JP5821345B2 - Communication line reliability confirmation device and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication line reliability confirmation apparatus and method for rewriting firmware.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an interchangeable lens digital camera, it is known that rewriting of firmware of a processor mounted on a lens barrel or a camera body, so-called firmware upgrade, is performed by lens communication (Patent Document 1). Lens communication is communication via a plurality of contact terminals that are in contact with each other and electrically connected between the camera body and the lens barrel when the lens barrel is attached to the camera body. Since the firmware includes image correction data specific to the lens, it is necessary to rewrite them correctly in order to capture fine images. However, if the reliability of the lens communication line is not sufficiently high due to the connection state between the contact points on the camera body side and the lens barrel side or contact resistance variations, there is a possibility that the firmware upgrade will not be performed normally. is there. On the other hand, the function to confirm the reliability of the communication line is not highly designed because of the development cost. This is because malfunctions in lens communication during normal operation are generally transient due to poor contact of contacts, and fatal problems are unlikely to occur.

JP 2003-107315 A

  Therefore, it is conceivable to install an “error detection function” using an error detection code, which is one of the functions for confirming the reliability of the lens communication line. However, in the “error detection function”, as the detection accuracy is increased, the circuit scale becomes larger and the firmware upgrade operation cannot be started in many cases. On the other hand, since the frequency of firmware upgrades is relatively low, for example, in order to reduce the size of a digital camera, the circuit scale must be kept small at the expense of accuracy. For this reason, a situation occurs in which all errors cannot be detected, and there is a possibility that the firmware cannot be rewritten correctly. Furthermore, assuming that the user himself / herself performs the firmware upgrade, there is a higher possibility that the firmware upgrade will not be performed normally as compared with the case where a developer familiar with the product performs.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a communication line reliability confirmation apparatus and method capable of always completing firmware rewriting without changing the electrical configuration.

  The communication line reliability confirmation device at the time of firmware upgrade according to the present invention is a firmware upgrade using communication via electrical contacts, and transmits / receives test data in units of blocks and determines whether there is an error in the test data. It has a communication line confirmation means for detecting and executing a test for judging that the communication line is normal when the error is smaller than a predetermined ratio, and judging that the communication line is abnormal when the error is larger than the predetermined ratio. To do.

  The communication line reliability confirmation device further includes a firmware update execution means for starting a firmware update after the test. The firmware update execution means transmits and receives the firmware update data in units of blocks, and an error is detected in the transmission of the first block. If not, the first block is written to the storage element and the transmission / reception of the second block is started. When an error is detected in the transmission of the first block, the transmission / reception of the first block is repeated a predetermined number of times. When no error is detected during repetition of transmission / reception, when the first block is written to the storage element and transmission / reception of the second block is started, and an error is detected a predetermined number of times in the repetition of transmission / reception of the first block for a predetermined number of times Write the first block to the storage element with errors and send the second block. It may start signal. This makes it possible to complete the firmware upgrade.

  The firmware update data in the communication line reliability confirmation device may include a firmware update program. When the firmware upgrade program is included, the effect of completing the firmware upgrade is more noticeable.

  The communication line reliability confirmation method at the time of firmware upgrade according to the present invention is a firmware upgrade using communication via an electrical contact, and transmits / receives test data in units of blocks and checks whether there is an error in the test data. A test is performed to detect that the communication line is normal when the error is smaller than a predetermined ratio, and to determine that the communication line is abnormal when the error is larger than the predetermined ratio.

  Further, the communication line reliability check method starts the firmware update after the test, transmits and receives the firmware update data in block units, writes the first block to the storage element when no error is detected in the transmission of the first block, and the second When transmission / reception of a block is started and an error is detected in transmission of the first block, transmission / reception of the first block is repeated a predetermined number of times, and when no error is detected during repetition of transmission / reception of the first block for a predetermined number of times, When one block is written to the storage element and transmission / reception of the second block is started and an error is detected a predetermined number of times in the repetition of transmission / reception of the first block for a predetermined number of times, the first block is stored in the storage element while containing the error. You may start transmission / reception of a 2nd block while writing.

  The firmware update data in the communication line reliability confirmation method may include a firmware update program.

  A portable device according to the present invention is a portable device in which an external accessory device having a processor for executing a program is detachably attached, and can communicate with the external accessory device via an electrical contact terminal. The test data is transmitted and received in blocks, and whether or not there is an error in the test data is detected. When the error is smaller than a predetermined ratio, it is determined that the communication line is normal. When the error is larger than the predetermined ratio, the communication line is It has a communication line confirmation means for executing a test for judging that it is abnormal.

  The portable device further includes a firmware update execution unit that starts a firmware update after the test. The firmware update execution unit transmits and receives the firmware update data in units of blocks, and the first is performed when no error is detected in the transmission of the first block. The block is written to the storage element and transmission / reception of the second block is started. When an error is detected in transmission of the first block, transmission / reception of the first block is repeated a predetermined number of times, and transmission / reception of the first block is repeated a predetermined number of times. When no error is detected in the meantime, the first block is written into the storage element and the transmission / reception of the second block is started. When the error is detected a predetermined number of times in the repetition of the transmission / reception of the first block for a predetermined number of times, the first block Even if the second block is started to be transmitted / received There.

  The firmware update data in the portable device may include a firmware update program.

  The portable device further includes a display unit, and the display unit preferably performs a display for confirming a connection state with the accessory device when the communication line confirmation unit determines that the communication line is abnormal. By this display, the user can immediately notice an abnormality.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to always complete rewriting of firmware without changing the electrical configuration.

It is a perspective view of an interchangeable lens camera to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view of the camera body in the state which removed the lens-barrel from the camera shown in FIG. It is a block diagram showing the whole lens interchangeable digital camera system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a memory map of FASHROM in which firmware is written. It is a flowchart from the test stage in the embodiment of the present invention to the end of firmware upgrade.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an interchangeable lens camera (portable device), and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the lens barrel 15 (external accessory device) is removed from the camera body 10. In this camera system, the lens barrel 15 is detachable from the camera body 10.

  A plurality of electrical contacts 12 are arranged in an arc shape on the inner peripheral side of the lens mount 11 of the camera body 10. An image sensor unit 13 that houses an image sensor (not shown) is provided below the electrical contact 12. When the camera body 10 is powered on, a moving image is obtained by the imaging device and can be displayed on a monitor (not shown) as a live view. A shutter button 14 is provided on the upper surface of the camera body 10.

  The electrical configuration of this interchangeable lens camera will be described with reference to FIG. The camera processor 20 provided in the camera body includes a digital signal ground port 21, an input / output port 22, an interrupt port 23, a serial data input port 24, a serial data output port 25, a clock signal port 26, and a vertical synchronization signal port 27. Etc. are provided. The camera processor 20 is connected to a power supply circuit 30, and the power supply circuit 30 is connected to a power supply terminal 31, a detection terminal 32, and a power supply ground terminal 33. The camera processor 20 is connected to the DRAM 34. The recording medium 35 is connected to the camera processor 20, and data recorded on the recording medium 35 is temporarily recorded in accordance with a signal from the camera processor 20. As will be described later, firmware update data is recorded on the recording medium 35 at the time of firmware upgrade. The camera body peripheral circuit 36 and the display device (LCD) 37 (display means) are connected to the camera processor 20 and are controlled by being supplied with power from the camera processor 20. The camera body peripheral circuit 36 is configured by, for example, a circuit that controls a camera shake correction function, a strobe, and the like.

  The lens CPU 40 provided in the lens barrel 15 is a processor that executes a program. The lens CPU 40 is provided with communication ports such as a digital signal ground port 41, an interrupt port 42, an input / output port 43, a serial data output port 44, a serial data input port 45, a clock signal port 46, and a vertical synchronization signal port 47. . The lens CPU 40 is connected to a lens power supply 50, and the lens power supply 50 is connected to a power supply terminal 51, a digital signal ground terminal 52, and a power supply ground terminal 53. The lens peripheral circuit 54 is connected to the lens CPU 40 and is controlled by being supplied with power from the lens CPU 40. The lens peripheral circuit 54 is configured by, for example, a circuit that controls a shutter motor, an AF motor, an aperture motor, and the like. The lens CPU 40 is connected to a nonvolatile storage element FASHROM 57 in which firmware including a program and lens-specific image correction data is recorded.

  When the lens barrel 15 is attached to the camera body 10, the electrical contacts 58 on the lens barrel 15 side abut on the electrical contacts 12 on the camera body 10 side. When the detection terminal 32 is electrically connected to the digital signal ground terminal 52 and grounded, the camera processor 20 recognizes the mounting of the lens barrel 15 and turns on the lens power supply 50 via the power supply terminals 31 and 51. In this state, the camera body 10 and the lens barrel 15 can communicate with each other.

  Firmware update data is required for rewriting firmware, so-called firmware update. When the user performs a firmware update, the firmware update data is downloaded by the user to the recording medium 35 attached to the personal computer from the website of the product development company via the Internet, for example. The recording medium 35 on which the firmware update data is recorded is attached to the camera body 10. The firmware update data is read from the recording medium 35 by the camera processor 20 and temporarily recorded in the DRAM 34. The firmware update data temporarily recorded in the DRAM 34 is read by the camera processor 20 and transmitted to the lens CPU 40 via the communication line BL. The firmware update data transmitted to the lens CPU 40 is written into the FASHROM 57 by the lens CPU 40.

  FIG. 4 shows a memory map of data written in the FRASHROM 57. The memory area of the FASHROM 57 includes an area M1 in which a program including a firmware update program for updating lens control software is written, a data area M3 in which image processing data and the like are written, and an empty area M5. .

  In the present embodiment, all of M1, M3, and M5 are rewritten. That is, there is a possibility that the lens function may be lost due to problems such as the lens barrel 15 not operating when M1, which is the area in which the program is written, is not correctly rewritten.

  FIG. 5 shows the flow of firmware upgrade. The firmware upgrade is roughly divided into three stages and is performed in the lens barrel 15. In steps S01 to S02 in the initial setting stage, preparation for lens communication is performed. In steps T01 to T05 in the test stage (communication line confirmation means), a communication line check loop is performed by transmitting and receiving test data. In steps F01 to F06 of the up execution means, a firmware rewrite loop is executed and the process ends.

  With reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the flow of firmware upgrade will be described. In the initial setting stage, in step S01, when the camera is turned on, lens communication is enabled. When a predetermined operation button (not shown) is pressed, step S02 is executed, and a signal requesting firmware upgrade is transmitted from the camera processor 20 to the lens CPU 40.

  The test data in the test stage is composed of data that is prone to error. A plurality of, for example, 20 types of test data are generated by the camera processor 20 and prepared in the DRAM 34. These data are divided into blocks each having a certain length of bit sequence, for example, every 512 bytes, and a communication line connecting the serial data output port 25 on the camera side and the serial data input port 45 on the lens side. The data is transmitted from the camera processor 20 to the lens CPU 40 via BL. Along with the transmission, a response and an error detection result are sent from the lens CPU 40 to the camera processor 20 via the communication line LB connecting the serial data output port 44 and the serial data input port 24 on the lens side. Error detection results are received for each camera command and each block transmission.

  When it is determined that there is no error in all data at the time point when all the data is transmitted, the communication line check loop is completed and the process proceeds to the firmware upgrade stage. On the other hand, when it is determined in step T02 that there is an error, it is determined in step T03 whether the error rate is smaller than a predetermined rate, for example, 5%. When the value is smaller than 5%, it is determined that the communication line is normal, the communication line check loop ends, and the process proceeds to the firmware upgrade stage. When it is larger than 5%, the process proceeds to step T04, where it is determined that the communication line is abnormal, and the process proceeds to step T05. In step T05, a warning for confirming the connection state is displayed on the display device (LCD) 37, for example, “Firm up is not possible. Please remove the lens and then reattach.” Not started.

  As described above, in the test stage, if the error rate is larger than the predetermined ratio in the test data transmission / reception stage, the firmware update is terminated without being started. That is, since the user can notice the abnormality of the lens communication line before performing the firmware upgrade, the user can take measures such as cleaning the contact point between the camera body 10 and the camera barrel 15. As a result, firmware upgrade is not performed in a state where the reliability of lens communication is low.

  In the firmware upgrade stage, as in the test stage, firmware update data is transmitted and received in block units via the communication lines BL and LB in step F01. Response and error detection are performed together with the transmission of the first block, and in F02, it is determined whether there is an error. When no error is detected in the first block, the process proceeds to F03, where the first block is written into the FASHROM 57, and transmission of the second block is started.

  On the other hand, when an error is detected in the first block in step F02, the process proceeds to step F04, and the number of errors is determined. When the number of errors is less than a predetermined number, for example, 5 times, the process proceeds to step F05, and the first block is transmitted and received again. During the repetition of transmission / reception of the first block in step F05, for example, when no error is detected in step F02 in the third transmission / reception, the process proceeds to step F03, where the first block is written in FASHROM57 and second in step F01. Block transmission / reception starts.

  When an error is detected in the first block in step F02 during the repetition of transmission / reception of the first block in step F05, and when it is determined in step F04 that the number of errors is a predetermined number of five, step F06 Proceed to In step F06, the forced write mode is executed. The forced write mode is a mode in which received data is written to the FLASH ROM 57 without error detection. That is, the firmware update data is written into the FLASH ROM 57 while including an error. In step F06, the firmware update data is written, and in step F01, transmission / reception of the second block is started. When the processes in steps F01 to F06 are repeated for each block and all the blocks are written, the process proceeds to step E01, and the firmware upgrade ends.

  Thus, in the firmware upgrade stage, an error is detected by receiving data. Since the block in which the error is detected is repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times, the possibility that the block is finally correctly written increases.

  In the present embodiment, if the firmware upgrade is not completed, the lens function may be lost as described above. In other words, if the firmware update is stopped before the program is written, the lens cannot be operated, but if the program is written correctly, at least the lens is kept in an operable state. Therefore, in the firmware upgrade stage, even if an error is detected in the firmware update data, the specification is such that writing is forcibly performed on all blocks. Thereby, the possibility that the lens barrel 15 does not function can also be reduced.

  As described above, the firmware upgrade is completed through the three phases of the initial setting phase, the test phase, and the firmware upgrade phase. In the test stage, the reliability of the lens communication line is confirmed by executing a communication line check loop based on transmission / reception of test data. If the reliability is low, firmware upgrade is not started. Further, even when it is determined that the reliability is high and the firmware upgrade is started, the firmware upgrade is performed while performing error detection. Also, if an error is detected at the firmware upgrade stage, writing is forcibly performed, so firmware upgrade is always completed, and the possibility of avoiding the worst situation where the lens function is lost increases. .

  Note that the data in the FLASH ROM 57 may be added in addition to M1, M3, and M5, and the order of writing is not limited.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to lens communication of a digital camera, and is applied to a device that includes a nonvolatile storage element in which firmware is recorded and can be upgraded by communication via an electrical contact. I can do it. For example, communication between a camera body and a strobe and communication between a mobile phone and a personal computer can be mentioned.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Camera body 11 Lens mount 12 Electrical contact (on the camera body side) 15 Lens barrel 57 FASHROM
58 Electrical contact (on the lens barrel side) BL (Data from the camera body to the lens barrel) Communication line LB (Data from the lens barrel to the lens body) Communication line M1 Program area M3 Data area M5 Empty area S01 to S02 Initial setting stage T01-T05 Test stage (communication line confirmation means)
F01 to F06 Firmware upgrade stage (firmware upgrade execution means)
E01 end of firmware upgrade

Claims (7)

Firmware upgrade using communication through electrical contacts,
Test data is transmitted and received in units of blocks, and whether or not there is an error in the test data is detected. When the error is smaller than a predetermined ratio, it is determined that the communication line is normal. have a communication line confirmation means for performing a test to determine the communication line is abnormal,
Further comprising a firmware upgrade execution means for starting a firmware upgrade after the test, the firmware upgrade execution means,
The firmware update data is transmitted and received in units of blocks, and when no error is detected in the transmission of the first block, the first block is written to the storage element and transmission / reception of the second block is started,
When an error is detected in the transmission of the first block, the transmission / reception of the first block is repeated a predetermined number of times,
When no error is detected during repetition of transmission / reception of the first block for the predetermined number of times, writing the first block to the storage element and starting transmission / reception of the second block;
When an error is detected a predetermined number of times in the repetition of transmission / reception of the first block over the predetermined number of times, the first block is written into the storage element while containing the error, and transmission / reception of the second block is started . A communication line reliability confirmation device at the time of firmware upgrade. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the firmware update data includes a firmware update program. Firmware upgrade using communication through electrical contacts,
Test data is transmitted and received in blocks, and whether or not there is an error in the test data is detected. When the error is smaller than a predetermined ratio, it is determined that the communication line is normal. When the error is larger than a predetermined ratio, communication is performed. Run a test to determine that the line is abnormal ,
After the test, start up the farm,
The firmware update data is transmitted and received in units of blocks, and when no error is detected in the transmission of the first block, the first block is written to the storage element and transmission / reception of the second block is started,
When an error is detected in the transmission of the first block, the transmission / reception of the first block is repeated a predetermined number of times,
When no error is detected during repetition of transmission / reception of the first block for the predetermined number of times, writing the first block to the storage element and starting transmission / reception of the second block;
When an error is detected a predetermined number of times in the repetition of transmission / reception of the first block over the predetermined number of times, the first block is written into the storage element while containing the error, and transmission / reception of the second block is started . A communication line reliability confirmation method at the time of firmware upgrade. The communication line reliability confirmation method at the time of firmware update according to claim 3 , wherein the firmware update data includes a firmware update program. An external accessory device having a processor for executing a program is detachably attached, and is a portable device capable of mutual communication with the external accessory device via an electrical contact terminal,
Sending / receiving test data to / from the accessory device in block units, detecting whether the test data has an error, and determining that the communication line is normal when the error is smaller than a predetermined ratio, the error There have a communication line confirmation means for performing a test to determine that when greater than the predetermined ratio is the communication line is abnormal,
Further comprising a firmware upgrade execution means for starting a firmware upgrade after the test, the firmware upgrade execution means,
The firmware update data is transmitted and received in units of blocks, and when no error is detected in the transmission of the first block, the first block is written to the storage element and transmission / reception of the second block is started,
When an error is detected in the transmission of the first block, the transmission / reception of the first block is repeated a predetermined number of times,
When no error is detected during repetition of transmission / reception of the first block for the predetermined number of times, writing the first block to the storage element and starting transmission / reception of the second block;
When an error is detected a predetermined number of times in the repetition of transmission / reception of the first block over the predetermined number of times, the first block is written into the storage element while containing the error, and transmission / reception of the second block is started . A portable device characterized by that. 6. The portable device according to claim 5 , wherein the firmware update data includes a firmware update program. The portable device further includes display means, and the display means performs display for confirming a connection state with the accessory device when the communication line confirmation means determines that the communication line is abnormal. The portable device according to claim 5 , wherein

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