JP2003309678A - Program rewriting method of electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method which enables the rewrite of an operation program without needing labor hour. <P>SOLUTION: An equipment main body 1 is provided with an MPU 1, a display part 8, a flash memory 9 for storing the operation program or the like, a RAM 10, a tool I/F 11, a power source 13, etc. A rewriting tool J to be connected with the tool I/F 11 is provided with a connector 20, a storage device 21 for storing an operation program for update, and a power source circuit 22. When the equipment main body is in a packing state, the rewriting tool J is connected with the tool I/F 11. Electric power is supplied from the power source circuit 22 of the tool J to the MPU 1, the display part 8, the flash memory 9 and the RAM 10. An operation program in the storage device 21 of the tool J is read and written in the flash memory 9 of the equipment body, and the operation program is updated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for rewriting an operation program incorporated in an electronic device such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a composite machine thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An operation program for a facsimile machine or the like needs to be rewritten for version upgrade or the like. Therefore, conventionally, a jig equipped with a memory storing a rewriting program and an updating operation program is mounted on the apparatus to rewrite the operation program.

[0003]

By the way, since the memory on the rewriting jig is operated by the power source from the main body of the apparatus, the apparatus is unpacked and installed in the main body of the apparatus. Since commercial power can be supplied, the rewriting jig is also supplied with power from the apparatus main body side, and there is no problem in rewriting.

However, when it is necessary to rewrite the operation program in the packed state of the device, it is necessary to unpack the device once and connect the device to a commercial power source, and it is troublesome to repack the device after rewriting. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide a method capable of rewriting an operation program without trouble.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the program rewriting method for an electronic device according to the present invention is such that the rewriting jig is mounted on the electronic device main body and the operation stored in the memory in the electronic device main body is performed. In the method of rewriting a program by a rewriting jig, the rewriting jig is equipped with a power supply that supplies power to the electronic device main body, and the electronic device main body receives power from the power supply of the rewriting jig when the rewriting jig is mounted. It is characterized in that the rewriting operation of the operation program is executed.

According to this rewriting method, even if a commercial power supply is not connected to the electronic device body, the electronic device body can be operated by using the power source of the rewriting jig to rewrite the operation program. If the connection part of the rewriting jig in the main body can be easily accessed even in the packed state, the operation program can be rewritten in the packed state, and the labor required for rewriting can be greatly reduced.

In the rewriting method of the present invention, the power source of the rewriting jig may be supplied only to a portion (low power system) required for rewriting in the main body of the electronic device, and specifically, at least necessary for rewriting the operation program. It only needs to be supplied to the processor and memory. As a result, a small-capacity power source for the rewriting jig can be used, and the rewriting jig becomes convenient for carrying.

Further, the power of the rewriting jig is also supplied to the display section provided in the main body of the electronic device so that the rewriting state (error or normal rewriting) can be displayed on the display section. Can be easily confirmed.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a configuration example of a composite apparatus having both a copy function and a facsimile function as an electronic device according to the embodiment.

In FIG. 1, an MPU (central processing unit) 1 as a control unit controls the entire device.

This MPU 1 has an NCU (Network Cont
rol Unit) 2 and modem 3 are connected. NCU2
Is controlled by the MPU 1 to control the connection between the line L and this device, and also has a function of transmitting a dial pulse according to the telephone number of the communication partner and a function of detecting an incoming call. The line L is a public telephone line network (PST
N). The modem 3 modulates / demodulates the transmission / reception data, specifically, modulates the transmission data, which is originally a digital signal, into an analog voice signal and sends the analog voice signal to the line L via the NCU 2, and vice versa. The received analog voice signal is demodulated into a digital signal.

Further, the MPU 1 includes a scanner 4 and a COD.
EC (encoder / decoder: Coder and Decoder) 5, printer 6, operation unit 7, display unit 8, flash memory 9, R
An AM 10, a jig I / F (interface for connecting a rewriting jig) 11, and a power supply 13 are connected.

The scanner 4 reads a document image by using, for example, a CCD image sensor. CODEC 5
Encodes the image data to be transmitted stored in the RAM 10, decodes the received image data, and stores the decoded image data in the RAM 10. The printer 6 prints the received image data, the image data read by the scanner 4, or the image data stored in the RAM 10 on a paper to record the data and perform hard copy output.

The operation unit 7 has a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number and a FAX number, a one-touch key for calling the telephone number of the other party with one touch, a start key for instructing the start of FAX, and the like. The display unit 8 displays various information such as a telephone number, a FAX number, the remaining toner amount of the printer 6 and the like, which are input by the operation of the operation unit 7, by softcopy output. As the display unit 8, a CRT display or LC
D (liquid crystal display device) is used.

The flash memory 9 stores in advance an operation program for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus. This composite device has a memory map as shown in FIG. 3, for example. Here, in the flash memory 9, 0
Address spaces from 000H to ZZZZH are allocated, and operation programs are stored in this address space. The address space from ZZZZH to XXXXXH is an address space assigned to the RAM 10, other memory-mapped devices, and the like. Address X
From XXXH is an address space allocated to the memory 21 (see FIG. 2) of the rewriting jig, from XXXXXH a rewriting program is stored, and from YYYYH an updating operation program is stored.

Therefore, when the normal operation is performed, the operation program is executed from the address 0000H, and when the rewriting jig is mounted, the rewriting program is executed from the address XXXXXH to update the operation program from the rewriting jig. Is read from address YYYYH, and address 0000H
Store from. Instead of the flash memory 9, E
EPROM may be used.

The RAM 10 stores data necessary for control by the MPU 1 and data that needs to be temporarily stored during control operation, and also stores image data read by the scanner 4 and also externally via the line L and the modem 3. The received image data is stored.

The jig I / F 11 is for connecting the rewriting jig J via the connector 20.
In the part related to 1, even if the device body is in a packed state,
It is easily accessible without unpacking it. The connection form (RS-232C, IEEE1394, USB, etc.) between the jig I / F 11 and the rewriting jig J may be appropriately selected.

The power source 13 is a commercial power source (eg AC100).
V) 30 and supplies power to each part of the device through the backflow prevention diode 12.

The rewriting jig J has a structure as shown in FIG. 2, for example. The rewriting jig J here is a power supply circuit 22 connected to a connector 20, a memory 21 for storing an operation program for updating, and a commercial power supply (for example, AC100V) 30.
Have and. However, the memory 21 is a flash memory,
EPROM or EEPROM may be used. Further, although the power source of the rewriting jig J is shown as being taken from the commercial power source 30, it is also possible to use a primary battery or a secondary battery.

Next, the rewriting operation of the operation program of the composite apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. When the power of the MPU 1, the display unit 8, the flash memory 9, the RAM 10, etc. of the apparatus body necessary for the rewriting operation is turned on, first in step ST1,
It is determined whether the rewriting jig J is attached to the apparatus main body.
If this determination is NO, the rewriting operation is not performed, so in step ST2, the operation program is executed from the address 0000H (see FIG. 3) of the flash memory 9 in the memory map, and the normal operation is performed.

When the rewriting jig J is attached to the main body of the apparatus, the memory 21 of the rewriting jig J is step ST3.
The rewriting program is executed from the address XXXXXXH (see FIG. 3). Then, in step ST4, the update operation program is read from the address YYYYH of the memory 21 of the rewriting jig J, and in step ST5, the read operation program is written into the flash memory 9 of the apparatus main body at address 0000H and thereafter. Then, in step ST6, a sum check is performed to detect whether or not there is an error in the read / write operation program.

Next, in step ST7, it is judged whether or not the result of the sum check is OK, and if it is OK,
In step ST8, it is determined whether or not the rewriting of all the operation programs is completed, and if not, the process returns to step ST4 to read / write the operation program, check the sum, and determine the check result. When the rewriting of the operation program is completed, the fact that the rewriting of all the operation programs is normally completed is displayed on the display unit 8 in step ST9, and the process relating to the rewriting operation is completed.

On the other hand, if the result of the sum check is NG in step ST7, the process proceeds to step ST10, the occurrence of an error and the address of the operation program related to the error are displayed on the display unit 8, and the rewriting operation is performed. This process is completed.

[0027]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, even if a commercial power source is not connected to the electronic equipment body, the electronic equipment body is operated by using the power source of the rewriting jig, Since the operation program can be rewritten, if the connection part of the rewriting jig in the electronic device main body can be easily accessed even in the packed state, the operation program can be rewritten in the packed state, which is required for rewriting. The time and effort can be greatly reduced.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, a small capacity power source can be used as the power source of the rewriting jig, which makes the rewriting jig convenient for carrying.

Further, according to the invention as defined in claim 3, the rewriting state (error or normal rewriting) can be displayed on the display section, and the rewriting state can be easily confirmed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a compound device having both a copy function and a facsimile function as an electronic device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a rewriting jig connected to a jig I / F of the composite apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory map of the composite apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a rewriting operation of an operation program of the multifunction apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 MPU 8 Display 9 Flash memory 11 Jig I / F 13 power supply 20 connectors 21 memory 22 Power circuit 30 Commercial power supply (AC100V) J rewriting jig

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A program rewriting method for an electronic device, wherein a rewriting jig is attached to the electronic device main body, and an operation program stored in a memory in the electronic device main body is rewritten by the rewriting jig. The electronic device main body is provided with a power supply for supplying power to the electronic device, and the electronic device main body executes the operation program rewriting operation with the power from the power supply of the rewriting jig when the rewriting jig is mounted. Method. 2. The program rewriting method for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the power source of the rewriting jig is supplied to at least a processor and a memory necessary for rewriting the operation program in the electronic device main body. 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the power of the rewriting jig is also supplied to a display unit provided in the main body of the electronic device to display the rewriting status on the display unit. Program rewriting method.