JP2004070097A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device which avoids the worst case in which an ununderstandable pattern is displayed or display is disabled by detecting data of contents stored in a memory being broken in such a case. <P>SOLUTION: When a display device is actuated, a redundancy inspection program stored in a 1st storage means is executed to confirm whether storage contents of a system program etc., stored in a 2nd storage means have an error. When the stored data are free of abnormality and the display device is actuated normally, a redundancy inspecting function of the system program stored in the 2nd storage means confirms whether the contents of the 2nd storage means have an error periodically thereafter. The periodic self-diagnosis operation is performed not in the operation time of the display device; when error occurrence is detected, a specified message is fixedly displayed and the occurrence of the abnormality is reported to a previously registered contact destination through a communication line. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to an apparatus for displaying predetermined characters, figures, symbols, patterns, and the like by arranging a plurality of light emitting elements on a printed circuit board and selectively causing the light emitting elements to emit light.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been an apparatus that emits and displays display content including arbitrary characters and symbols (hereinafter referred to as a character) by arranging light emitting elements such as LEDs in a matrix on a printed circuit board and selectively driving the light emitting elements to emit light. Are known. This type of device is equipped with a microcomputer, a ROM (character generator ROM, kanji ROM) storing characters used daily, a ROM storing a system program responsible for the operation of the entire device, and display contents. And a CPU storing display schedule information and the like for giving display timings to the contents, and a CPU. The contents corresponding to the display timings are read out by executing a system program, and are displayed on a matrix in which LEDs are arranged. Characters and images represented by the contents are displayed.
[0003]
By the way, in recent years, flash memory has been widely spread, and the number of cases in which a system using a microcomputer is adopted as a memory for writing a system program is increasing. The feature of the flash memory is, of course, that data can be electrically erased / written in block units (at the same voltage as the read operation), and that it is a nonvolatile memory. As a specific example, this point has been noted as being suitable for a memory for storing a system BIOS of a personal computer. That is, when the system BIOS is upgraded, the work of replacing the ROM was necessary in the EPROM used up to now, but in the case of the flash memory, the utility is executed to execute the new BIOS from the storage medium such as the flexible disk. You can upgrade by simply writing In fact, these advantages of the flash memory also hold for the LED display device. In the case of the LED display device, a flash memory has been adopted as a memory for writing a system program, unlike a personal computer, because the application is exclusively for lightning display.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there have been some problems that seem to be related to the adoption of flash memories. In many LED display devices, a memory card (PC card) is used as a storage medium for transferring data such as display content. When a memory card is inserted or removed, static electricity charged on a human body causes static electricity inside the display device. This has an adverse effect on the flash memory and causes data corruption in which the content of the stored data is rewritten. Of course, this problem is not directly caused by the adoption of flash memory, but also by other factors such as the fact that the memory card is directly mounted on the board. It was recognized that data corruption was more likely to occur than in the case. When data corruption occurs in the system program stored in the flash memory, program runaway and restart of the device by the watchdog timer are repeated, and the display screen becomes extremely unsightly. If data is damaged in the area storing the character or the area storing the display content, characters or pictures with meaningless meanings may be displayed or the display screen may freeze, which also causes a fatal problem as a display device. .
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to address the above-described problems. If data stored in a memory is damaged, the data is detected, and a meaningless pattern is displayed or display is disabled. It is an object to provide a display device that avoids the worst case.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) In order to solve such a problem, the present invention relates to a display device which emits characters and pictograms by selectively emitting light from a plurality of arranged light emitting elements. A first storage unit for storing a program for performing initialization and various settings; and a second storage unit for storing a system program and various data relating to main operations of the display device, wherein the first storage unit includes the first storage unit. A redundancy check program for detecting an error in the storage content stored in the second storage means is stored, and the system program stored in the second storage means replaces the system program in the storage content of the second storage means. A redundancy check function for detecting an error in the stored contents except for the contents stored in the second storage means when the display device is started by the redundancy check program of the first storage means; After display start proposes a display device characterized by checking the periodically stored contents by the system program of the second storage means.
[0006]
(2) In the display device proposed above, the display device further includes clock means for outputting information relating to the date and time, and stores operating time setting information including a display start time and a display end time of the display device, and operates the display device. There is proposed a display device characterized by executing the redundancy check function stored in the first storage means or the second storage means outside of time.
[0007]
(3) In the display device proposed above, the first storage means or the second storage means is provided by the redundancy check program stored in the first storage means or the system program stored in the second storage means. The present invention proposes a display device characterized in that when an error is detected in the storage content of the means, a predetermined message among the messages which are normally displayed in a normal state is fixedly displayed and displayed.
[0008]
(4) In the display device proposed above, communication connection means for enabling connection to an electric communication line is provided, and the redundancy check program stored in the first storage means or the redundancy check program stored in the second storage means is provided. When an error is detected in the storage content of the first storage means or the second storage means by the system program, an error has occurred in the display device to the communication connection destination registered in advance via the communication connection means. A display device characterized by notification is proposed.
[0009]
(5) Further, in the display device proposed above, the display device is characterized in that the first storage means comprises an EPROM and the second storage means comprises a flash memory.
[0010]
[Action]
According to the proposal of (1), when the display device is started, the redundancy check program stored in the first storage unit is executed, and there is no error in the storage contents of the system program and the like stored in the second storage unit. Check if. When the display device starts up normally without any abnormality in the stored data, thereafter, the redundancy check function of the system program stored in the second storage means periodically causes an error in the storage content stored in the second storage means. Check whether it has occurred.
[0011]
According to the proposal of (2), information on the setting of the operation time including the display start time and the display end time of the display device is stored, and is stored in the first storage means or the second storage means outside the operation time. Run the existing redundancy check program. This makes it possible to perform a self-diagnosis on the presence / absence of an error in the stored content without affecting the display operation in the operation time zone, such as interruption of display or reduction in display processing speed.
[0012]
According to the proposal of (3), when an error is found in the storage content of the second storage means by the redundancy check, a predetermined message out of the messages which are illuminated and displayed when the display device is normal is fixedly displayed. . Thus, even when an abnormality occurs, it is possible to maintain the minimum display function as the display device, and at the same time, inform the owner of the display device and the maintenance manager that the display device has an abnormality.
[0013]
According to the proposal of (4), when an error is found in the storage content of the second storage means by the redundancy check, the connection is made to the telecommunication line via the communication connection means, and an abnormality has occurred in the connection destination registered in advance. Let them know.
[0014]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a display unit, which is configured by arranging a plurality of LEDs in a dot matrix on a printed circuit board. The display unit can display a plurality of characters or display one image using the entire matrix of the display unit. In the illustrated example, a full-width size represented by a 16 × 16 dot matrix is displayed. A total of six characters can be displayed, three characters in the horizontal direction and two characters in the vertical direction, forming a matrix of 48 × 32 dots. Reference numeral 2 denotes a display drive unit, which includes a shift register circuit, a transistor array circuit, and the like. The display drive unit 2 receives display control data from a CPU, which will be described later, dynamically drives the LEDs arranged in the display unit 1, and displays characters, graphics, and symbols on a matrix. And so on.
[0015]
Reference numeral 3 denotes a CPU that performs a display processing procedure according to programs and data stored in the storage unit 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a VRAM which develops display content data of data read from the storage unit 4 as bit information in a storage area and outputs an LED drive signal to the display drive unit 2. Reference numeral 6 denotes a real-time clock IC serving as a clock means, which receives a request from the CPU 3 at an arbitrary timing and outputs the time, year, date, and day of the week when the request is received. Reference numeral 7 denotes an infrared remote controller for creating and changing display contents, setting display schedule data, and performing various data setting operations via a remote control light receiving unit 7a and a remote control interface 7b provided on the display screen of the display unit 1. be able to. Reference numeral 8 denotes a memory card, which is attached to and detached from the display device via the PC card interface 8a, and is used as a storage medium for transferring display contents, display schedules, various programs, and various data created by an external personal computer or the like to the storage unit 4. Can be Reference numeral 9 denotes an EIA 232 interface which enables connection to a commercial electric communication line (telephone line) via a modem 10 as a communication connection means.
[0016]
Next, the configuration of the storage unit 4 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 4a denotes an EPROM serving as a first storage means, which is a "bootstrap program" for performing boot processing when the display device is activated, and for detecting whether or not an error has occurred in the storage content of the flash memory described later at the time of activation. A CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) program "and a" file transfer program "for reading data from the memory card 8 when the memory card 8 is inserted at the time of startup. CRC is Cyclic Redundancy Checks conventionally used as a method for detecting a transmission error in data communication. The data before transfer is divided by a generator polynomial (modulo-two division of a binary operation), the remainder is added to the data as a CRC code, and whether or not the data after transfer is divisible by the same generator polynomial This is to detect the presence / absence of data error. In the present embodiment, a CRC code is added when a program or data is stored in the flash memory, and the CRC program in the EPROM is executed when the display device is turned on when the power is turned on. To detect if there are any. Reference numeral 4b denotes a flash memory as a second storage means, a "system program" for operating as a display device, and "font data" for storing characters replaced with codes in a dot pattern corresponding to a matrix of the display unit 1. The display unit 1 stores a series of characters, symbols, words, sentences, fixed images, and “display content data” representing animation (switching of fixed images) to be displayed by light emission, and further includes the “system program”. The sizes and CRC codes of “font data” and “display content data” are stored as “information data”. The "display content data" can store a plurality of types of display contents. Each content has a different content number, and each display content and a content number are stored as a set. The “system program” also has a CRC function in addition to providing an electronic display function to the apparatus, and checks whether a data error has occurred in “font data” and “display content data” stored in the flash memory 4b. It can be checked based on the CRC code of "information data". The check can be performed at any time or periodically. When the check operation is performed at any time, the remote control 7 may be used to start the check operation. In the case of performing the check periodically, the menu screen or the like is opened by operating the remote controller 7, and the date and time to execute the check may be designated.
[0017]
Reference numeral 4c denotes an SRAM, which stores "management data" in which information such as a daily operation time setting of the display device, holiday settings, and a telephone number at the time of occurrence of an abnormality is stored, and "display content data" stored in the flash memory 4b. "Display content index data" in which the content numbers are stored, and "Display schedule data" for specifying display presence / absence and display period for each display content are stored, and the system program is further executed. A "work area" at the time and a "data development area" for temporarily storing various data handled in accordance with the execution of the system program are also secured. Here, information contained in “management data” will be described. The daily operation time setting is a timer setting for performing a display operation from what time to when the display operation is performed in a day. For example, in a time zone such as a display operation start time of 09:00 to a display operation end time of 22:30. Set. The holiday setting designates a day on which the display operation is not performed. For example, it is possible to designate that the display device is not operated every Tuesday, or to designate an arbitrary day as a holiday up to five weeks ahead. The communication destination at the time of occurrence of an abnormality is registered by the owner or administrator of the display device, and the telephone number of a contact such as a mobile phone, for which a received call history remains, is registered. Of course, the display device needs to be set to notify the source number.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of startup. When the power of the display device is turned on (S10), the bootstrap program of the EPROM 4a is started, the device is initialized, various setting data is read, and it is determined whether a system program exists in the flash memory ( S11). Next, it is determined whether the memory card 8 is inserted in the card slot of the display device (S12). If the memory card is inserted, the file transfer program of the EPROM 4a is executed (S13). When the file transfer program starts, remote control input can be performed according to the selection items displayed on the display unit, and a process of transferring data and a program stored in the memory card to the flash memory 4b is performed. When the data transfer to the flash memory 4b is completed, a message prompting to restart the display device is displayed, and the process ends. If no memory card is inserted in S12, the CRC program in the EPROM 4a is executed (S14), and a data error has occurred in the "system program", "font data", and "display content data" stored in the flash memory 4b. A check is made to see if there is any. If the contents stored in the flash memory are normal (S15), the system jumps to the start address of the system program stored in the flash memory and starts the system program (S16).
[0019]
If it is detected in S15 that a data error exists in the storage content of the flash memory 4b, the display pattern of "in business" stored in the EPROM is continuously displayed on the display unit 1 (S17), and " A call notification is sent to the contact at the time of occurrence of the abnormality stored in advance in the "management data" (S18). Although the display pattern output to the display unit 1 in S17 has been described as “in business”, this is taken as an example from messages stored as standard display contents by the display device, and If there is a prior agreement to display continuously when an abnormality occurs, other general-purpose messages such as "Welcome" and "OPEN" may be used. Further, it is desirable that the outgoing call notification performed in S18 is to notify the details of the abnormality that has occurred in detail using an error code or the like. If there is at least a telephone number that can be specified by the display device in the incoming call history, the presence or absence of an abnormality can be notified.
[0020]
Next, self-diagnosis by the CRC function of the system program that is periodically performed after the display device is started will be described with reference to FIG. In a state where the display device is normally used (S20), when the set operation end time is reached (S21), the display content data is expanded in the VRAM according to the schedule and output to the display drive unit as an LED drive signal. The display processing operation ends (S22), and the display unit is turned off (S23). As a result, the display device is out of the operation time, and the operation of the device is stopped in appearance until the display start time comes. On the other hand, inside the display device, the system program is in an execution state, and when the self-diagnosis start time of the flash memory set outside the operation time comes (S24), the "font data" is displayed by the CRC function of the system program. "And an error check are started for the display" content data "(S25). Here, if there is a data error (S26), the display pattern of "in business" is continuously displayed on the display unit (S27), and the contact information at the time of occurrence of abnormality stored in advance in the "management data" of the SRAM 4c. A call notification is sent to (S28). If the data is normal in S26, the operation start time is waited for (S29), and when the start time is reached, the display unit is turned on (S30) and the display process is started. The self-diagnosis start time in S24 can be set to any time as long as it is outside the operation time of the display device. However, the operation start time comes immediately before the operation start time, that is, shortly after the error check operation ends. Timing is desirable. If the self-diagnosis is performed at a time other than immediately before the start of operation, the specific display pattern in S27 is not output, and only the notification of the occurrence of the abnormality is performed. Further, the flowchart of FIG. 4 shows an example in which the font data and the display content data in the same flash memory are checked for errors by the CRC function of the system program. However, when the self-diagnosis start time in S24 is reached, the CRC program in the EPROM 4a is checked. It is also possible to execute the CRC of S25 after jumping to and checking the entire flash memory 4b for errors.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is confirmed whether a data error has occurred in the flash memory as the second storage means by the CRC program stored in the EPROM as the first storage means, and if an error is detected, Then, a predetermined message is fixedly displayed from the display contents displayed when the display device is operating normally. Therefore, even if an abnormality occurs in the system program of the display device, a situation in which the program runs away and restarts is not repeated does not occur, and the minimum function as the display device can be maintained.
[0022]
After the display device is normally started, an error check is periodically performed on font data and display content data in the flash memory by a CRC function provided in the system program. If a data error occurs, a predetermined message is displayed. Is fixedly displayed. Therefore, even if the system program is normal, it is possible to prevent a situation in which characters are garbled or a meaningless pattern is displayed due to an error in font data or content data.
[0023]
When an abnormality occurs in the EPROM or the flash memory, a notification is sent to a pre-registered contact via an electric communication line such as a telephone line. Thereby, the owner of the display device or the maintenance manager can immediately respond to the abnormality of the display device.
[0024]
Further, since the error detection operation by the CRC is performed outside the operation time of the display device, the self-diagnosis regarding the presence / absence of an error in the stored contents can be performed without affecting the display operation in the operation time zone such as display interruption or reduction in display processing speed. It can be carried out.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a storage unit.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the display device is activated.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a self-diagnosis by a system program periodically performed after the display device is started.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 display unit 2 display drive unit 3 CPU
4 Storage Unit 4a EPROM as First Storage Means
4b Flash Memory 4c as Second Storage Means SRAM
5 VRAM
6 Real-time clock IC as clock means
7 Infrared remote controller 8 Memory card 10 Modem as communication connection means

Claims (5)

In a display device that displays characters, pictograms, and the like by selectively emitting light from a plurality of light emitting elements arranged,
First storage means for storing a program for initializing the device and performing various settings when the display device is started;
A second storage unit for storing a system program and various data relating to a main operation of the display device,
The first storage unit stores a redundancy check program for detecting an error in the storage content stored in the second storage unit, and the system program stored in the second storage unit is a second storage unit. A redundancy check function for detecting an error in the storage contents of the storage contents excluding the system program, and when the display device is started, the storage contents of the second storage means are checked by the redundancy check program of the first storage means. A display device for periodically inspecting the stored contents by a system program in a second storage means after the display device is started. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a clock unit configured to output information on a date and time, storing operation time setting information including a display start time and a display end time of the display device, and storing the operation time setting information outside the operation time of the display device. A display device for executing a redundancy check function stored in a first storage unit or a second storage unit. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first storage means or the second storage means is provided by a redundancy check program stored in the first storage means or a system program stored in the second storage means. A display device characterized in that when an error is detected in the storage content of the storage means, a predetermined message among the messages which are normally displayed and illuminated in a normal state is fixedly illuminated and displayed. 4. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a communication connection unit that enables connection to an electric communication line, wherein the redundancy check program is stored in the first storage unit or stored in the second storage unit. When an error is detected in the storage content of the first storage means or the second storage means by the system program being executed, an abnormality has occurred in the display device to the communication connection destination registered in advance via the communication connection means. A display device for notifying the user. 5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first storage means comprises an EPROM, and the second storage means comprises a flash memory.

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