JP2002244875A - Electronic equipment programming system and programming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic equipment programming system that can automatically generate dedicated object data corresponding to one or a plurality of PLDs for every equipment body and write the object data into the PLDs correctly without manual labor. SOLUTION: The electronic equipment programming system for writing data into an internal circuit of a programmable circuit in electronic equipment 13 with the programmable circuit is provided with a storing means 11 for storing an object code defining the internal circuit, an identification label 14 attached to the electronic equipment 13 and recording a retrieval number to fetch the object code, a reading means 15 for reading the retrieval number in the identification label 14, and a writing means 16 for fetching the object code corresponding to the retrieval number from the storing means 11 on the basis of the retrieval number read by the reading means 15, and writing the object code into the internal circuit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to at least one data download device capable of downloading data while mounted on a board.
The present invention relates to an electronic device programming system and a programming method for writing data to an internal circuit of the programmable circuit in an electronic device having two programmable circuits.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Programmable circuits (PLD: Prog) capable of downloading data while mounted on a board
(Rammable Logic Device) has come to be mounted on a wide variety of models due to remarkable price reduction and high performance. Accordingly, the purpose of using the PLD has been diversified. PLDs range from replacing simple gate circuits to configuring one functional module, or even one system itself, and their importance is increasing. In view of the recent trend of high-mix low-volume production, the flexibility of PLD fits the purpose very well.

[0003] The programmable circuit is an FP.
GA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or CPLD
There is also a device called (Complex PLD) or the like, but the present invention can be similarly applied to all of them, and all of them are collectively referred to as PLD in this specification.

Next, a general method of developing an internal circuit of a PLD (hereinafter simply referred to as an internal circuit) will be described with reference to FIG. The internal circuit is roughly divided into HDL
It is defined by a description language (HDL source code) 101 or a circuit diagram according to (Hardware Design Language).
These differ only in the application program and the input procedure used for input, and there is no essential difference. In this specification, in each case, it is described as a source code. Since the HDL source code 101 is simply text data, it is input to the logic synthesis tool (compiler) 104 by a text editor or the like. The latter is a circuit diagram editing program (CAD (Computer Aided De
sign) 102 or Schematic design (Schematic
Design)) is input to the logic synthesis tool 104. In any case, if necessary, the logic synthesis tool 1 is passed through a program for performing preprocessing such as shaping.
04.

Although there are some differences depending on the development environment supplied from the PLD maker or the like, the source code is used to remove unnecessary logical expressions or to modify the source code so that it is suitable for the target PLD structure. Logic Synth
esizer) 104 to decompose and resynthesize. Then, the synthesis circuit is allocated to the logic elements inside the actual PLD by a placement and routing (called Place & Route or Fitting) tool. This result is output as the object code 105 in a predetermined format.
In this specification, the process from the logic synthesis to the placement and routing is collectively referred to as compilation. The object code 105 is downloaded to the PLD 107 by a download tool 106 using a predetermined procedure.

In the prior art, a large number of PLDs are duplicated in a location different from the production line in advance, and this is regarded as a mere electronic component and mounted, and an empty PLD is mounted. There is a second method of writing program data on a production line. In the first method, even if two different models use the same PLD device, if the written program data is different, they are usually handled as different components, so that component management costs may increase. There is.

The second method is an ISP (In-System Prog)
It is possible to write a program without removing the device after mounting it on the board by a technique called “rammability” etc. As compared with the first method, if the same PLD is mounted, the management cost can be reduced as the same component . Either way, for some models P
There is no change in that the LD has only one object code, and even if the code is switched, it can be performed only in lot units, and the degree of freedom is small.

For example, consider programming to an electronic device (personal computer) 1 shown in FIG. A model A is used as a reference model, a model B is a model A in which the CD drive device 4 is mounted, and a model C
Model A has a parallel interface module 3 mounted on model A, and model D has a high-speed serial interface module "i.LINK (IEEE-1394: I
nstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer
s) ”2. A connection cable 5 from an i.LINK device is connected to the high-speed serial interface module 2. The printing device 6 is connected to the parallel interface module 3.

In this case, a method of realizing each model by creating a board on which all the functions are mounted and removing unnecessary functional block parts therefrom, or a method of creating a board with the minimum function, There is a method of realizing each model by adding a module board for performing function expansion. In these methods, if the signal line is generally open at the module boundary, the circuit becomes unstable, so that appropriate termination processing is required. Specifically, a high-speed interface module 2, a parallel interface module 3, or a CD drive device 4 of i.LINK is used to connect a pull-up resistor or a small circuit module that generates a pseudo signal.
To be installed instead of

[0010] If the PLD can be modified for each aircraft, if the programming is performed so as to internally disconnect the pins connected to the modules that are not connected in the lower model, the termination processing as described above becomes unnecessary. . Furthermore, if the circuit is simple, even the module function is incorporated into the PLD, and it is possible to simultaneously manufacture each model on the same production line using a board on which exactly the same components are mounted. In recent years, BTO (Build To Orde
The number of companies adopting production methods such as r) is increasing. Here, BTO refers to a system in which production is performed after a customer request occurs. In this case, in the conventional electronic device programming method, considering that the PLD differs for each device, the same or similar requests are collectively produced, or the production line is divided.

[0011]

However, in order to reduce the production cost of electronic equipment, it is indispensable to employ a method of mass-producing with a smaller number of production lines. Conflicts with demands.

Further, in the conventional technique, there is a problem that the switching of the program code requires manual operation, so that the burden on the operator is large. In addition, there is a problem that an error in the switching operation, for example, an accident of writing a code having a different version occurs.

An object of the present invention is to automatically generate dedicated object data corresponding to one or a plurality of PLDs for each aircraft which is the minimum switching unit, and to convert the object data to the PLD without error without manual intervention. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device programming system and a programming method that enable writing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic device programming system and a programming method capable of preventing human error and improving programming efficiency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device programming system and a programming method capable of analyzing variations in mounted components and tracking manufacturing defects.

[0016]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus having at least one programmable circuit capable of downloading data while being mounted on a board. An electronic device programming system for writing data to an internal circuit of a programmable circuit, comprising: storage means for storing an object code defining the internal circuit; and a search number attached to the electronic device for retrieving the object code. Reading means for reading the search number of the identification medium, the object code corresponding to the search number based on the search number read by the reading means from the storage means, and Writing means for writing to the circuit.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the identification medium is an identification tag on which a search number is recorded.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the identification medium is:
It is an identification integrated circuit piece that stores and transmits a search number.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the object code is written into the internal circuit in a similar procedure regardless of the type of the programmable circuit or the internal circuit of the programmable circuit.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the storage means includes information storage means from which a source code for generating at least one object code for a search number can be extracted.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information storage means for extracting necessary information when a necessary correction is made to a source code corresponding to a search number.

The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the correction of the source code is automatically executed according to the output of the information storage means.

[0023] The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the storage means includes information storage means for extracting necessary information when generating an object code from a source code corresponding to a search number.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a series of generation of the object code is automatically executed according to the output of the information storage means.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the storage means includes an information storage means for extracting information necessary for directly correcting the object code corresponding to the search number.

The invention according to claim 11 is characterized in that a series of corrections of the object code are automatically executed according to the output of the information storage means.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising means for inputting an internal state of an electronic device and automatically performing necessary correction on a source code based on the input.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the storage means includes information storage means for extracting information necessary for downloading the object code corresponding to the search number to the programmable circuit.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the object code is automatically downloaded in accordance with the output of the information storage means.

The invention according to claim 15 is characterized in that the identification medium is a barcode label on which a barcode indicating a search number is recorded.

The invention according to claim 16 is characterized in that the writing means includes a recording means for recording the progress of the processing in a log file.

[0032] According to the present invention, at least one data download is possible while being mounted on a board.
A method of programming an electronic device for writing data to an internal circuit of the programmable circuit in an electronic device having two programmable circuits, the method comprising: storing an object code defining the internal circuit in storage means; Recording a search number for taking out on an identification medium affixed to the electronic device; reading the search number recorded on the identification medium by reading means; and reading the search number read by the reading means. Extracting the object code corresponding to the search number from the storage means and writing the object code into the internal circuit.

According to the present invention, at least one data download is possible while mounted on a board.
An electronic device programming system for writing data into an internal circuit of the programmable circuit by inserting a recording medium (e.g., smart media, IC card, etc.) having two programmable mechanisms, the object code defining the internal circuit , An identification medium affixed to the electronic device and on which a search number for retrieving the object code is recorded, reading means for reading the search number of the identification medium, and reading means for reading the identification number. A writing unit that extracts the object code corresponding to the search number from the storage unit and writes the object code into the internal circuit based on the search number.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, at least one data download is possible while mounted on a board.
A method for programming an electronic device that writes a data into an internal circuit of the programmable circuit by inserting a recording medium having two programmable mechanisms, wherein an object code defining the internal circuit is stored in a storage unit. Recording a search number for retrieving the object code on an identification medium affixed to the electronic device, reading the search number recorded on the identification medium by a reading unit, and reading by the reading unit Extracting the object code corresponding to the search number from the storage means based on the search number and writing the object code in the internal circuit.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, at least one data download is possible while being mounted on a board.
An electronic device programming system for inserting a recording medium having two programmable mechanisms and writing data into an internal circuit of the programmable circuit, wherein the storage means stores an object code defining the internal circuit, and the recording medium An identification medium affixed to a search number for taking out the object code, reading means for reading the search number of the identification medium, and a search number based on the search number read by the reading means. Writing means for taking out the corresponding object code from the storage means and writing the object code in the internal circuit.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, at least one data download is possible while mounted on a board.
A method for programming an electronic device that writes a data into an internal circuit of the programmable circuit by inserting a recording medium having two programmable mechanisms, wherein an object code defining the internal circuit is stored in a storage unit. Recording a search number for retrieving the object code on an identification medium affixed to the recording medium, reading the search number recorded on the identification medium by reading means, and reading the search number by the reading means. Extracting the object code corresponding to the search number from the storage means based on the search number and writing the object code in the internal circuit.

[0037]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a device configuration of an electronic device programming system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
The electronic device programming system according to the present invention writes data in an internal circuit of the programmable circuit in the electronic device 13 having at least one programmable circuit capable of downloading data while mounted on a board. The electronic device programming system according to the present invention includes a database storage device (storage means) 11 for storing a database 17 having an object code defining an internal circuit of the electronic device 13, and the object attached to the electronic device (personal computer) 13. Identification tag (for example, bar code label) 14 as an identification medium on which a search number for extracting a code is recorded.
A reading device (reading means) 15 for reading the search number of the identification form 14; and storing the object code corresponding to the search number based on the search number read by the reading device 15 in the database storage device 11. And a writing device (writing means) 16 which takes out the data from the PLD and writes it into the internal circuit of the PLD of the electronic device 13. The writing device 16 is connected to the personal computer 13 via a download cable 18. The printing device 12 prints a search number on an identification tag (bar code label) 14.

Next, an operation of writing program data by the electronic device programming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the electronic device (personal computer) 13 in FIG.

The electronic device programming system shown in FIG. 2 may be affixed (or attached) to a personal computer 13 which is an object of the present invention, or may be displayed on a board or the like inside the main body. In the specification, the same applies hereinafter.) The retrieval number is read by the reader 15 from the barcode label 14 on which the retrieved retrieval number is printed,
Parallel interface 26 and CD drive 4
Is a programming system for writing program data to a PLD 25 having a bridge circuit as an internal circuit for connecting the interface 27 with the data bus 24 inside the electronic device 13.

The personal computer 13 further includes a central processing unit (CPU) 21 as an operational component.
And SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access M
emory) 23 and a read-only memory (ROM) 22 storing firmware.

Prior to the manufacture of the personal computer 13, first, for example,
Information necessary to generate one object code in one record, that is, a data set of one or a plurality of source code groups, is constructed as a database 17 using a device-specific number such as a serial number as a search number. deep. FIG. 3 shows the structure of the database 17. As a database search method, a simple method of sequentially comparing search numbers, and various methods of performing a high-speed search using a hash table have been proposed and implemented. It is desirable that the search be faster, but this is not directly related to the present invention, and the present invention can be implemented in any manner.

Here, the source code is directly embedded in the database 17 as data as shown in FIG. 4, or the data is placed in another area as shown in FIG. There is a way to do that. The present invention can be similarly applied using any method, and the effect is not changed. However, the latter method is more advantageous in terms of the efficiency of use of the data field and the degree of freedom in the configuration of the medium for holding data as described later. Is more desirable. As another area, for example, an area different from the database 17 of the database storage device 11, that is, a main memory device of the writing device 16 or an external storage device connected to the writing device 16 can be used.

In addition to the method of directly pointing the storage area to the pointer, there is also a method of indirectly pointing the storage area by associating a label character string, for example, a file name, with reference to directory information in which the relation is recorded. 5 and 6
In *, * () indicates a pointer, and as described above, holds an address in a format corresponding to the storage medium of the data body. That is, if the storage area is secured in the memory, it is an address pointer, and if the storage area is secured in a file, it is a file pointer. Which is used depends on the device configuration when implementing the present invention, and the type information of the pointer is also determined accordingly.

When there are a plurality of source codes, for example, a specific character or character string is set, and a plurality of source codes are arranged and stored as data with the character information as a delimiter. There is a method of arranging source codes in a plurality of areas and storing a list of these pointers as data. In either case, the present invention can be applied in the same manner, but the latter is more preferable because the use efficiency of the database storage device 11 and the degree of freedom of data arrangement are further increased, and the update of the database 17 becomes easier. In the following, description will be made assuming that the latter method, that is, a method of storing a list of pointers of a source code in a data field is adopted.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily write completely different object codes for each aircraft, but practically, the present invention is applied in a situation where the difference in the internal circuit of the PLD for each target aircraft is relatively small. Can also be expected enough. In such a case, if one basic source code group is prepared and a difference is given to each machine, the use efficiency of the medium holding the source code becomes extremely high. .

Therefore, it is more preferable to store a field of difference information in addition to a field of a pointer to a source code. In FIG. 3, this difference information is expressed as “Patch”. Again, it is clear that the description of the data storage method of the source code can be applied as it is, and the following description will be made assuming that the patch data is provided as a list of pointers.

There is a possibility that a download is performed to a different PLD for each device because the scale of an internal circuit included in the PLD is different. It is desirable that the present invention can be applied as it is to add a parameter (parameter) required for compiling the PLD and a sequence and parameter required for download to the record of the database 17 as fields. In particular, having a download sequence as a field is very useful because, in the future, when a parameter such as a program procedure or timing for a PLD is added or changed, it can be dealt with only by modifying the pointer.

Prior to the program writing operation (downloading), a query is made to the database 17 to extract a search number (serial number in the first embodiment and FIG. 3 in FIG. 3) which is a unique number of the machine. Is input to the printing device 12, and the search number (bar code) is printed on the bar code label 14 by the printing device 12. Hereinafter, the case where the barcode label 14 is used will be described. However, if the unique number (search number) can be automatically obtained, the present invention can be applied in exactly the same manner. Instead of 14, for example, an identification integrated circuit piece that transmits a search number by radio may be used.

This identification integrated circuit piece is composed of, for example, an antenna, a power generation circuit, a reception circuit, a control circuit, a storage circuit, and a transmission circuit. The search number is stored in the storage circuit of the identification integrated circuit piece in advance. When the identification integrated circuit piece receives a power supply radio wave and a read instruction signal from the reading device 15, the power generation circuit generates DC power from the power supply radio wave, and a receiving circuit, a control circuit, a storage circuit, The receiving circuit, the control circuit, and the transmitting circuit transmit the information of the search number stored in the storage circuit from the antenna and provide the reading device 15 with the information.

In a process before the step of downloading to the PLD, one barcode label 14 is attached to a predetermined position of the electronic device 13. In the step of downloading to the PLD, first, the operator reads a barcode (search number) from the barcode label 14 with the reading device 15 and gives the barcode to the writing device 16. The writing device 16 makes an inquiry to the database 17 based on the search number, obtains necessary source codes, their differences, and compile options, and generates object codes.

Here, an area for storing a series of compile operations and the generated object code is stored in the writing device 16.
In the light of the purpose of the present invention of automating a series of processes, the effects are not changed and the same can be applied regardless of whether it is inside the computer or in another computer. Writing device 16
Acquires the writing procedure and parameters from the database 17 and downloads the object code to the PLD 25.

The outline of the procedure of this series of program writing will be described with reference to FIG. An inquiry is made to the database 17 based on the search number (serial number) obtained from the barcode label 14, a patch is applied in step S111, or the HDL code is replaced, and a source code is generated in step S112. Next, in step S113, the source code is compiled by applying the compile parameters from the database 17, and in step S114, an object code is generated. Next, in step S115, the program is downloaded to the PLD 25.

Next, a series of program writing work procedures will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 7 to 9 are flowcharts for explaining the procedure of writing a program.

In step S1 of FIG. 7, the writing device 1
6 judges whether there is an input from the reading device 15, and when there is an input from the reading device 15, in step S2, inquires the database 17 using the search number as an index. Next, there is a case where there is no record corresponding to the database 17 due to an error in reading a label or an error in a work procedure, or a search number that has already been written is input from the reading device 15 again. In step S3, it is determined whether the search number is a number (valid number) that can be written in the database 17.

If the search number is not a number that can be written in the database 17 in step S3,
In step S4, an NG display indicating that a processing error has occurred is given to the operator, the operator is notified of the error, and the process returns to step S1 in the initial state. If the search number is a number that can be written in the database 17 in step S3, if necessary, an OK display indicating that the request has been accepted by the worker is made in step S5, and the process proceeds to step S6 in FIG.

In step S6 of FIG.
Retrieves a group of required HDL lists and patch information from the database 17 using the search number as a key,
Proceed to step S7. In step S7, if the patch information exists, the HDL acquired in step S6 is corrected according to the instruction, and the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, using the search number as a key, an instruction parameter necessary for compiling the HDL is obtained from the database 17, the compiler is called, and the flow advances to step S9 to wait for the completion of the process. It is determined whether or not. The instruction parameter to the compiler may be acquired and stored at the same time as the inquiry in step S6, and may be used in step S8. This method is more preferable because the number of index searches can be reduced.

If the compilation is not successful in step S9, NG is displayed in step S10, an error is notified to the operator, and the process returns to step S1. If the compile is successful in step S9,
Move to step S11. In step S11 of FIG. 9, information for download is acquired from the database 17, and based on this, the PLD 25 is subjected to a process of downloading the object code of the internal circuit. even here,
Since the reason described in step S8 holds, the acquisition of the parameter field from the database 17 is performed in step S8.
It is more desirable to collectively obtain the information in step 6.

In step S12, the time when the writing process is performed, if necessary, for the later analysis of the working environment,
Outputs the success or failure of the process and the cause of the error to a log file. Subsequently, in step S13, it is determined whether the writing has succeeded. If the writing is not successful in step S13, the flow returns to step S11 to retry the writing operation, or proceeds to step S14 and returns to NG.
After displaying the message and notifying the operator of the error, step S1 is performed.
Return to

When the writing is successful in step S13, if necessary, an OK display indicating that the writing was successful is given to the operator in step S15, and the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, it is determined whether or not there is a machine to be processed. In step S16, for example, an inquiry is made to the operator as to whether to continue,
Alternatively, a processed flag field is secured in each record of the database 17, and it is determined whether an unprocessed record exists. If it is determined in step S16 that there is still a machine to be processed, the process returns to step S1. In step S16, when there is no aircraft to be processed,
The process ends.

For example, the processing program of the writing device 16 operates on an operating system that follows the UNIX (registered trademark) operating system such as Linux, FreeBSD, and SunOS, and the source code is entirely described in some HDL. If so, the patch information can be easily obtained by using the diff command, for example, by applying the processing of diff -c [base HDL] [modified HDL] >> ID.diff to all the source code. Can be. -c is an optional character that selects the output format of diff, and [base HDL] and [modi
fied HDL] is replaced with the file name of the source code to be applied, and ID.diff is replaced with a file name adjusted so that a unique number can be assigned to one aircraft. Alternatively, the present invention can be realized by a procedure of executing a processing program that extracts a difference by a similar method.

Here, more preferably, if it is known that the efficiency is degraded when the difference is extracted because the changed portion is large, a flag area is separately secured in the patch information list. Direct [modified HDL]
Can be selected.

In step S7, all the HDL source codes are arranged in the temporarily secured directory, and patch <ID.diff can be easily realized by using the above difference file. If file replacement is instructed in the patch information, mv [modified HDL] [base HDL] may be used. Using the cp command instead of the mv command has the same effect.

Even when the source code is input in a circuit diagram, it can be dealt with by once converting it into a netlist, extracting a patch, applying it, and returning it to schematic data again. There is also a method of analyzing the format of schematic data and directly correcting the format, or extracting and applying a binary difference to the schematic data.

Compiling can be realized, for example, by starting the development environment supplied by the manufacturer of the PLD as a child process. It is more desirable to use a tool such as a make utility together, because the modification of the HDL configuration becomes easier and the management becomes easier.

The download in step S11 is
Generally, a PLD manufacturer supplies a program for performing a predetermined process as a part of a development tool. For example, this can be realized by starting it as a child process. According to the database mechanism provided by the present invention, it is possible to switch the child process to be activated for each machine or change the optional parameter even when the PLD used is different depending on the machine.

Using a Boundary Scan defined by IEEE1149.1 by JTAG (Joint Test Action Group), for example, as shown in FIG.
Object code can be downloaded by connecting P (TestAccess Port) in a daisy chain. Although the above example describes a method for programming a single PLD, it is equally applicable to downloading to multiple PLDs as in this example. According to IEEE1149.1, TCK indicates an operation clock, TMS indicates a signal for switching the mode of the TAP sequencer, TDI indicates a data input port, and TDO indicates a data output port. Required data and instruction code is T
The shift-in through the DI and the output signal of the internal operation circuit or the signal bypassing the TDI are shifted out of the TDO, thereby connecting a plurality of devices to one another.

As shown in FIG. 16, PLD01 and PLD01
02 and PLD03 are connected in this order, the object code of these three devices is generated using the make utility as a target, and
What is necessary is just to describe in a database so that a download tool may be started.

Depending on the configuration of the device, these three object codes can be collectively written as one stream data and written to three devices at a time. In this case, the downloading is performed in exactly the same procedure as the writing process for one PLD. Just call the tool. Also, 3
Even if a different download tool needs to be called for each PLD, a code describing a batch process for sequentially starting these three tools, for example,
If a mechanism called a shell script is used, a desired result can be easily obtained within the range of the mechanism provided by the present invention.

Embodiment 2 Next, an electronic device programming system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. The electronic device programming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes an internal circuit of a PLD incorporated in an electronic device 13 which is a target body of the present invention shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10, electronic device (personal computer) 13 according to the second embodiment of the present invention
Are a CPU 21, a ROM 22, an SDRAM 23,
It has a data bus 24 and a PLD 25. CPU2
1. The ROM 22 and the PLD 25 are mutually connected via a data bus 24. PLD25 is SDRA
SDRA connected to M23 and controlling SDRAM 23
It operates as an M control circuit.

In an SDRAM, a delay time from the application of a column address at the time of reading to the output is given by the number of clocks, and this value is called CAS Latency.
L = 2, CL = 3, etc. Naturally, CL = 2 operates at a higher speed than a device with CL = 3, but a lower-speed device may naturally be used depending on the unit price of the device and the supply state. For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where switching to an SDRAM having a different CL value is performed in units of manufacturing lots.

Under these conditions, it is expected that the transition conditions or constants of the state machine will be slightly changed. Therefore, an object code is generated in advance, and a patch is applied to the object code. Is more advantageous. In this case as well, the present invention can be applied in exactly the same manner by changing the structure of the database 17 as shown in FIG. 11 and slightly changing the processing procedure as shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for describing a part of a procedure for writing a program by the electronic device programming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Even if the system operating in the first embodiment is switched to the second embodiment, the procedure is the same, and the operation of the operator does not change. This is one of the features of the present invention.

Next, an outline of a procedure for writing a program by the electronic device programming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. An inquiry is made to the database 17 based on the search number (serial number) obtained from the barcode label 14, a patch is applied in step S121, and an object code is generated in step S122. Next, in step S123, the object code is downloaded to the PLD 25.

Next, a procedure for writing a program by the electronic device programming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7, 9 and 12.

The procedure for writing a program by the electronic device programming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes steps S1 to S5 in FIG. 7 and step S2 in FIG.
0 to S23 and steps S11 to S16 in FIG. 9 are used.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, steps S1 to S5 (FIG. 7) are the same as the first embodiment. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S20 in FIG. 12, where the object code and the difference patch information are extracted. These data fields are as described in the description of the first embodiment,
Although the data itself may be arranged in the field, it is more desirable that the data is located in another area and a pointer is recorded in the field.

Next, in step S21, a desired object code is obtained by applying a patch. Next, step S2
In step 2, it is determined whether the difference application is successful. Step S22
If the difference application is not successful, an NG display indicating an error is made in step S23 to inform the operator, and the process returns to step S1. If the difference application is successful in step S22, the process proceeds to step S11 (FIG. 9), and the object code is downloaded to the PLD 25. Next, the same steps S12 to S16 (FIG. 9) as described in the first embodiment are executed.

The object code is often a binary code, although it differs depending on the type of PLD and the development environment. In this case, for example, use the uuencode command to convert to a visible character string and extract and apply the patch, or
Or use a tool that can patch directly with binary code.

The present invention can be similarly implemented by any of the methods. Regardless of the method, the program that applies patches generally has a lighter load on the computer than the compiler, so that a program that applies a large number of devices quickly needs to be processed more quickly than in the first embodiment. desirable.

Embodiment 3 Next, an electronic device programming system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, a patch is directly applied to an object code. However, in a recent PLD development environment, it is difficult to guess the object code from the source code due to an improvement in the performance of a logic synthesis tool. Therefore, it is becoming difficult to take a method of generating patch information directly from the change in operation instead of extracting a difference between binaries. Further, even when the difference is extracted between the binaries, the difference is significantly increased, and the data storage efficiency may not be better than that in the first embodiment.

Further, since there is room for the PLD manufacturer to change the structure and program sequence of the PLD for improvement, there is no guarantee that the internal circuit is modified by directly operating the object code. It may be difficult to implement the second embodiment due to such circumstances.

An electronic device programming system according to the third embodiment has been proposed to improve the difficulty of the second embodiment. In the electronic device programming system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the second embodiment is also applicable.
Similarly to FIG. 10, the internal circuit of the PLD incorporated in the electronic device 13 which is the target body shown in FIG.
It is a DRAM control circuit.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention, in the writing device 16, step S6 of FIG.
To S9, or steps S20 to S22 in FIG. 12 in the second embodiment, the obtained object code is stored in a predetermined location, and the writing device 16 is associated with the search number during programming. A process of acquiring the object code and downloading the acquired object code to the PLD 25 is performed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a structure of the database 17 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Embodiment 3
Also, in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments, it is more desirable to place a pointer indicating the entity of the object code in the field in the record.

Next, an outline of a procedure for writing a program by the electronic device programming system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. An inquiry is made to the database 17 based on the search number (serial number) obtained from the barcode label 14, and an object code is prepared in step S131. Next, in step S132, the object code is
Download to LD25.

Next, a procedure for writing a program by the electronic device programming system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7, 9 and 14. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for describing a part of a program writing operation procedure by the electronic device programming system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

The procedure of writing a program by the electronic device programming system according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment up to steps S1 to S5 in FIG. Proceeding to S30, the writing device 16 extracts the object code. Next, the process proceeds to step S11 in FIG.
0, the extracted object code is downloaded to the PLD 25, and then steps S12 to S16 are executed as in the first embodiment.

In the third embodiment, a large storage area is required to hold the object code corresponding to each machine. However, the load on the processing of the writing device 16 in the production line is higher than that in the second embodiment. Is also reduced.

Furthermore, when the data field is implemented as a pointer, if the type of object code is limited, the consumption of the storage medium for storing the entity is not extremely large. For example, in the third embodiment, the CL value of a general SDRAM at present is CL = 2,
Since there are two types of CL = 3, two types of object code entities may be stored. In this case, the pointers of several models point to the same entity.

Embodiment 4 A PL in which an SDRAM control circuit is mounted as in the second and third embodiments.
Considering the programming system for D, as described above, if the types of object codes to be prepared are small, a symbol number is assigned to the object code so that there is no duplication, and this is directly assigned to the bar code label 14.
It is sufficient to add it as one of the symbol numbers read from.

Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, as described above, the object code search number is obtained from the bar code label 14 to obtain the object code, and the PLD is written. Note that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the object code and the source code.
Can be applied to the case where the compiling process is performed after the input of the barcode in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 5 Next, an electronic device programming system according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described. An electronic device programming system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention performs programming on a built-in PLD of a video camera 41 as a target body shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a part of the video camera 41. The video camera 41 includes a lens 42 and a CCD.
(Charge Coupled Device) An optical system element including the imaging device 43 is provided. Further, the video camera 41 includes an amplifier 44, an analog-to-digital converter 45, and a measurement circuit 46. The amplifying device 44 has a programmable circuit element that performs analog signal processing for absorbing variations in the characteristics of the optical system elements.

The lens 42 forms the image light of the subject and forms C
This is given to the CD imaging device 43. The CCD imaging device 43 converts the image light from the lens 42 into image information, which is an electric signal, and provides the image information to the amplification device 44. Amplifying device 44
Amplifies the image information from the CCD image pickup device 43 and supplies it to the analog-to-digital converter 45. The measurement circuit 46
CCD imaging device 43 and analog-to-digital conversion device 4
5 are measured. The writing device generates an internal circuit corrected based on the measurement result of the measurement circuit 46 and downloads the object code to the amplification device 44.

In recent years, for example, Lattice semi
Programmable analog ICs such as conductor's ispPAC are being developed. If such a device is used, the correction value of the analog circuit is obtained from the measurement point on the board,
It is possible to obtain and write an object code in which correction is added to an internal circuit serving as a base.

According to the programming system of the sixth embodiment of the present invention, a function of recording a correction value as a log in association with the machine unique number symbol (search number) can also be provided. It is possible to perform the defect tracking of shipped products.

Embodiment 6 FIG. Next, an electronic device programming system according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention will be described. In the first to fifth embodiments, the writing device 16 is directly connected to the PLD 25 and downloads the object code to the PLD 25. However, in applying the present invention, the electronic device which is the target body of the present invention may have a function of receiving an object code indirectly from the writing device 16, and is not necessarily connected to the direct writing device 16. Need not be.

The electronic device programming system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention includes an internal circuit of a PLD provided in a card 1000 having a data processing function called a smart card or an IC card, which is a target body, as shown in FIG. It writes object data.

The card 1000 is the card writer device 10
01 is detachably mounted. Card writer device 100
1, a bar code label 14 is attached. The writing device 16 may not be able to directly download the object code to the PLD in the card 1000 due to problems such as the number of pins of the prepared connector and security. In this case, the writing device 16 is the card writer device 1
If the object code can be downloaded to the PLD in the card 1000 via the 001 and the card writer device 1001 on which the card 1000 is mounted is regarded as the target machine, the present invention is applied to the first to third embodiments. 5
Similarly, the object code is stored in the P
It can be downloaded to LD. In the configuration of the sixth embodiment, the device configuration except that the medium on which the object data is actually written and the electronic device are separated is as follows.
Since it is the same as Embodiments 1 to 5,
Description is omitted.

Embodiment 7 FIG. Next, an electronic device programming system according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention will be described.
The electronic device programming system according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention writes object data into an internal circuit of a PLD in a card 1000 having a data processing function called a smart card or an IC card, which is a target machine shown in FIG.

The card 1000 is the card writer device 10
01 is detachably mounted. A bar code label 14 is attached to the card 1000. The writing device 16 may not be able to directly download the object code to the PLD in the card 1000 due to problems such as the number of pins of the prepared connector and security. In this case, if the writing device 16 can download the object code to the PLD in the card 1000 via the card writer device 1001, the card writer device 1001 with the card 1000 attached is the target machine. If so, the present invention can be applied similarly to the sixth embodiment. Except for this configuration, the configuration of the seventh embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first to fifth embodiments.

In the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the bar code label 14 is attached to the card 1000 and the card 10
00 while reading the search number of the bar code label 14 with the card reader 1001, the object code may be downloaded to the PLD in the card 1000.
0, the card 1000 is attached to the card writer 1001 immediately after the search number of the bar code label 14 is read by the reader 15 before the card 1000 is attached to the card writer 1001. The object code may be downloaded to the PLD in the card 1000.

Next, the system configuration according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the sixth embodiment except that the bar code label 14 is attached not to the card writer device 1001 but to the card 1000. Therefore, detailed description is omitted.

[0104]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to automatically and easily write desired object data to a programmable logic element in which a different internal circuit is to be written for each machine without manual intervention. As a result, human errors can be prevented, and work efficiency can be improved.

Also, since a mechanism for recording the progress of the processing and the manufacturing history can be provided, it is also possible to provide a means for analyzing the variation of the components mounted on the product and tracking manufacturing defects.

Furthermore, even if one barcode uses one or more programmable logic elements associated with the barcode and completely different elements from one body to another, the operator is completely prevented from using the same. A means for performing the writing step in the same procedure can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an electronic device programming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the electronic device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a structure of a database according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining one configuration of a data field according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining another configuration of the data field according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining still another configuration of the data field according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a part of a program writing operation procedure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining another part of the program writing work procedure in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining still another part of the program writing work procedure in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an internal configuration diagram of a target aircraft according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a database according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a process unique to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a database according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a process unique to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a target body according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram when a plurality of PLDs are connected in a daisy chain in a JTAG chain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic device programming system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic device programming system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic device that is a target body suitable for applying the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for writing data to an internal circuit of a PLD in the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic equipment, 2 ... High-speed serial interface module, 3 ... Parallel interface module, 4 ... C
D drive device, 5: connection cable, 6: printing device, 1
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Storage device for database, 12 ... Printing device, 13 ...
Electronic equipment (personal computer), 14: Identification tag (bar code label), 15: Reading device, 16: Writing device, 17: Database, 18: Download cable, 21: Central processing unit (CPU), 22: Read-only Memory (ROM), 23 SDRAM, 24 Data bus, 25 PLD, 26 Parallel interface, 2
7: CD drive connection bus, 41: Video camera, 42
... Lens, 43 ... CCD imaging device, 44 ... Amplification device, 4
5 ... analog-digital converter, 46 ... measurement circuit, 10
00: a card incorporating a PLD, 1001: a card writer device.

Claims (21)

[Claims] An electronic device programming system for writing data to an internal circuit of the programmable circuit in an electronic device having at least one programmable circuit capable of downloading data while being mounted on a substrate, the electronic device programming system comprising: Storage means for storing an object code defining a circuit, an identification medium affixed to the electronic device and recording a search number for retrieving the object code, reading means for reading the search number of the identification medium, An electronic device programming system, comprising: a writing unit that extracts the object code corresponding to the search number from the storage unit and writes the object code into the internal circuit based on the search number read by the reading unit. 2. The electronic device programming system according to claim 1, wherein the identification medium is an identification tag on which the search number is recorded. 3. The electronic device programming system according to claim 1, wherein the identification medium is an identification integrated circuit piece that stores and transmits the search number. 4. The electronic device programming system according to claim 1, wherein the programming system converts the object code into the internal circuit in a similar procedure regardless of a type of the programmable circuit or an internal circuit of the programmable circuit. An electronic device programming system characterized by writing in a computer. 5. The electronic device programming system according to claim 1, wherein said storage means includes information storage means from which a source code for generating at least one of said object codes for said search number can be extracted. Characteristic electronic device programming system. 6. The electronic device programming system according to claim 5, wherein said storage means includes information storage means for extracting necessary information when a necessary correction is made to a source code corresponding to said search number. An electronic device programming system, characterized in that: 7. The electronic device programming system according to claim 6, wherein the correction of the source code is automatically executed in accordance with an output of the information storage means. 8. The electronic equipment programming system according to claim 1, wherein said storage means includes information storage means for extracting necessary information when generating an object code from a source code corresponding to said search number. Characteristic electronic device programming system. 9. The electronic device programming system according to claim 8, wherein the series of generations of the object code is automatically executed in accordance with an output of the information storage means. 10. The electronic equipment programming system according to claim 1, wherein said storage means includes information storage means for extracting necessary information when directly correcting an object code corresponding to said search number. Electronic equipment programming system. 11. The electronic device programming system according to claim 10, wherein a series of corrections of said object code are automatically executed in accordance with an output of said information storage means. 12. The electronic device programming system according to claim 1, further comprising means for inputting an internal state of said electronic device, and automatically performing necessary correction to a source code based on the input. Electronic equipment programming system. 13. The electronic device programming system according to claim 1, wherein said storage means includes information storage means for extracting information necessary for downloading an object code corresponding to said search number to said programmable circuit. An electronic device programming system, characterized in that: 14. The electronic device programming system according to claim 13, wherein said object code is automatically downloaded in accordance with an output of said information storage means. 15. The electronic device programming system according to claim 2, wherein the identification tag is a barcode label on which a barcode indicating the search number is recorded. 16. The electronic equipment programming system according to claim 1, wherein said writing means includes a recording means for recording the progress of the processing in a log file. 17. A method for programming an electronic device that writes data to an internal circuit of the programmable circuit in the electronic device having at least one programmable circuit capable of downloading data while mounted on a substrate, the method comprising: Storing an object code defining an internal circuit in a storage means, recording a search number for retrieving the object code on an identification medium affixed to the electronic device, and storing the search code recorded on the identification medium Reading a number by reading means, and taking out the object code corresponding to the search number from the storage means based on the search number read by the reading means and writing the object code in the internal circuit. Characteristic electronic device programming method . 18. An electronic device programming system for writing data into an internal circuit of the programmable circuit by inserting a recording medium having at least one programmable mechanism capable of downloading data while mounted on a substrate. Storage means for storing an object code defining the internal circuit; an identification medium affixed to the electronic device, on which a search number for retrieving the object code is recorded; and a read for reading the search number on the identification medium. Electronic equipment, comprising: a writing unit that extracts the object code corresponding to the search number from the storage unit and writes the object code into the internal circuit based on the search number read by the reading unit. Programming system. 19. A method for programming an electronic device, comprising inserting a recording medium having at least one programmable mechanism capable of downloading data while mounted on a substrate and writing data to an internal circuit of the programmable circuit. Storing the object code defining the internal circuit in a storage unit, recording a search number for retrieving the object code on an identification medium attached to the electronic device, and recording the search code on the identification medium. Reading the retrieved search number by reading means, and taking out the object code corresponding to the search number from the storage means based on the search number read by the reading means and writing the object code in the internal circuit. Programming of electronic equipment characterized by having Method. 20. An electronic device programming system for writing data into an internal circuit of the programmable circuit by inserting a recording medium having at least one programmable mechanism capable of downloading data while mounted on a substrate. Storage means for storing an object code defining the internal circuit; an identification medium affixed to the recording medium, on which a search number for retrieving the object code is recorded; and a read for reading the search number on the identification medium. Electronic equipment, comprising: a writing unit that extracts the object code corresponding to the search number from the storage unit and writes the object code into the internal circuit based on the search number read by the reading unit. Programming system. 21. A method for programming an electronic device, comprising inserting a recording medium having at least one programmable mechanism capable of downloading data while mounted on a substrate and writing data to an internal circuit of the programmable circuit. Storing the object code defining the internal circuit in a storage means; recording a search number for extracting the object code on an identification medium attached to the recording medium; and recording the search number on the identification medium. Reading the retrieved search number by reading means, and taking out the object code corresponding to the search number from the storage means based on the search number read by the reading means and writing the object code in the internal circuit. Programming of electronic equipment characterized by having Method.