Sony patents sensor chip that tracks read and write requests for security
Sony describes a data processing device that uses a specific register layout to store settings, security data, and communication details. It includes counters that track how often a host computer reads from or writes to these settings, adding this count to the sensor data sent back. The device also has dedicated outputs to report its internal processing status or any errors that occur during communication.
In the filing’s own words
A data processing device according to the present disclosure includes: a register including, as address regions, a setting region that stores setting information transmitted from a host, a security data region that stores security data for the setting information, and a communication information region that stores communication information with the host; and a communication unit that performs register communication between the host and the register.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A data processing device comprising: a register including, as address regions, a setting region that stores setting information transmitted from a host, a security data region that stores security data for the setting information, and a communication information region that stores communication information with the host a communication circuit that performs register communication between the host and the register; a communication counter including a writing counter that counts that a writing request for the setting information to the setting region has been made from the host, and a reading counter that counts that a reading request for the setting information has been made from the host; a sensor; a data output circuit that adds a counter value from the communication counter to sensor data outputted from the sensor and outputs the sensor data to the host, wherein the data output circuit adds the counter value from the communication counter to the sensor data, at a timing synchronized with a synchronization timing signal for the sensor data; a notification circuit that outputs, as notification information, at least one of a processing status indicating a processing state in the register or error information caused in processing in the register; a processing state output terminal that outputs the processing status to the host; and an error output terminal that outputs the error information to the host.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation)
- Official title
- Data processing device with register storing setting, security and communication information for read and write requests
- Patent number
- US12769888B2
- Application number
- 18712288
- Filed
- Oct 31, 2022
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 16
Classified under
G06F 21/71 Physics & computingG06F 11/1004 Physics & computingG06F 21/602 Physics & computingMore from Sony in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.