The Watchdog Timer IP Core is designed for use as an indicator that a corrective action is needed in response to a computer or a processor malfunction. The design features a two-stage timer which supports non-maskable interrupt and a hard reset.
This IP Core is a two-stage timer that starts to count depending on the computer status. The computer continuously sends a kick signal to the watchdog timer as its status, absence of the kick signal means there is a hardware malfunction or program error in the computer. Uses an up-counter that counts from zero to a timeout value at a rate that is determined by the configurable mode and the clock frequency.
Performs Two Main Functions: Send a non-maskable interrupt to the computer (nmi_o) and send a reset to the computer for system restart (reset_o).
Supports Both Warm and Cold Boot Resets - Supports both warm boot (nmi_o) and cold boot (reset_o) resets. Reset ports are asserted once the timeout value is reached. The warm boot reset is a non-maskable interrupt which serves as a warning to the computer that a system reset is expected. When this port is asserted, the computer should either debug the program error or store the important files in running programs. The cold boot or the hard reset, as the name implies, resets the whole system once the second timeout value has reached.