JPH03265030A - Computer loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To partially change a program by storing a minutely divided module into an unreloadable memory and calling these modules by a host routine stored in a reloadable memory. CONSTITUTION:A processor 1 is composed of an arithmetic unit or the like and the programs stored in unreloadable and reloadable memories 2 and 3 are successively taken out through a bus line 10 and executed. The memory 2 stores plural modules A, B... which are divided to be small about 256 bytes in respect to the 48K bytes as full capacity. When the module A is changed for changing the program, a call instruction CALL 4000 of the host routine in the memory 3 is changed to 2000. Next, a changed module A' is prepared at addresses 2000-20FF in the memory 3. Thus, it is enough only to change the memory 3 and the program can be changed without changing a memory 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an apparatus equipped with a computer consisting of a processor, a nonvolatile memory, and the like.

(Prior Art) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional microcomputer-equipped device.

The illustrated device includes a processor 21, a memory 22, a drive circuit 4, etc., which are connected to a pass line 20. This device is, for example, a device for controlling a printer or the like.

The processor 21 is composed of an arithmetic unit and the like, and sequentially retrieves and executes programs stored in the memory 22. For example, if a program is stored starting at address 3000, data one byte at a time is read out from address 3000 and executed.

The memory 22 is, for example, a non-volatile memory and includes a mask ROM or an EFROM. This memory 22 stores the entire program. Mask ROM is a type of memory that cannot be rewritten. EFROM
is a type of rewritable memory. This memory 2
2 stores the entire program executed by the processor 21.

A drive circuit 4 controls a motor 5 and a print head 6 of the printer. That is, the motor 5 is composed of a pulse motor or the like, and is displaced in accordance with the number of pulse signals output by the drive circuit 4 according to the data of the calculation result of the processor 21.

During the program development stage, EFROM is used,
After development, a mask ROM is used. The program stored in the memory 22 is divided into a plurality of modules A and B. Conventionally, each module itself was large compared to the total capacity of the memory 22. For example, in the illustrated example, the total capacity of memory 22 is 65 kilobytes, while modules A and B have 4 kilobytes.

Also, the parent routine that calls each module is
No, modules A%B were executed in the storage order shown. For this reason, in a device equipped with a memory in which a program has been written, it has been impossible to divide the program into two or more memory chips and store it, and mask a portion of the program in advance. Therefore, when the development of a program is completely completed, the entire program is switched from EFROM to mask ROM.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the above-described conventional technology has the following problems.

That is, until the development of the program is completely completed, EF
It was not possible to switch ROM to mask ROM. It usually takes about 2 to 4 months to convert a program into a mask ROM. For this reason, during that time, an expensive EFROM had to be used.

Furthermore, if a portion of the ROM is masked, if it becomes necessary to change the program later, the entire mask ROM must be replaced, resulting in unnecessary costs.

The present invention has been made with attention to the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a computer-equipped device that can mask a ROM at an early stage of program development and can handle partial changes to a program. It is something to do.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A computer-equipped device of the present invention is a computer-equipped device that is equipped with a computer that includes a processor and a memory in which a control program to be executed by the processor is written, and that performs predetermined control using the computer. The program written in the memory is divided into a plurality of modules, and consists of a module group that collects the plurality of modules, and a parent routine that calls each module in the module group, and the module group is divided into a plurality of modules. Either the parent routine is stored in a non-rewritable memory and only the parent routine is stored in a rewritable memory, or the parent routine and some modules in the module group are stored in a rewritable memory. That is.

(Operation) According to the computer-equipped device of the present invention, the divided modules are stored in the non-rewritable memory, and the parent routines that call these modules are stored in the rewritable memory. Therefore, when changing some modules, create the new module in rewritable memory and specify the new module's jump address instead of the old module's jump address. By doing this, you can change the program.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a microcomputer-equipped device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

The illustrated device comprises a processor 1, a non-rewritable memory 2, and a rewritable memory 3, which are connected to a pass line 10.

The processor 1 consists of an arithmetic unit and the like, and sequentially retrieves and executes programs stored in a non-rewritable memory 2 and a rewritable memory 3. That is, address 00
A rewritable memory 3 is assigned to addresses 00 to 3FFFF, and a non-rewritable memory 2 is assigned to addresses 4000 to FFFF.

The non-rewritable memory 2 is a non-volatile memory and includes a mask ROM or the like. This non-rewritable memory 2 stores a plurality of modules A, B, . . . which are divided into about 256 bytes out of its total capacity of 48 kilobytes.

The rewritable memory 3 is a non-volatile memory,
Consists of EFROM etc. This rewritable memory 3 stores a parent routine that calls modules A and B. This parent routine is, for example, a start command (S
It starts with TART), calls CALL to call each module A, B, etc., and ends with an end command (END).

A drive circuit 4 controls a motor 5 and a print head 6 of the printer. That is, the motor 5 is composed of a pulse motor or the like, and is displaced in accordance with the number of pulse signals outputted by the drive circuit 4 according to the data of the calculation result of the processor 1.

Next, the operation of the apparatus in which the program is divided and stored as described above will be explained.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of module A that caused the program change.

FIG. 3(a) is a flowchart showing the module before change, and FIG. 3(b) is a flowchart showing the module after change.

It is assumed that the need to change the program arises in step S1 shown in the figure. In this case, conventionally, the entire program stored in the nonvolatile memory 22 shown in FIG. 2 has become unusable. Therefore, when the non-volatile memory 22 is a non-rewritable memory, the entire non-volatile memory 22 is no longer necessary. In the same way, the non-rewritable memory 2 may become unnecessary.

However, in the present invention, by rewriting the rewritable memory 3 in the following manner, it is possible to use the non-rewritable memory 2 without making it unnecessary.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the state of the microcomputer-equipped device shown in FIG. 1 after modification.

In the illustrated device, since a change has occurred in module A, the parent routine call instruction CA in the rewritable memory 3 is
Change LL 4000 to CALL 2000.

Then, address 2000 in rewritable memory 3
Create module A' after changing to ~2OFF.

In other words, the program in rewritable memory is subject to additional changes, but in non-rewritable memory, only module A is no longer used among the stored modules, and the contents of memory 2 are not rewritable. No change occurs.

That is, the effect becomes particularly large when the modules in the non-rewritable memory 2 are divided finely and only a small number of modules are changed.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

That is, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a case has been described in which a microcomputer is installed in a printer to control printing pressure, etc., but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, this can also be applied to the case where it is mounted.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the computer-equipped device of the present invention, the non-rewritable memory stores finely divided modules, and the parent routine stored in the rewritable memory divides these modules. By calling , we have the following effect:

That is, even if it is necessary to change the program, only the rewritable memory needs to be changed, and the non-rewritable memory can be used as is without being changed.

Furthermore, in general, in the development of devices, the normal program is
It was very difficult to mask the program until the development was completed, as many changes had to be made until the final stage of development. Masking can be performed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a microcomputer-equipped device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional microcomputer-equipped device, and FIGS. 3(a) and (b). FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the microcomputer-equipped device shown in FIG. 11g after the change. 1... Processor, 2... Non-rewritable memory,
3...Rewritable memory. Oki Firmware Systems Co., Ltd. (1 other person) Conventional microcomputer #! Configuration example 2 of station 101
Figure 1. Block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Module (a) of Figure I'llll. Modified module (b). Contents of module A in the program in Figure 161. 3.
figure

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A computer-equipped device equipped with a computer equipped with a processor and a memory in which a control program to be executed by the processor is written, and which performs predetermined control by the computer, wherein the program written in the memory is It consists of a module group that is divided into a plurality of modules and collects the plurality of modules, and a parent routine that calls each module in the module group, stores the module group in a non-rewritable memory, and the parent routine A computer-equipped device characterized in that only the parent routine and some modules in the module group are stored in a rewritable memory.