JPH0798992A - Data processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance utilizing efficiency by successively writing in order of the head for plural sectional storage areas and repeatedly writing on the sectional storage area of the head in order again after writing on the sectional storage area of the last. CONSTITUTION:By a microprocessor 1, first, the sectional storage area for writing the present operation data is retrieved among from 24 sectional storage areas in an EEPROM 5, and whether or not the identification data 00 of the read out storage area exists is decided. When the 00 exists, the data are written by the processor 1. When no 00, an address is increased by +1, and the retrieval is repeated until the 00 exists. When the sectional storage area writing the data is the sectional storage area of the last, the identification data 00 are written in the sectional storage area of the head. Thus, related to respective sectional storage areas, the operation data are written by the limit number of times (within the range of 50 thousand to 100 thousand times) of the EEPROM 5 respectively.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data processing device having an EEPROM capable of rewriting data and storing and holding the written data even when the power is turned off.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electric device in which various loads are driven and controlled by a microprocessor for operation control, when a failure occurs, the operating state at the time of failure must be reproduced in order to easily investigate the cause. is necessary. For this reason, in the electric device, an EEPROM is built in, and the operation data necessary for reproducing the operation state is appropriately written in the EEPROM by the microprocessor during operation to be stored. As a result, even when a failure occurs and the power is turned off, the operation data at the time of the failure can be stored and retained, so that the operation state at the time of the failure can be easily reproduced.

[0003]

[PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION] By the way, EEPRO
M generally has a limit to the number of times data can be rewritten, and is generally 5
The data could not be written after 10,000 to 100,000 times. Further, in the above conventional configuration, EEPRO
When the operation data is written in M, the operation data is written in a storage area of a predetermined address in the storage area of the EEPROM. For this reason, there is a drawback that the data cannot be written when the number of times of writing the data to the EEPROM reaches the limit number. Therefore, in the above-described conventional configuration, the number of times data is written is counted, and when the count value reaches the limit number, E
It is determined that the EPROM has reached the end of its life and the data writing process is not executed. Further, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional configuration, only the storage area of a predetermined address in the storage area of the EEPROM cannot write data, and the storage area which is not used can still write data. Was not used efficiently.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the use efficiency of the EEPROM and to significantly increase the number of times of writing data to the EEPROM.
It is to provide a data processing device capable of extending the life of M.

[0005]

A data processor according to the present invention is a data processor comprising an EEPROM capable of rewriting data and storing and holding the written data even when the power is off. When the storage area of the EEPROM is divided into a plurality of divided storage areas and the data is written in the plurality of divided storage areas, the current data is written in the divided storage area next to the divided storage area in which the previous data was written. In addition to this, when the partitioned storage area in which the data was previously written is the final partitioned storage area, the present data is written in the leading partitioned storage area.

In this case, specifically, a search is made from the beginning of the partitioned storage area in order to see if an identifier indicating the partitioned storage area for writing data is written in the partitioned storage area. A search means for searching a partitioned storage area for writing data this time from the plurality of partitioned storage areas, and a data writing means for writing data in the partitioned storage area searched by the searching means, Write the identifier to the next partitioned storage area after the data is written, or if the partitioned storage area where the data is written is the final partitioned storage area, write the identifier to the first partitioned storage area. It is preferable that the configuration includes an identifier writing unit.

Further, at the time of initialization, the EEPRO
It is also conceivable to write the identifier in the partition storage area at the head of M or all partition areas. Further, it is more preferable to provide a counter for counting all the number of times of writing in all the divided storage areas of the EEPROM.

[0008]

According to the above means, the storage area of the EEPROM is divided into a plurality of divided storage areas, the data is sequentially written into the plurality of divided storage areas from the beginning, and the divided storage areas at the end are written. After the data is written, the data is written again in the repeated order from the head divided storage area, so that the entire storage area of the EEPROM can be effectively used. Then, since it is possible to write the data for each divided storage area by the limited number of times, it is possible to write the data as many times as the number of times the limited number of times is divided by the number of divided storage areas by simple calculation in the entire EEPROM. The number of times data is written can be significantly increased.

In this case, when writing data in order from the beginning to a plurality of partitioned storage areas, specifically, an identifier indicating that to the partitioned storage area in which data is to be written next. Since this is configured to be written in advance, by asserting this identifier, the partitioned storage area in which data is to be written this time can be easily searched, and data can be easily written to the searched partitioned storage area. Can be crowded. Then, after writing the data, the identifier is written in the next partitioned storage area (the partitioned storage area at the beginning when the partitioned storage area in which the data is written is the final partitioned storage area). good.

Incidentally, if the above-mentioned identifier is written at the time of initialization for the first divided storage area,
Easy to control. In this case, the identifier may be written in all the division areas at the time of initialization. Further, when the counter is provided with a counter that counts each number of times of writing to all the divided storage areas of the EEPROM, when the life of the EEPROM is exhausted,
It is also possible to take measures such as stopping or notifying the data writing process.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an operation control device for a refrigerator will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. 2 showing a block diagram of the operation control device, a control circuit, for example, a microprocessor 1 is a ROM 2
Based on a control program stored in advance in the refrigerator, detection signals from various sensors (not shown) provided in the refrigerator main body are received through the I / O circuit 3, and various loads (for example, a compressor, various dampers, etc.) are received. ) Is controlled through the I / O circuit 3 to control the cooling operation of the entire refrigerator. The microprocessor 1 has functions as a search means, a data writing means, and an identifier writing means.

Further, the microprocessor 1 has a RAM 4
In addition to being able to write data into the RAM, the data written in the RAM 4 can be read out. Further, the microprocessor 1 has an EEPROM (Elec
trially Erasable Program
It is possible to write data in the (table ROM) 5 and read data written in the EEPROM 5. The EEPROM 5 is a storage device capable of electrically rewriting data and has a function of storing and holding the written data even when the power is turned off.

In the refrigerator in which the cooling operation is controlled by driving and controlling various loads by the microprocessor 1, when a failure occurs, the operating state at the time of the failure is set in order to easily find the cause. It is necessary to reproduce. Therefore, the microprocessor 1 is configured to write various operation data necessary for reproducing the operation state into the EEPROM 5 at an appropriate timing during the cooling operation so as to be stored therein. In the case of the present embodiment, the above-mentioned operation data is, for example, data of 1 byte of information amount. The storage area for writing the operation data in the storage area of the EEPROM 5 is, for example, a storage area A of 24 bytes from the beginning as shown in FIG. The storage area A is divided into 24 section storage areas each having a length of 1 byte, and the operation data is written and stored in each of the section storage areas. In the present embodiment, the storage area A of the EEPROM 5 is initialized at the time of initialization before product shipment.
For example, “0
0 "(this is a 1-byte data in which all 8 bits are" 0 ") is written (FIG. 1).
reference). The partitioned storage area in which the identifier "00" is written represents that it is a partitioned area for data writing. Incidentally, at the time of the initialization, "00" may be written only in the leading storage area.

Thereafter, the microprocessor 1 executes the EEP.
The process of writing and storing the operation data in the ROM 5 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6. First, the flowchart of FIG. 1 shows the partial control contents of the process of writing the operation data in the EEPROM 5 of the control program. Now, the operation data is EEPRO
If the timing for writing to M5 is reached, the microprocessor 1 first searches the 24 partitioned storage areas of the EEPROM 5 for a partitioned storage area for writing data this time. Specifically, in step S1 of FIG. 1, the head address of the storage area A of the EEPROM 5 (the address of the head storage area) is set, the data stored at this address is read, and the read data is the identifier. It is determined whether it is "00" (step S2).

In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, since "00" is stored in the first divided storage area, the process proceeds to "YES" in step S2. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, when "00" is not stored in the first divided storage area, the process proceeds to "NO" in step S2 and the address is incremented by +1 (step S3),
The data stored in the next divided storage area is read.
Hereinafter, the process of incrementing the address by +1 and searching the partitioned storage area is repeated until the partitioned storage area in which "00" is stored is read.
In the case of the storage area A in FIG. 5, when the fifth storage area from the beginning is read, the process proceeds to “YES” in step S2.

Then, when the process proceeds to step S4, the microprocessor 1 writes the operation data in the searched divided storage area (step S4). Specifically, in the case of the storage area A shown in FIG. 3, for example, “23” is written as operation data in the head division storage area, and the result becomes as shown in FIG. Further, in the case of the storage area A shown in FIG. 5, for example, “55” is written as operation data in the fifth divisional storage area from the beginning.

After this, the microprocessor 1 determines that the partition storage area next to the partition storage area in which the operation data has been written,
Alternatively, when the partitioned storage area in which the operation data is written is the final partitioned storage area, the processing of writing the identifier "00" in the leading partitioned storage area is performed. In particular,
After incrementing the address by +1 (step S
5), this incremented address is the storage area A
It is determined whether or not it is the final address (step S
6). This judgment is a judgment as to whether or not the section storage area in which the operation data is written is the last section storage area.

Here, if the incremented address is not the final address of the storage area A, the process proceeds to "NO" in step S6 and the data "00" is written as an identifier in the divided storage area of the address (step S7). .
Specifically, in the storage area A shown in FIG. 3, when the operation data “23” is written in the first division storage area, the data is stored in the second division storage area in the case shown in FIG. Write "00". Further, in the storage area A shown in FIG. 5, when the operation data “55” is written in the fifth division storage area from the beginning, the data “00” is written in the sixth division storage area. As shown in 6. As a result, the process of writing the operation data in the EEPROM 5 is completed, and after that, the control returns to the normal cooling operation control.

On the other hand, when the incremented address is the final address of the storage area A in step S6, the process proceeds to "YES" in step S6, and the start address of the storage area A (the address of the top divided storage area) is set. Set (step S8). Then, the process proceeds to step S7, and it is controlled so that the data "00" is written as an identifier in the address, that is, the first divided storage area.

The above-described data writing process is repeated every time when the timing for writing the operation data into the EEPROM 5 is reached. This allows
When data is written in 24 partitioned storage areas, the current data is written in the partitioned storage area next to the partitioned storage area in which the previous data was written, and the partitioned storage area in which the previous data is written is at the end. In the case of the divided storage area, the data processing is controlled such that the current data is written in the first divided storage area.

As a result, even if the power is turned off due to a failure, the operation data at the time of the failure can be stored and held in the EEPROM 5, and the EEPROM can be used.
By reading the storage area A of M5, it becomes possible to easily reproduce the operating state at the time of failure occurrence.

Although not shown in the flow chart of FIG. 1, each time the operation data is written in the divided storage area of the EEPROM 5, the counter for counting the number of data writes is incremented by +1. Has been done. As a result, the counter causes the EEPR
It is configured to count all the number of times of writing to all the divided storage areas of the OM5. In this case, the counter is provided in the RAM 4, for example. And
The count value of the counter is the limit number of write times (specifically, the write limit number of the EEPROM 5 is 24
When the number of times of multiplication is divided by 2, the operation data is written in the EEPROM 5 and the process is stopped, and the fact is notified by lighting an alarm LED provided on the control board, for example.

According to this embodiment having such a configuration, the EE
The storage area A of the PROM 5 is divided into 24 divided storage areas, and the operation data is written to these 24 divided storage areas sequentially from the beginning and the operation data is written to the rearmost divided storage area. After that, the storage area A of the EEPROM 5 can be effectively used because the data is written again in the repeated order from the head storage area. Further, in the above-described embodiment, since it is possible to write the operation data in each of the divided storage areas for the limited number of times (about 50,000 to 100,000 times) of the EEPROM 5, for the entire EEPROM, the above-mentioned limited number of times is calculated by simple calculation. About several times as much as the divided storage area (in this case, since the operation data is written and the identifier data “00” is also written at the same time, it is necessary to multiply by 24 and divide by 2, and as a result, The operation data can be written only for the number of times the limit number is multiplied by 12. Therefore, the number of times of writing operation data can be significantly increased as compared with the conventional configuration.

In the case of the above embodiment, when writing data in order from the beginning to 24 partitioned storage areas, an identifier "00" indicating that is written to the partitioned storage area in which data is written next. Is written in advance, it is possible to easily search the partitioned storage area in which data is to be written this time by searching this identifier "00". Data can be written easily. After writing the operation data, write the above-mentioned identifier "00" in the next section storage area (the first section storage area when the section storage area in which the data is written is the last section storage area). Since it is written in, the process of writing the identifier "00" is also easy.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, since the counter for counting all the number of times of writing to all the divided storage areas of the EEPROM 5 is provided, the EEPROM is
It is also possible to take measures such as stopping the operation data writing process or notifying the end of the life of the EEPROM 5 when the life of the battery 5 is exhausted, if necessary.

In the above embodiment, the storage area for writing the operation data in the EEPROM 5 is the storage area A of 24 bytes, but the specific value of the storage capacity of the storage area A can be appropriately set if necessary. good. Also, EE
Although the length of the operation data to be written in the PROM 5 is set to 1 byte, it may be set to 2 bytes or more if necessary.

[0027]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention divides the storage area of the EEPROM into a plurality of divided storage areas, and when writing data to these plurality of divided storage areas, the previous data is written. The data of this time is written to the next partitioned storage area of the second partitioned storage area, and if the partitioned storage area in which the previous data was written is the last partitioned storage area, the current partitioned data is written to the first partitioned storage area. Since the configuration is such that data is written, the efficiency of use of the EEPROM can be improved, and the number of times of writing data to the EEPROM can be significantly increased.
It has an excellent effect that the life of M can be extended. Then, if the identifier is written at the time of initialization for the head storage area or all the partition areas, the control becomes simple. Further, if a configuration is provided with a counter that counts each number of times of writing in all the divided storage areas of the EEPROM, when the life of the EEPROM is exhausted, the data writing process is stopped, or a notification that the life is exhausted is issued. It is also possible to take measures such as taking measures.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a storage area of an EEPROM at initialization.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing storage areas of an EEPROM in different states.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing storage areas of the EEPROM in different states.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing storage areas of an EEPROM in different states.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 1 is a microprocessor (search means, data writing means, identifier writing means), 2 is a ROM, 3 is an I / O circuit, 4 is a RAM, and 5 is an EEPROM.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An EEPRO capable of rewriting data and storing and holding the written data even when the power is turned off.
In a data processing device comprising M, when the storage area of the EEPROM is divided into a plurality of divided storage areas and data is written in these divided storage areas, the data is written next to the divided storage area in which the data was written last time. Write the current data to the partitioned storage area, and if the partitioned storage area where the previous data was written is the final partitioned storage area, write the current data to the leading partitioned storage area A data processing device characterized by the above. 2. An EEPRO capable of rewriting data and storing and holding the written data even when the power is turned off.
In a data processing device comprising M, the storage area of the EEPROM is divided into a plurality of divided storage areas, and the divided storage area at the beginning is sequentially divided into the divided storage areas,
A search for searching a section storage area for writing data this time by searching whether or not an identifier indicating that it is a section storage area for data writing is written. Means, a data writing means for writing data to the searched partitioned storage area, a partitioned storage area next to the partitioned storage area in which the data is written, or a partitioned storage area in which the data is written is at the end. A data processing device, characterized in that when it is a partitioned storage area, it is provided with an identifier writing means for writing the identifier in the leading partitioned storage area. 3. The data processing device according to claim 2, wherein the identifier is written in a head storage area or all the partition areas of the EEPROM at the time of initialization. 4. The data processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a counter that counts all the number of times of writing in all the divided storage areas of the EEPROM.