JPH05307471A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable execution of a program as it is without re-inputting newly control information even if the program is updated. CONSTITUTION:The version information of a control program is written beforehand in a non-volatile memory 4 in which the control information is written, and at the time of the execution of the control program, a CPU 3a reads out the written version information, and compares it with the version of the present control program, and when it is judged that the version of the present control program is the version newer than the version information having been written in the non-volatile memory 4, it reads out the control information in conformity with the storage system of the old version, and simultaneously, it converts it into a form capable of being used in the control program of the existing version, and stores it again in the non-volatile memory 4, and simultaneously, it updates the version information of the nonvolatile memory 4 into the new version.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device provided with a microcomputer for controlling each part based on a control program, and a non-volatile storage means for storing control information required when the microcomputer executes the control program. The present invention relates to a device, for example, an electronic device capable of exchanging a storage medium constituting a control program or a non-volatile storage means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a microcomputer for controlling each part based on a control program for controlling a stored program, and a non-volatile memory for storing control information required when the microcomputer executes the control program. Electronic equipment provided, for example, a copying apparatus, a printer apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a computer apparatus, and the like have been put to practical use.

Of these, the nonvolatile memory stores various set values and operating conditions of each device so that the device can be finely adjusted and operated in accordance with the user and environment. Controlled. Further, there is also a system in which complicated settings are stored by using an IC card or the like, and the IC card in which the settings are stored is carried and read by a device to be used, thereby eliminating a troublesome setting operation. ..

In such a system, since it is inconvenient to refer to the stored contents of the nonvolatile memory before initializing such a nonvolatile memory, specific mark information for identification is written at a specific address, and the contents of the memory mean. There may be a method to judge whether or not there is. Alternatively, the applicant has also proposed a method of storing information for collating the contents of a nonvolatile memory in a predetermined range together and detecting whether or not the stored information is modified.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, although the correctness of the stored content can be verified, it is assumed that the format of the stored content does not change, so that the following inconveniences occur. Atsuta In an electronic device with a built-in microcomputer controlled by a program, it is common to replace the program with a newly revised one for the purpose of improving performance or eliminating a problem in the program.
Alternatively, when the IC card is configured to store information, it may be used by inserting it into a device of the same type that is not the device that wrote the information.

In such a case, in a device with a built-in microcomputer having a non-volatile memory, it is desirable to be able to continue to use the data stored in the past, but the format of the stored data and the data used in the program Sometimes different formats occur. For example, in a device that performs temperature control, for example, the number of bits required to store the set value increases as a result of updating the program to improve the accuracy and increasing the resolution of the set value of the target temperature. There are cases where it will end up.

For such a change, conventionally, the use of the variable area of the address, which has been used to store the set value, is stopped, a new variable area is reserved, and the new value is stored therein. It is common to change the program side to do so. However, in this case, the data stored prior to the program exchange is not inherited. For this reason, it is necessary for the service person to write down the stored value before the exchange and to take a measure such as manually inputting the stored value again after the program exchange.

Further, in order to prevent the influence on other stored values, the variable area which has been used up to that point is treated as an empty area, so that the storage area is wasted, and also in programming. Considering the empty area reduces the degree of freedom and is not preferable.

[0009]

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above problems, and has the following structure as one means for solving the above problems. That is, in an electronic device including a microcomputer for controlling each part based on a control program and a non-volatile storage means for storing control information required when the microcomputer executes the control program, a version of the control program Writing means for writing information in the non-volatile storage means, comparing means for reading the version information written in the writing means and comparing it with the version of the current control program, and the comparing means for the version of the current control program When it is determined that the version is newer than the version information written in the non-volatile storage means, the control information is read according to the storage method of the old version and is converted into a format usable by the control program of the current version. Restore in non-volatile storage means Together comprising an updating means for updating the Bajiyon information nonvolatile storage means to the new Bajiyon. Even if the program is updated, it is not necessary to store the data again in the nonvolatile memory.

[0010]

In the above structure, when the microcomputer writes the control information in the non-volatile storage means, the version information of the current program is also written at the same time, and when the program is updated, the version information is accessed. However, by knowing the format of the data stored in the non-volatile storage means, even if the program is updated, it is not necessary for humans to re-store the control information in the non-volatile memory, and a new version format is automatically created. It becomes possible to re-store it at an appropriate address.

As a result, it is not necessary to manually reinsert old data, and the memory layout used in the program can be independently set for each version, thereby increasing the degree of freedom.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a copying apparatus will be described as an example.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an operation unit, which is provided with keys for setting and inputting information necessary for a copy sequence, a display unit for displaying an operation state, and the like. Reference numeral 2 denotes a sensor unit, which includes various optical sensors for detecting the copy sequence execution state, a micro switch, and the like. 3 is a microcomputer, CPU3a (central processing element),
It is composed of a RAM 3b (readable / writable memory), a ROM 3c (read-only memory) and the like, and collectively controls each unit based on a control program stored in the ROM 3c.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a non-volatile memory, which may have any configuration as long as it retains the stored contents when the apparatus of this embodiment is powered off. For example, even if the backup battery is connected to the volatile memory medium, the EE
It may be a PROM (electrically erasable programmable memory) or the like. Reference numeral 5 denotes a drive unit configured by a motor, a clutch, and the like, for performing recording paper conveyance control at the time of printing output, document scanning control of the optical system at the time of document reading, and the like; The general structure of these copying machines is a known structure.

In the apparatus of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, when the microcomputer 3 receives an instruction to start copying from the operation unit 1, it controls the drive unit 5 to perform operations such as scanning of an original document and conveyance of recording paper. Then, the copy operation is performed by illuminating the original document by a load 6 such as a lamp and a heater and driving a fixing device. Since this copying operation itself is known,
Detailed description is omitted.

The microcomputer 3 of the present embodiment stores the operation timing of the device of the present embodiment in the nonvolatile memory 4 in advance,
Various parameters (control information) such as temperature setting and process condition setting in the fixing device are written, and the control of the apparatus of this embodiment is performed with reference to the control information. At this time, when the microcomputer 3 writes such control information in the non-volatile memory 4, the micro-computer 3 simultaneously writes the version information of the currently operating control program in a predetermined address in the non-volatile memory 4. The version information does not need to be written every time the control information is updated thereafter, and basically it may be executed when the program first writes the control information to the nonvolatile memory. But,
Of course, the control may be performed such that the version information is written every time the control information is updated thereafter.

When the microcomputer 3 accesses the control information stored in the non-volatile memory 4, such as during a copying operation, the version information is read in advance prior to the control information and compared with the version of the control program currently executed. Match. As a result, if it is determined that the version when the control information is written is different from the current version, the control information of the old version stored in the non-volatile memory 4 that has a different storage format is non-volatile. The control information is read from the memory 4 according to the storage format of the old version, converted into the storage format unique to the new version, and stored in the variable area on the work area.

On the other hand, among the control information of the old version, the control variable whose storage format has not changed is stored in the variable area in the work area as it is after being read.
In this way, all the control information on the non-volatile memory 4 is converted into the correct format and stored in the work area, and then the control information is written back on the non-volatile memory 4 according to the storage format of the new version. Update to the current program version.

The operation of reading and verifying the version information may be executed, for example, in a start-up sequence after the power of the control program is turned on. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example, and it is also possible to perform this operation every time when the control information is read out, or when a service person manually gives an instruction during the program exchange.

The above nonvolatile memory 4 in this embodiment
An example of a procedure for writing / reading the control information and the version information will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the writing / reading processing of the control information and version information of the nonvolatile memory 4 in this embodiment. When the control information stored in the non-volatile memory 4 is read, the version information is first read in step S1. Then, in step S2, the version read out and obtained in step S1 is compared with the version of the current control program to determine whether or not the control information is stored by the program of the current version. As a result, if it is stored in the current version of the program, the process proceeds to step S7, the control information is read as it is, and the subsequent operation is continued in accordance with the read control information in step S6.

On the other hand, if it is found in step S2 that the program was stored in the old version program, the process proceeds from step S2 to step S3, and the control variables stored in a format incompatible with the current version. About the old version format,
In addition, control variables whose format does not change are read as they are. Then, in step S4, the data is converted into the current version format and written in the non-volatile memory 4.

After that, it is not necessary to change the stored information when accessing the non-volatile memory 4. Therefore, in step S5, the version information is updated to that of the current version. After that, the process proceeds to step S6 to continue the operation according to the obtained control information. As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the ROM 3c for storing the control program is exchanged and the version of the control program is increased as described above, the purpose of carrying out the above control is to bother. It is not necessary to manually replace old data, and the memory layout used by the program can be set independently for each version, and the contents of the non-volatile memory 4 stored by the previous version of the program are inherited and used. can do.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment described above, the control program itself is collated with the control program version stored in the non-volatile memory 4 and the control information stored in the non-volatile memory 4. The update was described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example, and the control program may be updated from the outside by downloading the control program when updating the program so that the control program may be updated without physically exchanging the program. Good.

A second embodiment according to the present invention in which the control program is updated without physically exchanging it by downloading the control program from outside when updating the program will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. This will be described below. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment according to the present invention. The same components as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 described above are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 3, 3d is a flash ROM (FlashR) which is a rewritable read-only memory.
OM) (rewritable read-only memory),
Unlike the first embodiment, when the program is updated, the control program is downloaded from the outside, so that the control program can be updated without physically exchanging it.

Reference numeral 7 is a ROM storing a program to be downloaded, which must be connected to the apparatus of this embodiment when performing the download operation. However, it is needless to say that they are not connected during the normal operation, and it goes without saying that they may be configured by what is called an IC card. The operation of the second embodiment having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

When a new control program is downloaded to the microcomputer, the format of the contents stored in the non-volatile memory 4 is updated prior to the download. That is, first, in step S11, the version information of the control program stored in the non-volatile memory 4 is read out, and the version information read in step S12 is compared and compared with the version of the control program to be newly downloaded. It is determined whether the storage format of the control program at the time of writing the control information and the control program to be newly downloaded in the nonvolatile memory has been changed.

As a result, if the storage format of the control information is changed as the version is updated, that is, if there is a control variable whose storage format is different from that of the read version control program, the process proceeds to step S13. , The control information stored in the non-volatile memory 4 is once read according to the storage format of the old version. Then, in a succeeding step S14, an operation of converting into a format of a control program to be newly downloaded and writing it into the nonvolatile memory 4 is performed.

Therefore, after that, it is no longer necessary to change the storage format for the non-volatile memory 4. Therefore, in the subsequent step S15, the version information stored in the non-volatile memory 4 is updated to that of the current version. At this time, the address to be stored can be changed at the same time. Then, in a succeeding step S16, a new control program is stored in the external ROM.
A download process for reading the data from the memory 7 and storing it in the flash ROM 3d in the microcomputer 3 is executed.
Then, the process is passed to the control program, and the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment is performed according to the downloaded control program.

On the other hand, in step S12, the nonvolatile memory 4
If there is no change in the storage format of the control program when the control information is written in 4 and the control program to be newly downloaded in the nonvolatile memory 4, step S
Proceeding to step 16, the program can be downloaded as it is and the normal operation can be performed. Since the program for performing the operation prior to the download described above is not required during the operation of the original control program, it can be configured not to download from the external ROM 7 to the flash ROM 3c, and the ROM of the apparatus main body can be effectively used. It becomes available.

Also, the external R used in the above description
The OM is not necessarily limited to the ROM, but may be a storage means such as a magnetic disk device. Further, it can be configured as an external device equipped with not only a storage means but also an independent micro computer, and can also be built in a checker or the like carried by a service person. [Third Embodiment] In the above-described first or second embodiment, it is assumed that the control program side of the electronic device is updated. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example, but is also effective in the case where the nonvolatile memory 4 side is configured to be removable. That is, when the non-volatile memory 4 is composed of an IC card or the like and can be freely attached and detached, the control information stored therein is not always read by the same device, and when read by another device. The control programs may be different.
Even in such a case, the storage format of the stored control information can be grasped by checking the version information after mounting the IC card, and the control program can be read out according to the stored format. By re-storing in a format that conforms to, it is possible to effectively utilize the information stored by other devices running under the wrong version control program.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the control of the third embodiment according to the present invention in which the non-volatile memory 4 side is detachable as described above, and the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. A third embodiment will be described. Also in the third embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as that of each of the above-mentioned embodiments, and any IC card to which the nonvolatile memory 4 can be attached / detached may be used. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a flow of handling control information after the control program recognizes the mounting of the IC card in the third embodiment according to the present invention.

The apparatus of this embodiment shifts to the processing of FIG. 5 when it recognizes that the IC card is attached to the apparatus. That is, first, the version information stored in the IC card mounted in step S21 is read. Next, in step S22, the version read out and obtained in step S21 is compared with the version of the current control program to determine whether the control information is stored by the program of the current version. As a result, if it is stored in the current version of the program, the process proceeds to step S27, the control information is read as it is in accordance with the current format, and step S27 is executed.
At 26, the subsequent operation is continued according to the read control information.

On the other hand, if it is found in step S22 that the program is stored in the old version program, the process proceeds to step S23, in which the control variables stored in a format incompatible with the current version are old. It is read according to the version format, and the control variables whose format does not change are read as they are. Then, in step S24, all data is converted to the current version format and I
Write on the C card.

After that, it is not necessary to change the stored information when accessing the IC card. Therefore, in step S25, the version information is updated to that of the current version. After that, the process proceeds to step S26, and the operation according to the obtained control information is continued. By following the above procedure, even when the IC card is replaced, the stored control information can be continuously used without being aware of the change on the control program side.

As described above, according to each embodiment, the microcomputer writes the control information and the version information of the control program in the nonvolatile memory 4, so that the control program is exchanged and updated to a new version. Even if the format of storing the data in the non-volatile memory 4 is changed, the control information is automatically read according to the storage format used by the previous version control program and can be used by the new version control program. It can be converted to any format and stored again.

As a result, it becomes unnecessary to re-input the control information used conventionally when updating the control program, and it is possible to continue the operation without change.
This means that, for example, when exchanging program ROMs, complicated procedures are not required, and the same settings as the conventional ones can be automatically performed by simply converting the program. It contributes to the improvement of certainty. At the same time, the memory allocation of the control program on the non-volatile memory 4 is not limited to the previous version, and it is possible to set the program with a high degree of freedom.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the microcomputer writes the control information in the non-volatile storage means, the version information of the current program is simultaneously written, and the program is updated. In this case, by accessing the version information and knowing the format of the data stored in the nonvolatile storage means, it becomes unnecessary to store the control information again in the nonvolatile memory even when the program is updated, It is possible to automatically store in a new version format and store it at an appropriate address.

As a result, it is not necessary to manually reinsert old data, and it is possible to increase the degree of freedom by independently setting the arrangement of the memory used by the program for each version.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a predetermined procedure for accessing a nonvolatile memory according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a predetermined procedure for downloading a control program in the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a predetermined procedure for accessing stored contents of an IC card in an electronic device having an IC card according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Operation Section 2 Sensor Section 3 Micro Computer 3a CPU 3b RAM 3c ROM 3d Flash ROM 4 Nonvolatile Memory 5 Drive Section 6 Load 7 External ROM

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device comprising: a micro-computer for controlling each part based on a control program; and a non-volatile storage means for storing control information required when the micro-computer executes the control program. Writing means for writing the version information of the control program into the non-volatile storage means, comparing means for reading out the version information written in the writing means and comparing it with the version of the current control program, and the comparing means for the current control. When it is determined that the version of the program is newer than the version information written in the non-volatile storage means, the control information is read out according to the storage method of the old version and can be used by the control program of the current version. Converted to the non-volatile memory And an updating unit for re-storing the version information in the non-volatile storage unit to a new version.