JP2713583B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device including a replaceable electrically erasable memory element and a reference memory for storing data that is updated from initial data. In particular, the present invention relates to an electronic device that can automatically write data in a reference memory that is updated in the memory element and can automatically instruct replacement of the memory element.

For example, in an electronic device having a function of controlling a mechanical mechanism, such as a certificate issuing machine equipped with a printer, a mechanism for controlling the mechanical part is considered in consideration of the influence of variation and aging of the mechanical part. In order to be able to change the control information later, the control information is stored in an electrically erasable memory element such as an EEPROM. The process of writing data to such a memory element needs to be configured so as to reduce the burden on the operator, and it is necessary to configure it so that it is executed accurately.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the process of writing initial data to the EEPROM and the process of updating updated data, which is to be updated from the initial data, are performed according to the data writing function to the EEPROM provided as a RAS function. Through the EEPR
This was realized by inputting the address of the OM and the write data. That is, as shown in the processing procedure of FIG. 5, the operator first activates the RAS function, and then,
The write destination EEPROM address is set from the keyboard, then the write data to be written to the EEPROM is set from the keyboard, and finally, a write process request is made from the keyboard to execute the write process. By repeating the processing procedure until there is no more write data, the process of writing the write data to the EEPROM was realized.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in such a conventional technique, since input of initial data and update data is performed by operation from a keyboard, the time required for input increases with an increase in the amount of write data, and the workload of the operator increases. Is greatly increased. In addition, since the input of the write data is performed by the operation from the keyboard, the input error cannot be eliminated.

Further, the EEPROM has a limit on the number of times of writing. However,
A conventional electronic device equipped with an EEPROM has a problem in that it does not have a mechanism for instructing replacement of the EEPROM whose writing count has reached a limit value.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances,
When there is provided an electrically erasable memory element that can be replaced and a reference memory that stores data that is updated from the initial data, the data of the updated reference memory is automatically stored in the memory element. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new electronic device that can write data in a memory and can automatically instruct the replacement of the memory device.

[Means for solving the problem]

 FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a memory element, which is an electrically erasable memory; and 11, a data storage area, update data to be updated and initial data serving as a starting point of the update data. 12 is an identifier information area, which is an area for storing identifier information indicating that the initial data or update data has been written, and 13
Is a version number information area, which is an area for storing version number information of update data written in the data storage area 11, and 14 is a write count area, which stores the number of times of writing to the memory element 10. Area.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a reference memory, write data 21 to be written to the memory element 10, identifier information 22 indicating that the write data 21 is initial data or update data, and version number information of the write data 21. 23, a write control unit for executing a read process from the reference memory 20 and a write process to the memory element 10, and 31 a data writing unit, 32 that writes data 21 to the data storage area 11 and updates the number of writes in the number-of-writes area 14
Is identifier information writing means for writing the identifier information 22 of the reference memory 20 to the identifier information area 12, and 33 is version number information writing means for writing the version number information 23 of the reference memory 20 to the version number information. What is written in the area 13 is an element state judging means, which compares the identifier information of the identifier information area 12 with the identifier information 22 of the reference memory 20 so that the memory element 10 is an unwritten new one. 35 is version number determining means for comparing the version number information of the version number information area 13 with the version number information 23 of the reference memory 20 to determine whether the memory element 10
Is a unit for judging whether or not the update data stored in the memory device is of an older version number. Reference numeral 40 denotes an exchange instruction output unit, which outputs an exchange instruction for the memory element 10.

Here, the memory element 10, the reference memory 20, the write control unit 30
The exchange instruction output means 40 is mounted on an electronic device that copies data stored in the reference memory 20 to the memory element 10 and rewrites the data as necessary to perform processing. Element state determining means 34 and version number determining means
Reference numeral 35 is activated when the power of the electronic device is turned on, and executes an assigned process.

[Action]

According to the present invention, the data writing unit 31 determines when the element state determination unit 34 determines that the memory element 10 is a new one that has not been written when the power is turned on, and when the version number determination unit 35 determines that the memory element 10 When it is determined that the update data has the old version, the write data 21 of the reference memory 20 is written to the data storage area 11 of the memory element 10. Further, the element state determining means 34
When it is determined that the memory element 10 is a new one that has not been written, the initial value of the number of writes is written in the number-of-writes area 14 of the memory element 10, and the version number state determination means 35 Is determined to be of an old version, the number of times of writing stored in the number of writing times area 14 of the memory element 10 is incremented by one.

As a result, the latest write data is automatically written in the data storage area 11 of the memory element 10, and the write count area 14 of the memory element 10 is written in the data storage area 11. The count will be written automatically.

Then, at the time of the write processing of the write data due to the new memory element 10, the identifier information writing means 32 performs processing to store the identifier information 22 of the reference memory 20 in the identifier information area 12, and The number information writing unit 33 includes a version number information area.
A process is performed to store the version number information 23 of the reference memory 20 in 13. On the other hand, when the write data is written due to the old update data of the memory element 10, the version number information
Performs processing to store the version number information 23 of the reference memory 20 in the version number information area 13. Through these processes, the version number of the update data of the memory element 10 is managed, and the number of times of writing the write data to the memory element 10 can be managed accurately.

The exchange instruction output means 40 outputs an exchange instruction for the memory element 10 when detecting that the number of writes in the number-of-writes area 14 of the memory element 10 to be updated by the data writing means 31 reaches the specified value. I do. As a result, erroneous processing due to the life of the memory element 10 can be reliably prevented.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

FIG. 2 shows a system configuration diagram of an electronic device equipped with the present invention.

The electronic device of the present invention includes a ROM and an EEPROM, and
The data stored in the OM is copied to the EEPROM, and the data is rewritten and processed as needed.

As shown in this figure, the system configuration of an electronic device equipped with the present invention is the same as the conventional technology, and is updated with an MPU 1 for executing data processing, a display 2 and a keyboard 3 which form a man-machine interface. ROM4 for storing data to be stored, ROM5 for storing write data to be stored in the EEPROM4, version information of the write data, and identifier information indicating that the write data is initial data or update data. And RA that stores the operation data
And M6.

FIG. 3 shows a memory map of the EEPROM 4 of the present invention.
In the figure, the same components as those described in FIG. 1 are indicated by the same symbols. 14 is an update count storage area,
An area for storing the number of times of writing data to the EEPROM 4 is a check code storage area 15, which is a check code for updating data (initial data) stored in the data storage area 11. This is an area for storing codes. As shown in this memory map, the EEPROM 4 of the present invention is different from the prior art, and newly includes the identifier information area 12 and the version number information area 13 described in FIG.

Next, the processing contents of the memory data write processing method of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 executed by the MPU 1.

When the power is turned on, the MPU 1
Reads data information stored in PROM4. By this reading process, the storage data stored in the data storage area 11, the identifier information stored in the identifier information area 12, the version number information stored in the version information area 13, the update number storage area The update count stored in 14 and the check code stored in the check code storage area 15 are read. In step 2, the MPU 1 reads the identifier information held in the ROM 5 and compares the read identifier information with the identifier information of the EEPROM 4 read in step 1. It is determined that the new EEPROM 4 to be written has been mounted, and the process from step 3 described below is started.

That is, when judging that a new unwritten EEPROM 4 is mounted, the MPU 1 reads out the write data stored in the ROM 5 and stores the read write data in the data storage area 11 of the EEPROM 4 in step 3. Perform the process of writing to. If the write data held by the ROM 5 is not updated from the initial data, the initial data is written into the EEPROM 4 by this write process, and if the write data is updated, the write process is executed. By EEPROM4
Will be written with the latest update data. MPU1
In step 3, the identifier information and the version number information stored in the ROM 5 are further read, and the read identifier information and the version number information are respectively stored in the identifier information area 1 of the EEPROM 4.
2 and the process of writing to the version information area 13 are executed. By this processing, it is determined that the EEPROM 4 is no longer new, and the version number information of the update data (initial data) written in the data storage area 11 is registered.

In the subsequent step 4, the MPU 1 writes an initial value “0” in the update count storage area 14 so that the write count of the EEPROM 4 can be checked. And in the next step 5,
A check code of the data written in the data storage area 11 of the EEPROM 4 is calculated, and a process of writing the calculated check code to the check code storage area 15 of the EEPROM 4 is performed. Thereafter, in step 6, the data information stored in the EEPROM 4 is read, and in the following step 7, the read check code is examined to determine whether or not the EEPROM 4 is defective. To display the error message.

On the other hand, in the judgment of step 2,
When it is determined that the EEPROM 4 is mounted, the process proceeds to step 9 where the version number information stored in the ROM 5 is read, and the read version number information is compared with the version number information of the EEPROM 4 read in step 1. And this 2
If the two pieces of version information do not match, it is determined that the update data (initial data) stored in the data storage area 11 of the EEPROM 4 has become outdated due to a change in the program of the ROM 5 and will be described below. Step 10 and subsequent steps are performed.

That is, when judging that the update data stored in the EEPROM 4 is of an old version, the MPU 1
Then, a process of reading the write data held by the ROM 5 and writing the read write data to the data storage area 11 of the EEPROM 4 is performed. By this writing process, the latest update data is written to the EEPROM 4. MPU1
In step 10, the version number information held in the ROM 5 is further read, and the read version number information is
A process for writing to the version number information area 13 of the OM 4 is executed. By this processing, the version number information of the update data written in the data storage area 11 is registered.

MPU1 reads out in step 1 in the following step 11.
"1" is added to the update count of EEPROM4, and the next step 12
Then, it is checked whether or not the added update count falls within the range of the allowable write count of the EEPROM 4. This step 12
If it is determined that the number of times of writing exceeds the range of the allowable number of times of writing, the process proceeds to step 13, and a message requesting replacement of the EEPROM 4 is displayed on the display 2. vice versa,
If it is determined in step 12 that the number of times of writing is within the range of the allowable number of times of writing, the process proceeds to step 14, where the life of the EEPROM 4 is not reached. . And step 15
In steps 18 to 18, the same processing as steps 5 to 8 described above is executed to determine whether or not the EEPROM 4 is defective.

On the other hand, in the judgment of step 9, the data storage area 1 of the EEPROM 4
When it is determined that the update data (initial data) stored in 1 is the latest, the process proceeds to step 19, where the check code of the update data (initial data) read out in step 1 is calculated, and the calculated code is calculated. By checking the check code, it is determined whether the EEPROM4 is defective,
If it is determined to be defective, an error message is displayed in step 20 and the process ends.

By the above processing, the data storage area 11 of the memory element 10
Then, the latest update data (initial data) is automatically written.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the electrically erasable memory element to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to what is called an EEPROM.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, initial data can be automatically written into the EEPROM even when the chip of the EEPROM is replaced due to, for example, exceeding the allowable number of times of writing. Even when the ROM version is upgraded, the updated data automatically upgraded
Be able to write to OM. Therefore, the initial data write process and the update data update process can be realized in a short time, and input errors can be eliminated. In addition, the identifier information is used to check whether the EEPROM is new and unwritten. If the EEPROM is new, processing is performed to reset the count of the number of updates. EEPROM can be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram of a system of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a memory map of an EEPROM, FIG. 4 is a flowchart executed by the present invention, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the processing procedure of a technique. In the figure, 1 is an MPU, 2 is a display, 3 is a keyboard,
4 is an EEPROM, 5 is a ROM, 6 is a RAM, 10 is a memory element, 11 is a data storage area, 12 is an identifier information area, 13 is a version number information area, 14
Is an update count storage area, 15 is a check code storage area, 20 is a reference memory, 21 is write data, 22 is identifier information, 23 is version number information, 30 is a write control unit, 31 is a data writing unit, 32 Is identifier information writing means, 33 is version number information writing means, 34 is element state determination means, and 35 is version number state determination means.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An exchangeable electrically erasable memory element, and a reference memory for storing data to be updated from initial data, wherein the data stored in the reference memory is copied to the memory element; In an electronic device that performs processing by rewriting the data as necessary, identifier information that is started when power is turned on and indicates data storage recorded in a reference memory, and identifier information that indicates the presence or absence of data writing recorded in a memory element Element state determination means (34) for determining whether or not the memory element is new by comparing the memory element with a new version of the memory element. A version number determining means (35) for determining whether the data stored in the memory element is of an older version number by comparing the version number information of the data recorded in the memory device with the version number information; When it is determined that the element is new, the data of the reference memory is written to the memory element, and the number of times of writing recorded in the memory element is set to an initial value. Data writing means (31) for writing data of the reference memory to the memory element and incrementing the number of times of writing by one, and determining that the memory element is new. In addition, the identification information writing means (32) for writing the identifier information recorded in the reference memory into the memory element in accordance with the writing processing of the data writing means (31), and that the memory element is new. When the determination is made and when it is determined that the data of the memory element is of the old version number, the version number information recorded in the reference memory is synchronized with the writing process of the data writing means (31). Version information writing means (33) for writing information to the memory element, and exchange instruction output means (40) for outputting an instruction to replace the memory element when the number of times of writing recorded in the memory element reaches a prescribed value. An electronic device characterized by comprising: