GB2178197A

GB2178197A - Program selection system

Info

Publication number: GB2178197A
Application number: GB08617511A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kathumi Ishifuro
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 1985-07-17
Filing date: 1986-07-17
Publication date: 1987-02-04
Also published as: CA1278870C; DE3624196A1; AU578540B2; JPH0632053B2; AU6020986A; GB8617511D0; GB2178197B; DE3624196C2; JPS6219934A

Abstract

A program or sub routine in the memory of microcomputer 1 is selected using the display driving signals from digits output parts D1 ... D6. These signals are fed via diodes 61 ... 66 as a six bit program selection signal to the input part S7. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A program selection system for an integrated circuit BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an integrated circuit and, more particularly, to a program selection system for an integrated circuit, for example, disposed in a home electric appliance such as a microwave oven and an induction heater, etc., which selectively switches a sub-routine of a program or selects at least one of programs stored in a memory of the integrated circuit depending on each model of an appliance or each destination of the model of the appliance.

A home electric appliance including an integrated circuit as a microcompuer is developed to improve the function of the home electric appliance. However, because consumer's needs are widely varied or different specifications of goods are present for each destination, the integrated circuit as the microcomputer storing the same program cannot be installed in the appliance for different consumer's needs, or different destinations of the model.

In the appliance which is applied to several destinations, at least a part of the program for one of the destinations is different from the program for the other one of the destinations.

Therefore, it is difficult to make the integrated circuits each storing a different program at a low cost. It is desired that an integrated circuit includes a memory storing different programs and selectively switches the different programs easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an integrated circuit including a memory storing different programs and selectively switches the different programs easily.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a program selection system for an integrated circuit which selectively switches a sub-routine of a program or selects at least one of programs stored in a memory of the integrated circuit based on digit signals from the integrated circuit to a display unit.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description of and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

To achieve the above objects, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a program selection or switching system for an integrated circuit comprises memory means for storing a plurality of different program routines, means for outputting digit signals to digits of a display unit, respectively, means for inputting a program selection signal corresponding to at least one of the program routines to be selected, means for producing the program selection signal formed by using some or all of the digit signals and for applying the program selection signal corresponding to at least one of the program routines to be selected to the digit signal input means, and control means, responsive to the program selection signal, for selecting the program routine corresponding to the program selection signal.

An integrated circuit includes the program memory means, the digit signal output means, the program selection signal input means, and the control means. The produsing means comprises diode means.

The digit signal output means is connected to the display unit via a plurality of digit signal lines and some or all of the digit signals lines are connected to a single line via the diode means. The single line is connected to the program selection signal input means and pulled down by a predetermined voltage level.

The control cirucit includes flags corresponding to the digit signal lines connected to the single line, and each of flags is set or reset in response to the digit signal, and selects at least one of the program routines based on the set or reset of the flags.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be better understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein: Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a program selection system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a time chart of digit signals from outputted from output ports D1 to D6; Figure 3 shows a block diagram of an integrated cirucit used in Fig. 2; and Figure 4 shows a flow chart for explaining the program selecting operation when all digit signal lines D1 to D6 are connected to the program selection signal input port S7 via diodes 6 to 66.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Figs. 1 and 3 show a block diagram of a program selection system according to an embodiment of the present invention and a block diagram of an integrated circuit in Fig. 1, respectively.An integrated circuit 1, for example, a LSI, as a microcomputer comprises a memory such as a read only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM), and a central processing unit (CPU), and controls a control circuit 4 such as a relay for controlling an operation of an electric apparatus, a display 5 such as a fluorescent tube or a liquid crystal display, and an alarm 3 such as a sound buzzer, in response to a key input from a key input device 2 or detection signals from the electric apparatus to the integrated circuit 1 based on a stored program in the memory of the integrated circuit 1. The memory stores a plurality of different programs or a program including a plurality of different sub-routines. In other words, the memory stores a plurality of different program routines.The display 5 is driven by a dynamic driving method using segment signals and digit signals from the integrated circuit 1.

The digit signals are used for selectively switching the sub-routine of the program or selecting at least one of the programs in the memory of the integrated circuit 1. In the embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, it is assumed that all digit signal lines D1" to D6" are connected to a program selection input port S7 for convenience. The integrated circuit 1 includes a display controller having a segment signal circuit for appliying the segment signals to the display 5 and a digit signal circuit for applying the digit signals to the display 5. The integrated cirucit 1 and the display 5 are operatively connected via a segment signal line X10 and digit signal lines D1" to D6". The display 5 is controlled by the display controller in response to the CPU.The digit signal lines D1" to D6" are connected between the output ports D1 to D6 of the integrated circuit 1 and digits of the display 5, respectively. The digit signal lines D1" to D6" are connected to a single signal line via diodes 6 to 66. The single signal line is connected to a program selection signal input port S7 of the integrated circuit 1, and further connected to a power VDD for the integrated circuit 1 through a resistance 7 so that the input port S7 is pulled down by the power VDD.

One-digit signals D1' to D6' from the output ports D1 to D6 as shown in Fig. 2 are selectively output through the diodes 6" 62, ... 66, respectively, and a six-digit signal formed by the one-digit signals D1' to D6' is applied to the input port S7 as a 6-bit program selection signal. The combination of one digit signals D1' to D6', namely, the combination of high levels and/or low levels of the one-digit signals D1' to D6', selects a sub-routine of the program or at least one of the programs in the memory of the integrated circuit 1. The digit signals D1' to D6' are separated by the diodes 6" 62, ... 66, respectively.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the number of the digit signal lines is 6, but may be changed. If the number of digit signal lines is 4 or 8, the program selection signal is a 4-bit program selection signal or 8-bit program selection signal. If the number of the sub-routines or the programs stored in the memory is less than that of digit signal lines, only some of the digit signal lines may be connected to the input port via diodes. Although, in the embodiment of the present invention, all digit signals from the output ports D1 to D6 are used for making the program selection signal, some of the digit signals may not be used.

The program selection or switching operation will be described with reference to Figs.

2 and 4. It is assumed that all digit signal lines D1 to D6 are coonected to the input port S7 for convenience. Fig. 2 shows a timechart of digit signals from output ports D1 to D6. The digit signals D1' to D6' are timeshared at about 1-2 msec and are a rectangular pulse. The digit signals D1' to D6' are sequentially outputted from the output ports D1 to D6 and sequentially applied to the input port S7 via the diodes 6" 62 ..., 66 to read- in as a "high" signal.Although, in Fig. 1 of the embodiment of the present invention, the all digit signal lines are connected to the input port S7, if desired, some of the digit signal lines may not be connected to the input port S7 to produce the program selection signal. If the digit signal line is not connected to the input port S7 via the diode, a definit signal corresponding to the digit signal is not applied to the input port S7.

When the digit signal Di' is applied to the input port S7, a detection circuit of the.integrated circuit detects in response to the CPU from which port of the output ports D1 to D6 the input digit signal is outputted. The detection circuit includes program selection flags F1 to F6 corresponding to the digit signal lines D1 to D6 to select a program. Since the digit signal lines D1 to D6 in the embodiment of the present invention are connected to the program selection signal input port S7, the program selection flags F1 to F6 corresponding to the input digit signals D1' to D6' from the output ports D1 to D6 are set "1". Thus, the 6-bit program selection signal can be formed by the digit signals, and can be used for selectively switching the sub-routine of the program or for selecting at least one of the programs. As all flags F1 to F6 are set, the 6-bit program selection signal is "111111".

When the digit signal line is connected to the program selection input port, the flag corresponding to the digit signal line is set. When the digit signal line is not connected to the program selection signal input port, the flag corresponding to the digit signal line is reset.

By connecting or disconnecting between the digit signal lines and the program selection input port, a great number of program selection signals can be produced. The program corresponding to the program selection signal, namely, the combination of set or reset of the flags F1 to F6, is readout from the momory responsive to the CPU, and the CPU controls the operation of the appliance according to the readout program. A great number of combination of high and/or low levels of the digit signals from the digit signal output ports D1 to D6 in the form of 6-bit signal can be possible and applied to the single input port S7, so that great number of programs or subroutines of the program can be selectively switched or selected by the signal from the input port S7.In the present invention, because only the single input port is provided for inputting the program selection signal, the program selection system of the integrated circuit can be manufactured at a low cost. If a plurality of programs are stored in the memory of the integrated circuit, the CPU controls the selection of the program based on the reset or set of the flags.

When the integrated circuit 1 emboded in the electric apparatus is present on a manufacturing line, some or all of the diode circuits, namely, some or all of the digit signal lines, are connected to the input port 57 according to the model or destination. Subsequent modification can not possible.

The present invention is applied to the following cases.

(1) In case where a plurality of different programs A, B, C, D are stored in the momory of the integrated circuit 1, and the programs A, B, C, and D are used for desitinations A', B', C, and D' of the model of the appliance, respectively, 1set, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th program selection signals may be produced by using some or all of the digit signals. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th program selection signals are used for selecting the programs A, B, C, and D, respectively, responsive to the CPU. Accordingly, if the flags are set or reset responsive to the first program selection signal, the program A is readout from the memory in response to the CPU and the CPU controls the appliance according to the program A from the memory.

(2) In case where a program includes a plurality of sub-routines A, B, C, and D and each sub-routine is used for different destination A', B', C' or D'. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th program selection signals may be produced by using some or all of the digit signals. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th program selection signals are sued for selecting the programs A, B, C, and C, respectively. Accordingly, if the flags are set or reset responsive to the 1st program selection signal, the sub-roputine A is readout from the memory in response to the CPU and the CPU controls the appliance according to the program A from the memory.

As described above, in the integrated circuit in which the sub-routine of the program can be switched or at least one of the programs can be selected and the digit signals are applied to the display unit, a single input port is provided on the integrated circuit for inputting a program selection signal formed by the digit signals. The sub-routine of the program can be changed to another program by the program selection signal inputted to the input port or at least one of the programs can be selected. The number of ports of the LSI can be reduced to manufacture the integrated circuit at a low cost.

The integrated circuit and the diodes may be disposed on a same substrate. When manufacturing the appliance, the connections and disconnections between the digit signal lines and the program selection signal input port are specified. The present invention may be applied to a microwave oven, an induction heater, an oven toaster, an electric washer, etc.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modification are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A program selection or switching system for an integrated circuit comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of different program routines; means for outputting digit signals to digits of a display unit, respectively; means for inputting a program selection signal corresponding to at least one of the program routines to be selected; means for producing the program selection signal formed by using some or all of the digit signals and for applying the program selection signal corresponding to the program routine to be selected to the digit signal input means; and control means, responsive to the program selection signal, for selecting the program routine corresponding to the program selection signal.

2. The program selection or switching system of claim 1, wherein an integrated circuit includes the program memory means, the digit signal output means, the program selection signal input means, and the control means.

3. The program selection or switching of claim 1, wherein the digit signal output means is connected to the display unit via a plurality of digit signal lines and some or all of the digit signals lines are connected to a single line.

4. The program selection or swtiching system of claim 3, wherein the single line is connected to the program, selection signal input means.

5. The program selection or swithcing system of claim 4, wherein the control means includes flags corresponding to the digit signal lines connected to the single line, and each of flags is set or reset in response to the digit signal.

6. The program selection or switching system of claim 5, wherein the control means selects at least one of the program routines based on the set or reset of the flags.

7. The program selection or switching system of claim 1, wherein the produsing means comprises diode means.

8. The program selection or switching system of claim 3, wherein each of the digit signal lines and the single line are connected to each other via a diode.

9. The program selection or switching system of claim 3, wherein the single line is pulled down by a predetermined voltage level.

10. An electronic control system having: a control circuit which includes a memory for storing a plurality of control programs for an electrical device and a display control circuit for generating display control signals for a display unit; means for receiving at least some of said display control signals and for producing in response thereto a program select signal identifying one of said control programs; and means said for receiving the program select signal and for selecting said one of said control programs.

11. A program selection or switching system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A program selection or switching system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A program selection or switching system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A program selection or switching system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.