0
  • Full synchronous design
  • Synthesis Options:
    • CPU readback enable
    • Selectable lock key and reset key values

Benefits

  • For gate-count optimization, the core can be configured to disable the configuration register read-back path. Synthesis options are included to use the core in 8, 16 and 32-bit systems. With a separate APB wrapper, the core can be used in ARM subsystems.

Block Diagram

Configurable Watchdog Timer (WD) Block Diagram

Deliverables

  • VHDL or Verilog RTL Source Code
  • Functional Testbench
  • Synthesys Script
  • Data Sheet
  • User Guide
  • Hotline Support by means of phone, fax and e-mail

Technical Specifications

Foundry, Node
Technology independent
Maturity
Silicon proven in ASIC and FPGA Technologies
Availability
now
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Semiconductor IP