JPH04302090A - Electronic device provided with backup memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display the destruction of a RAM and a defect of the RAM due to the voltage reduction of a backup battery as messages by measuring the stop period of a main power source and counting the frequency in destruction of the RAM. CONSTITUTION:The power stop period is calculated based on time data stored in a hard disk for turning-on or turning-off of the main power source by execution of a power-on/off time logging program and is stored in the hard disk. If the destruction of the RAM is detected by RAM check, it is discriminated whether the power stop period exceeds a prescribed number of days or not, and a message A indicating the voltage reduction of the backup battery is displayed if it exceeds the prescribed number of days, and the counter of the frequency in destruction of the RAM which is formed on the hard disk is checked, and a message B indicating a defect of the RAM is displayed if the frequency in destruction of the RAM exceeds a prescribed value.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device equipped with a random access memory backed up by a battery.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Electronic equipment, such as a POS (point of sale) terminal device, is equipped with a RAM (random access memory) to store various sales management data. For this reason, the RAM is backed up by a battery to prevent the various sales management data stored therein from being destroyed.

However, power backup using a battery is limited by the battery capacity, and for this reason, if the main power is turned off for a long period of time, the battery voltage will drop.
A phenomenon called RAM destruction may occur.

[0004] Conventionally, therefore, a CPU (central processing unit) constituting the main body of the control unit of the terminal device performs the processing shown in FIG. That is, when the main power is turned on, a RAM check is first performed, and in this RAM check, it is examined whether or not the RAM has been damaged. If the RAM is damaged, a flag is set on the RAM provided in the POS terminal device, which is not backed up by power, to indicate that the RAM has been destroyed.

Next, the basic OS (operating system) is loaded, the standard POS driver is loaded, and a common table area is secured to store the data used by the standard POS driver. .

[0006] Next, the above-mentioned R without power backup
Check the AM flag, and if the flag indicating that RAM corruption has occurred, it is determined that RAM corruption has occurred, and a message will be displayed saying "System error (RAM). Please contact a service engineer." Display. Then start the system.

Note that if the flag indicating the occurrence of RAM destruction is not set, the system is started immediately.

[0008] In this way, conventional methods have merely displayed whether or not RAM destruction has occurred.

[0009]

By the way, one of the main causes of RAM destruction is a drop in the voltage of the power backup battery due to a long-term power outage. However, in the conventional device, the problem is that the cause of the RAM destruction cannot be determined because it only informs whether or not the RAM has been destroyed.

[0010]Furthermore, if the RAM is destroyed due to battery voltage drop only once, it hardly poses a problem in terms of data management, but if such RAM destruction occurs several times, problems may arise when using the RAM, such as program runaway. There was a problem that caused some inconvenience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device equipped with a backup memory that can measure the main power supply stop period and verify that the cause of RAM destruction is a voltage drop in the backup battery.

[0012] Also, a backup memory that can measure the main power supply stop period and display a message indicating that the cause of RAM destruction is a voltage drop in the backup battery, as well as be able to count the number of RAM destructions and display a message indicating that the RAM is defective. The purpose is to provide electronic devices with

[0013]

[Means for solving the problem] The invention corresponding to claim 1 is:
In electronic equipment equipped with a power-backed clock circuit and battery-backed random access memory, when the main power is turned off, the time data from the clock circuit is stored in non-volatile memory as power-off time data. A power-off time recording means to be stored in the memory, a power-off period calculated from time data from a clock circuit when the main power is turned on, and power-off time data stored in the non-volatile memory, and stored in the non-volatile memory. A power-off period storage means is provided.

The invention corresponding to claim 2 is an electronic device equipped with a power-backed clock circuit and a battery-backed random access memory, which includes a non-volatile memory and a display means for displaying various information. , a power-off time recording means for storing time data from a clock circuit as power-off time data in a nonvolatile memory when the main power is turned off, and an inspection means for inspecting the state of the random access memory when the main power is turned on. a power-off period storage means for calculating a power-off period from time data from the clock circuit and power-off time data stored in the non-volatile memory when the main power is turned on and storing the result in the non-volatile memory; and an inspection means. When destruction of the random access memory is detected and the power outage period stored in the nonvolatile memory by the power outage period storage means is longer than a preset specified period, the power backup battery for the random access memory is activated. a first message display control means for displaying a message on the display means that the voltage has dropped; and a first message display control means for causing the non-volatile memory to cumulatively store the number of destructions of the random access memory when the power-off period is longer than a preset specified period. A destruction number storage means,
When the number of destructions accumulated by this destruction number storage means exceeds a preset specified number of times, the random access
and second message display control means for displaying a message on the display means indicating a memory failure.

[0015]

[Operation] In the present invention having such a structure, when the main power supply is turned off, the power supply stop time data obtained from the clock circuit is stored in the nonvolatile memory by the power supply stop time recording means. When the main power is turned on, the power-off period is calculated by the power-off period storage means based on the power-on start time data obtained from the clock circuit and the power-off time data stored in the non-volatile memory, and is stored in the non-volatile memory. Ru.

Furthermore, when the main power is turned on, the state of the random access memory backed up by the power supply is inspected by the inspection means, and if destruction of the random access memory is detected and the power outage period is longer than a specified period, The display means is controlled to display a message indicating that the voltage of the power backup battery has decreased. Furthermore,
When the detection means detects destruction of the random access memory when the main power is turned on, the number of times the random access memory has been destroyed is cumulatively stored in the nonvolatile memory by the destruction number storage means. When the number of destructions of the random access memory cumulatively stored in the nonvolatile memory exceeds a predetermined number, the display means is controlled to display a message indicating that the random access memory is defective.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention will be described as applied to a POS terminal device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1 constituting the main body of the control section is provided, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing program data is provided in the CPU 1.
Memory) 2, RAM (Random Access Memory) 3 that stores various sales management data, auxiliary RAM 4 that flags when there is RAM corruption, and counts the time of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second. The clock circuits 5 are connected to each other via a system bus 6.

Note that the RAM 3 is configured to have its power backed up by a backup battery 7 in the event of a power outage, and the auxiliary RAM 4 and the clock circuit 5
Power is supplied from a battery 17 that guarantees long-term power.

The CPU 1 also has a communication I/F 8, a keyboard controller 9 that controls the keyboard 12, a display controller 10 that controls the display 13, a printer controller 11 that controls the printer 14, and a hard disk device 16 for data communication. Hard disk I/
F15 are connected to each other via the system bus 6.

[0021] The communication I/F 8 is connected to the host computer via a line.

The hard disk 16 has a memory area as a non-volatile memory for storing the power stop time and power start time, and also has a counter for cumulatively storing the number of RAM destructions.

The CPU 1 is designed to perform the processing shown in FIG. 2 when the power is turned off.

That is, when the main power is turned off, R
The data stored in the AM 3 and the power-off time data of the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second at that time are stored in the hard disk 16 from the clock circuit 5. (Power-off time recording means) Next, a save flag indicating that the data in the RAM 3 has been stored on the hard disk is turned on, and the processing when the power is turned off is completed.

After these processes are completed, the main power supply is completely turned off after a while.

The CPU 1 is also designed to perform the processing shown in FIG. 3 when the power is turned on.

That is, when the main power is turned on, the RA
It is checked (inspection means) whether or not destruction has occurred in M3, and a bit indicating that RAM destruction has occurred or a bit indicating no RAM destruction is set in the RAM destruction flag of auxiliary RAM 4.

Next, the basic OS (operating system) is loaded, the standard POS driver is loaded, and a common table area is secured for storing the data used by the standard POS driver.

When the common table area is secured, the power OFF/ON time logging program is executed to read out the power start time data of the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second from the clock circuit 5. At the same time, the power off period is calculated from the power off time data and the power start time data already stored on the hard disk 16 and is stored on the hard disk 16. (Power-off period storage means) Next, the RAM destruction flag of the auxiliary RAM 4 is checked, and if a bit indicating that RAM destruction has occurred is not set in the flag, the system is started as is.

[0030] Furthermore, when the bit indicating RAM destruction is set in the RAM destruction flag of the auxiliary RAM 4, it is determined whether or not the power-off period stored in the hard disk 16 is longer than the specified number of days. If so, the message A will be: ``The battery voltage has dropped because the power has been off for several days. Please turn on the power for 48 consecutive hours or 10 hours a day for 5 consecutive days. (When doing business, please use the clear key. )” is displayed on the display 13. (First message display control means) Then, the RAM formed in the hard disk 16
The system is activated after incrementing the destruction number counter by +1 (destruction number storage means).

[0031] If the power outage period is not longer than the specified number of days,
Check the counter for the number of times the RAM has been destroyed on the hard disk 16, and determine whether the number of times has exceeded the specified number. If the number has exceeded the specified number, message B will be displayed, ``A memory error has occurred. Equipment inspection is required. Please contact a service engineer.'' is displayed on the display 13. (Second Message Display Control Means) If the number of times stored in the RAM destruction counter of the hard disk 16 is not a specified number or more, the system is started as is.

As described above, in this embodiment, power stop time data is read from the clock circuit 5 when the main power is turned off and stored in the hard disk, and power start time data is read from the clock circuit 5 when the main power is turned on. The power outage period is calculated and stored.

[0033] When RAM destruction is detected, it is checked whether the power supply stop period is longer than a specified number of days, and if it is longer than the specified number of days, message A is displayed, and a message indicating a voltage drop in the backup battery 7 as the cause of RAM destruction is displayed. ,
The number of RAM destructions that have occurred in the RAM 3 is cumulatively stored.

[0034] Furthermore, if the power outage period is not longer than the specified number of days, the number of times RAM destruction has occurred is checked, and the RAM
If the number of destructions is equal to or greater than the specified number, message B is displayed to indicate that the RAM 3 is defective.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the main power is turned off and when the main power is turned on, the time data at that time is stored in the hard disk, and the power-off period can be calculated and stored based on these time data.

As a result, when RAM corruption occurs,
As for the cause of RAM destruction, it is possible to verify the voltage drop of the backup battery from the power outage period and display a message. Moreover, since the number of RAM destructions is stored cumulatively,
A message can be displayed to the user indicating that the RAM is defective if the RAM has been destroyed a specified number of times or more.

[0037] Therefore, it is possible to clarify the cause of the RAM destruction due to a drop in the voltage of the backup battery, so there is no possibility of trouble with the user due to liability issues related to the RAM destruction.

In this embodiment, the power stop time, power start time, and power stop period are stored in the hard disk 16, and a counter is formed to count the number of times the RAM is destroyed. Auxiliary RAM4 is supplied with power from a guaranteed battery.
A counter may be formed that stores the power stop time, power start time, and power stop period, and counts the number of RAM destructions.

[0039]

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an electronic device with a backup memory that can measure the main power supply stop period and verify that the cause of RAM destruction is a voltage drop in the backup battery.

In addition, the backup memory is capable of measuring the main power supply stop period and displaying a message indicating that the cause of RAM destruction is a voltage drop in the backup battery, as well as being able to count the number of RAM destructions and display a message indicating that the RAM is defective. We can provide electronic devices with

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of processing when power is turned off, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of processing when power is turned on, showing the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a circuit configuration showing a conventional example.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing when power is turned on, showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...CPU. 3...RAM, 5...clock circuit, 13...display, 16...hard disk.

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: An electronic device comprising a power-backed clock circuit and a battery-backed random access memory, wherein time data from the clock circuit is stored in a nonvolatile memory and when the main power is turned off. A power supply stop time recording means is stored in the nonvolatile memory as stop time data, and a power supply stop period is determined from the time data from the clock circuit and the power supply stop time data stored in the nonvolatile memory when the main power is turned on. 1. An electronic device equipped with a backup memory, further comprising: power-off period storage means for calculating and storing the calculated value in the nonvolatile memory. 2. An electronic device equipped with a power-backed clock circuit and a battery-backed random access memory, comprising: a non-volatile memory, a display means for displaying various information, and a display means for displaying various information when the main power is turned off. , power stop time recording means for storing time data from the clock circuit in the nonvolatile memory as power stop time data; and inspection means for checking the state of the random access memory when the main power is turned on;
power-off period storage means for calculating a power-off period from time data from the clock circuit and power-off time data stored in the non-volatile memory when the main power source is turned on, and storing the calculated power-off period in the non-volatile memory; When the inspection means detects destruction of the random access memory, and the power-off period stored in the non-volatile memory by the power-off period storage means is longer than a preset specified period, the random access memory is a first message display control means for displaying a message on the display means indicating that the voltage of a battery for power backup of the memory has decreased; a destruction number storage means for accumulatively storing the number of destructions of the access memory;
An electronic device equipped with a backup memory, further comprising second message display control means for causing the display means to display a message indicating a memory failure.