JPH05126620A - Electronic scale device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To dispense with ROM replacement by reading the control program, data, and identification code in a program rewriting floppy disk with a floppy disk device, and rewriting them in a ROM. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 12 performs the initialization process and clears the preset memory content of a RAM 14. The program film name is read out from floppy disks 11a, 11b after the necessary items are confirmed, and which memory IC in a ROM 13 is the rewritten address is judged from the file name. 'OOH' is written in all bytes of the memory IC of the rewritten address, then the erasing/verifying processes are performed for each byte. The program data to be stored in the floppy disks 11a, 11b are transferred and written to the memory IC in the ROM 13 for each byte and confirmed by the verifying process. The control program can be changed without exchanging the ROM 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic balance device,
In particular, the present invention relates to an electronic scale device that is equipped with a floppy disk device and that allows work reservation data and aggregate data to be stored in the floppy disk device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, CPUs (Central Processing Units) and ROMs
2. Description of the Related Art There is provided an electronic weighing device having a (read only memory) and the like built therein and operated by a microcomputer system. This kind of electronic balance device is also called an electronic charge balance or an electronic counting balance according to the use and function, and the CPU executes a control program (firmware) stored in the ROM to control a predetermined microcomputer. I do.

On the other hand, in addition to the above-mentioned microcomputer control function, an electronic scale device having a floppy disk device (FDD) for storing preset data, work reservation data, total data (actual data), etc. in the floppy disk (FD) has been developed. (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-67938).

By the way, in any of the electronic weighing devices described above, a writable PROM is used as the built-in ROM.
(Programmable ROM) is used. In each of the above devices, if it is necessary to change the stored contents (control program) of the PROM due to a bug in the control program, version upgrade (specification change), or the like, P
This is dealt with by replacing the ROM.

[0005]

However, in the above conventional device, the following problems have been pointed out when the program is changed by replacing the PROM. (1) It is necessary to open the inside of the device, take out the substrate and perform the work, and special knowledge and technology regarding the circuit are required during the replacement work.

(2) When replacing the ROM, the terminals of the CPU may be short-circuited to damage the CPU, or the terminals may be bent when the ROM is fitted into the socket to damage the ROM.

(3) After the program is written in the PROM at the factory or the like, the program must be brought to the user for replacement, and the storage, management, and transportation of the PROM are troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a microcomputer-controlled electronic weighing device capable of changing a control program without replacing a ROM.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an invention according to claim 1 is to provide a central processing unit for controlling each part of the apparatus and a ROM for storing a control program and data executed by the central processing unit. An electronic weighing device having a floppy disk device for storing various data such as work data, performance data, and weighing data in a floppy disk, which is operated by a small computer system.
M is composed of a plurality of flash memory IC chips each capable of rewriting the stored contents onboard, and identifies a control program or data to be newly written and a flash memory IC chip to which the control program or data is written. And a new control program or data and an identification code are read from the program rewriting floppy disk via the floppy disk device and correspond to the read identification code. Rewriting means for rewriting the stored contents of the flash memory IC chip to the new control program or data is characterized.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the rewriting means is:
It is characterized in that it comprises at least a program which is stored in the ROM and cannot be erased.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the program provided in the rewriting means is stored in the flash memory IC chip in which the control program or data is stored.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the program provided in the rewriting means is stored in a ROM chip different from the flash memory IC chip in which the control program or data is stored. There is.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the rewriting means operates only when a predetermined code number is inputted.

[0014]

In the above configuration of the invention, when the control program stored in the ROM (flash memory) needs to be changed, the rewriting means reads a new control program from the program rewriting floppy disk,
The stored content of the flash memory IC chip corresponding to the read identification code is rewritten to the new control program.

Therefore, the control program can be rewritten by the electronic weighing device itself without replacing the ROM chip or using another rewriting device. Therefore, the inconvenience caused by exchanging the ROM chip, that is, the complexity of the exchanging work, the CPU and the R
All the inconveniences such as the risk of damage to the OM and troublesome storage, management, and transportation of the ROM can be eliminated.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Mechanical Structure FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external structure of an electronic weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the electronic scale device comprises a main body 1 and an accessory 2. The main body portion 1 has an upper step portion 1a and a lower step portion 1b, and the upper step portion 1a has a first scale 3 and a second scale 4 which constitute a weighing section.
However, the lower part 1b is provided with an operation part 5 and a dot display 6 which constitutes a display part. Above attachment 2
Is provided with a third scale 7 that constitutes a weighing unit. The first scale 3 has a maximum weight of 500 g, the second scale 4 has a maximum weight of 3,000 g, and the third scale 7 has a maximum weight of 3,000 g.
Is configured to weigh up to 5,000 g each. The operation unit 5 includes a touch panel 8, a first operation unit 9 and a second operation unit 10. The dot display 6 displays data such as weight and unit weight, and displays various states such as tare weight cancellation. Touch panel 8
Is arranged on the dot display 6, and when the operator touches the key top notation portion displayed on the display screen, the item of the portion is input.

Further, two floppy disk devices for driving the floppy disks 11a and 11b are provided on the lower front portion of the main body 1. These floppy disk devices are in the directions of arrows A and B indicating the inserting directions of the floppy disks 11a and 11b, but are hidden by the operation unit 5 and the like in FIG. The floppy disk 11a, 1
1b is a replacement control program or preset data,
It is used for storing work reservation data, total data (actual data), etc., but in this embodiment, it is particularly important for storing the former.

Electrical Configuration Next, with reference to FIG. 2, an electrical configuration of the electronic scale device of this example will be described. In the figure, the CPU 12
RAM according to the control program stored in OM13
By controlling the (random access memory) 14 as a work area, each part of the apparatus is controlled.

The ROM 13 is composed of a control program area for controlling measurement processing, printing processing, display processing, data writing processing, and the like, and a table area for storing character patterns and the like. Further, in the control program area, a rewriting processing program for rewriting the contents stored in the ROM 13 itself is also stored. The structure of the ROM 13 is particularly important in the present invention and will be described later.

The RAM 14 has a working area in which various flags and registers are secured, a preset data file for storing preset data, a total data file for storing total data, and a reserved data. It consists of a reservation data file.

The weighing unit 15 comprises a first scale 3, a second scale 4, a third scale 7 and a weighing unit interface (not shown). The weighing unit 15 is loaded with an object to be weighed, and a signal generated at that time is generated. The (measured value) is sent to the CPU 12.

The display section 16 comprises a dot display 6 and a display section interface (not shown).
Various displays are performed based on the control signal received from.

The above-mentioned operation unit 5 is operated by a key operation or a touch operation by an operator to input various data and commands.

The printer interface 17 is a CPU
In order to enable communication between the printer 12 and the printer (external device) 18, it is interposed between the two. The printer 18
When the print key is pressed, the printer interface 1 displays the information regarding the entry or exit from the RAM 14.
It receives via 7, and prints the receipt slip or the exit slip.

The rotating rack interface 19 is a CP
It is interposed between the U12 and the carousel 20 to allow communication. The carousel 20 as an external device receives the shelf number data via the carousel interface 19 and controls the rotation of the shelves based on the shelf number data (see Japanese Patent Application No. 1-225548).

The floppy disk devices 21a and 21b are
By installing the floppy disks 11a and 11b, C can be transferred via the floppy disk interface 22.
Data is exchanged with the PU 12. As the floppy disk devices 21a and 21b in this example, those capable of switching the 2M / 1.6M mode by a control signal are used (for example, DFR783F manufactured by Alps Electric Co., Ltd.).

Area Configuration of Memory Map FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the area configuration of the memory map in this example. In this example, since an Intel 8086 CPU is used as the CPU 12, an address space of 1 Mbyte is set as shown in the figure, and among these, the RAM 14 includes "00000" to "5FFFF. , And an address space from “60000” to “FFFFF” is allocated to the ROM 13.

The ROM 14 has one boot block
Each of the flash memory ICs (# 1, # 2, # 3, # 4, #) is composed of a flash memory IC (# 1) and four flash memory ICs (# 2, # 3, # 4, # 5). 5) is
Both have a storage capacity of 1 Mbit (128 bytes × 8). Here, flash memory (# 1, # 2, #
3, # 4, # 5) are non-volatile memories that can rewrite data in chip units on-board and have the same basic structure as EEPROM (electrically erasable and writable read-only memory). Is.

Therefore, in this example, the device built-in C
By the PU 12 itself, the storage contents of the ROM 13 are stored in units of chips (flash memory ICs (# 1, # 2, # 3, #
Every 4 and # 5)), it can be directly (onboard) rewritten.

The flash memory IC (# 1, # 2, #
3), # 4, # 5), the boot block flash memory # 1 has a lockable block of 8 Kbytes and two parameter blocks of 4 Kbytes, as shown in FIG. The main code block of 112 Kbytes is divided into blocks, and erasing and writing can be performed for each block.

In this embodiment, of these blocks, the lockable block is hardware-configured to be "non-erasable", and a flash memory rewriting processing program (erasing / writing processing program to be described later) is set in this area. ) Is stored in advance.

This rewriting program is executed when a predetermined key, that is, a "zero" key (zero reset key of the scale) in this embodiment, is depressed when the electronic scale device is powered on. It has become so.

As the boot block flash memory, there is, for example, "28F001BX flash memory" manufactured by Intel Corporation.

Description of Principle of Flash Memory Next, the operation of the flash memory will be described. As described above, in the electronic balance device of this example, the flash memory IC (#
It is possible to directly rewrite the stored contents (1, # 2, # 3, # 4, # 5) (write after erasing).

In this example, at the time of erasing / writing, in addition to the voltage Vcc (= 5V) at the time of reading, a high voltage Vpp
(= 12V) is applied. For example, in an Intel flash memory, with 12V applied to the Vpp terminal,
Specify the specified address in the ROM and enter the erase command 2
Writing twice erases the data at that address. In the specified memory cell at the time of erase processing, the gate is grounded, the drain is open, and the high voltage Vpp (= 12V) is applied to the source. Thus, the electrons accumulated in the floating gate are drawn to the source, and the erase is achieved.

Writing of new program data is performed by erasing the program data, writing a program command once by designating a predetermined address, and then writing the program data next. In the designated memory cell during the writing process, a high voltage Vpp (= 12V) is applied to the gate and 5V to 6V is applied to the drain, respectively. Thus, hot electrons generated near the drain are injected into the floating gate to complete writing.

At the time of erasing and writing, verify processing is performed to confirm whether the erasing operation and the writing operation are normally performed.
Further, in the above-mentioned erasing, in order to make the charges of all the memory cells equal and to perform uniform and reliable erasing, "00H" is written in all the addresses before erasing (flash In the memory, it is "1" when each bit data is erased and "0" when written.)

On the other hand, the voltage at the Vpp terminal is Vcc + 2V (7
V) or less, it operates as a read-only memory. Reading is performed by applying a low voltage (Vcc + 2V or less) to the gate and detecting ON / OFF of the drain voltage according to the level of the threshold voltage with an amplifier.

Electrical Configuration around ROM FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration around the ROM. In the figure, when the decoder 23 receives an address designation from the CPU 12, the corresponding flash memory IC
A chip select signal for selecting (# 1, # 2, # 3, # 4, # 5) is generated. The chip select signal, each CE
From each terminal to each flash memory IC (# 1, # 2, # 3, #
4, # 5). The WE (write enable) signal generation circuit 24 is a flash memory IC that has been designated.
Write enable signal WE for setting the writable state
To occur. This write enable signal WE corresponds to each WE
From each terminal to each flash memory IC (# 1, # 2, # 3, #
4, # 5). The Vpp generating circuit 25 generates a voltage Vpp for erasing and writing.

Structure of Floppy Disk In this example, the program files stored in the floppy disks 11a and 11b are stored in a flash memory (#
1, # 2, # 3, # 4, # 5), but from the configuration of the memory map shown in FIG.
Rewriting is possible in chip units. Therefore, from the name of the program file to be stored in the floppy disks 11a and 11b, which flash memory IC
It is possible to identify whether to rewrite the chip.

For example, the program file name is DC #
N. It is now written as CON. Where N =
They are 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. For example, as the program file name, DC # 3. When CON is written, it indicates that the program file is for rewriting the stored contents of the flash memory IC (# 3).

Next, the operation will be described. Flash Memory Rewriting Process Procedure A flash memory rewriting (erasing / writing) process procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the power is turned on, the CPU firstly executes step S
Initialization processing is executed in A1. As a result, the predetermined contents stored in the RAM 14 are cleared. In step SA2, it is determined whether or not the "zero" key of the operation unit 5 is in the ON state. The result of this judgment is "N
When it is "O", that is, when the "zero" key is in the OFF state, the normal processing routine is executed.

On the other hand, in step SA2, "YE
When the determination result of "S" is obtained, that is, when the "zero" key is in the ON state, the routines from step SA3 are executed, and the program file name is read from the floppy disk in step SA3.

In the routine of step SA4, it is judged which ROM chip (memory block) is the rewriting destination from the program file name of the read floppy disk. For example, in step SA3, DC # 2. When CON is read, the CPU 12 recognizes that "the ROM chip to be rewritten is the flash memory IC of number # 2".

Next, in step SA5, the CPU 1
2 writes "00H" in all bytes of the flash memory IC (memory block) of the rewriting destination number # 1 as a pre-process for erasing the program / data. This processing is for equalizing the charges of all the memory cells and performing uniform and reliable erasing, as described above.

At step SA6, the erase / verify process is executed for each byte. This process is to confirm whether the erasure has been normally achieved.

Next, in step SA7, the program data stored in the floppy disk is transferred byte by byte to the flash memory IC of number # 2 for writing and writing, and then the verify process is executed for writing. Confirm whether the above was achieved normally (details will be described later).

When the write / verify process in step SA7 is completed for all bytes, the CPU 12
The process proceeds to step SA8, and "dot rewriting processing is completed" is displayed on the dot display 6.

At this time, the dot display 6 displays "the rewriting process has been completed" and an operation for shifting to the normal process, for example, a guide message for instructing to press the "*" key. To do.

Therefore, when the operator presses the "*" key, a normal processing program (steps SA1 to SA1 above) is executed.
The processing program rewritten by the processing in step SA8) is executed. During the erasing / writing process of the flash memory, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit and a buzzer sounds.

Details of Write Processing Procedure Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The data write processing procedure (routine of step SA7 in FIG. 5) will be described in more detail. The CPU 12 is shown in FIG.
When the routine proceeds to the step SA7, first, the Vpp generation circuit 25 is turned on, and the flash memory IC (#
2) Apply voltage to Vpp terminal (Fig. 4) (step S)
B1).

Next, the start address of the flash memory IC (# 2) to be written (step SB
2) and write data is set (step SB
3). Here, the write data is once transferred from the floppy disk to the RAM 14, read from the RAM 14 for each byte, and set.

Upon completion of the above setting, the CPU 12
A write command is sent to the flash memory IC (# 2) (step SB4), and then program data is written (step SB5).

When the program / data writing is completed, the verify command is issued to the flash memory IC (#
2) (step SB6), then program
Data is read (step SB7).

When the CPU 12 reads the program data, the read program data is displayed in step S
It is determined whether or not it matches the program data written in B1 (step SB8).

The result of the judgment in step SB8 is "Y
ES ", that is, when the two data match, it is determined whether the rewriting has been completed for all addresses (step SB9). When the result of the determination in step SB9 is "YES", that is, when the rewriting has been completed for all the addresses, the Vpp generation circuit 25 is "OFF".
As a result, the writing process is ended, and the process proceeds to the process of displaying "the effect of the rewriting process" in step SA8 (FIG. 5) described above.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step SB9 is "NO", that is, if there is an address whose rewriting has not been completed, the address set in step SB2 is updated (step SB10). Then, set the corresponding write data (step SB
3) and then the above-mentioned processing (step SB4 to step SB)
Repeat 9) again.

In this way, step S9 is performed until the result of the determination in step SB9 becomes "YES", that is, until the rewriting of all addresses is completed.
B10, Steps SB4 to SB9 are repeated.

On the other hand, when the result of the judgment in step SB8 is "NO", that is, when the read program data and the written program data do not match,
The write command is again sent to the flash memory IC (# 1) (step SB4), and the above-described write / verify processing (steps SB5 to SB8) is repeated.

In this way, steps SB4 to SB8 are repeated until the result of the determination in step SB8 becomes "YES", that is, until the read program data and the written program data match.

According to the above configuration, the control program can be changed by the electronic weighing device itself without replacing the ROM chip or using another rewriting device. It should be noted that what is usually stored in the ROM is a so-called control program and fixed data used in this control program, such as character pattern data, postage data of a postage scale, and the like, and these data are similarly changed. be able to. In short, all the storage contents of the ROM can be changed.

In addition, the electronic weighing apparatus of this example does not upload the control program from the floppy disk to the RAM and execute the program each time the starting process is performed, but the control program is non-volatile and is a normal STORE of the CPU. Since it is stored in the ROM (it cannot be written by an instruction), the floppy disk device is not restricted except when the control program is changed. Therefore, the floppy disk device does not store preset data and work except when writing to the ROM. It can be used as a storage means for reservation data, total data, and the like.

In the above embodiment, the case where one memory is accessed for one address has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, a plurality of memories (banks) are prepared at the same address. Then, by switching the bank, the necessary bank may be accessed and used. Alternatively, two ROM chips may be used in parallel, one of which may be used as the upper byte of 16-bit data and the other of which may be used as the lower byte.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the memory contents are rewritten in units of 128 Kbytes using the flash memory IC chip of 1 Mbit (128 Kbytes × 8) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. No
The memory contents of 512 Kbits or less may be used to rewrite the stored contents in units of 64 Kbytes.

In the above embodiment, the rewriting processing program of the flash memory is fixedly stored in the lockable block of the flash memory. However, instead of this, only the rewriting processing program is stored in another ROM. It may be stored in a chip.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the flash memory rewriting processing program itself cannot be rewritten has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this example, and the entire stored contents of the flash memory (including the rewriting processing program are included. ) It may be rewritten. When performing all rewriting, if the rewriting processing program of the flash memory is first loaded from the flash memory to the RAM and the rewriting processing program loaded in this RAM is executed, the stored contents of the flash memory will be changed. You can rewrite everything.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the flash memory rewriting process is performed according to the procedure shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7 is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. As described above, the erase control circuit is configured in the IC chip,
The erasing may be performed only by applying a voltage to the VPP terminal and supplying a control signal.

Furthermore, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, in order to prevent the occurrence of an erroneous operation, only when a code (code) registered in advance is input (step S
C3 to step SC4), the rewriting process to the ROM chip may be executed.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention, a ROM is composed of a plurality of on-board rewritable flash memory IC chips, and the ROM is
When the control program stored in (flash memory) needs to be changed, a new control program is read from the program rewriting floppy disk,
Since the rewriting means for rewriting the stored contents of the corresponding flash memory IC chip to the new control program is provided, control is performed by the electronic weighing device itself without replacing the ROM chip or using another rewriting device. You can change the program.

Therefore, there are inconveniences caused by exchanging the ROM chip, namely, (1) the complexity of the work of opening the inside of the device and taking out the substrate and then exchanging the substrate, (2) the skill of exchanging work, Knowledge and time required, (3) CPU or ROM may be damaged when ROM is replaced, and (4) PR in which control program is written
It is possible to eliminate all inconveniences such as troublesome storage, management, and transportation of OM.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an electronic weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the electronic scale device.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an area configuration of a memory map in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration around a ROM in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flash memory rewriting processing procedure according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a write processing procedure to the flash memory.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a modified example of a procedure for writing data into the flash memory.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 CPU (Central Processing Unit, Rewriting Means) 13 ROM 11a, 11b Floppy Disk (Floppy Disk for Program Rewriting) 21a, 21b Floppy Disk Device # 1, # 2, # 3, # 4, # 5 Flash Memory IC
Tip

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A central processing unit for controlling each part of the apparatus, a ROM for storing control programs and data executed by the central processing unit, and a floppy disk for storing various data such as work data, performance data, and weighing data on a floppy disk. In the electronic weighing device having a device and operating by a small computer system, the ROM is composed of a plurality of flash memory IC chips each capable of rewriting stored contents on-board, and a control program to be newly written or A program rewriting floppy disk that stores in advance data and its control program or an identification code for identifying a flash memory IC chip to which the data is written, and the program rewriting floppy disk to the floppy disk device. And a rewriting means for reading the new control program or data and the identification code via the memory and rewriting the stored content of the flash memory IC chip corresponding to the read identification code to the new control program or data. An electronic weighing device characterized by. 2. The rewriting means is at least the ROM
The electronic weighing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic weighing apparatus is provided with a program that is stored in the memory and cannot be erased. 3. The electronic weighing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the program provided in the rewriting means is stored in the flash memory IC chip in which the control program or data is stored. 4. The program included in the rewriting means is stored in a ROM chip different from the flash memory IC chip in which the control program or data is stored. Electronic balance device. 5. The electronic balance device according to claim 1, wherein the rewriting device operates only when a predetermined code number is input.