JPS62119696A - Memory package unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a unit circuit by building in a semiconductor memory as information media and transmitting and receiving the signal of a memory and an external part and supplying the electric power source from the external part to the memory wholly without using an electric connecting terminal. CONSTITUTION:A memory package unit 10 builds in a non-volatile memory 12 as memory media in an independent unit case, the non-volatile memory 12 can hold the contents of the memory even in the electric power source interrupting condition and uses the memory which can be electrically rewritten by the real time. The transmitting and receiving of the signal with the external part of the non-volatile memory unit are executed through the non-contacting linking device such as a photocoupler and a magnetic induction, further, concerning the supply of the electric power source, the alternating current inducing magnetic field from the unit external part is received, the induction winding to generate the inducing alternating current voltage is built in, the generating voltage of the induction winding is rectified and the direct current electric power source is supplied to the unit circuit including the memory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a memory package unit incorporating electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory.

(Prior art) In recent years, methods for providing products and devices with the function of information media include printing information codes or pasting magnetic tapes with information written on them. The information is read optically using OCR, etc., and in the case of magnetic tapes, a special magnetic reader is used to read the information, making it possible to automate processes such as product prices and device operations through program control. .

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, if a product or device has the function of an information medium using such a printed code or magnetic tape, there is no problem if the stored information does not need to be changed. However, if the information originally held is changed in response to changes in the situation, the information content cannot be rewritten, and the amount of information that can be stored on printed codes and magnetic tapes is limited. However, there were limitations as a storage medium.

On the other hand, in order to increase the amount of stored information or make it possible to rewrite information, it is sufficient to use semiconductor memory, but if semiconductor memory is packaged as an information medium, it is possible to continuously store and rewrite the memory contents. In order to do this, the connection terminals for transmitting and receiving memory data and the power supply connection terminals for supplying power to the memory must be exposed in the package, and during use, oil and dirt may adhere to the connection terminals and cause poor contact. In addition, there were problems in terms of reliability and durability due to poor contact due to mechanical deformation.

Regarding power supply, it is also possible to incorporate a battery inside the package, but this type of memory package only needs to be supplied with power when data is continuously being stored or data is being rewritten, and the memory contents will be erased even if the power is turned off. Since it uses non-volatile memory that will never be used, it is not desirable to have a built-in battery with limited durability, and it is operated by an external power supply to enable semi-permanent use. This is desirable.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and includes a built-in semiconductor memory as an information medium, signal transmission and reception between the memory and the outside, and communication from the outside to the memory. It is an object of the present invention to provide a memory package unit that can supply all of the power without using electrical connection terminals, simplify the unit circuit, and enable semi-permanent use.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention incorporates a non-volatile memory that retains stored information even when the power is cut off and is electrically rewritable in a package unit, and also connects the non-volatile memory to the outside of the unit. The signal transmission and reception is performed via non-contact coupling devices such as photocouplers and magnetic induction.
Furthermore, regarding power supply, the unit has a built-in induction winding that generates an induced AC voltage by receiving an AC induced magnetic field from outside the unit, and rectifies the voltage generated by this induction winding to supply DC power to the unit circuit including the memory. It was designed to do so.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention together with a write/read device used as an external device.

First, the configuration will be described. Reference numeral 10 is a memory package unit of the present invention, which has a nonvolatile memory 12 built in as a storage medium in an independent unit housing. This non-volatile memory 12 uses a memory that can retain its stored contents even when the power is cut off and can be electrically rewritten in real time.
M (EI electrically Erasable
For reading and rewriting data, it is desirable to use a serial input/output type in order to reduce the number of transmission lines. As such nonvolatile memory 12 that is electrically rewritable and of serial input/output type, for example, X2404 manufactured by Xiko Co., Ltd. is suitable.

This serial input/output type nonvolatile memory 12 has a serial data port SDA that inputs and outputs address data and memory data, and a serial clock port SCL that receives clock pulse input and takes serial timing for writing and reading. have and SDA port and S
The data format for writing and reading data using the CL boat is as shown in FIG. 2, for example.

That is, FIG. 2 shows the data format of the write position, in which a chip select code is provided following the start pulse S, an R/W code for selecting writing and reading is provided after this chip select code, and An 8-bit address and data code are arranged and an end pulse E is finally obtained. On the other hand, when reading, R/W
When the code bit becomes "1" and the address code is given to the memory, the data code is output from the memory side following the address code. Furthermore,
As this type of non-volatile memory 12, one having a storage capacity of about 512 bytes is currently in practical use, and the memory package unit of the present invention has a sufficient storage capacity.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the serial data port SDA and serial clock port SC of the nonvolatile memory 12
L transmits and receives signals with the write/read device 20 provided outside the unit by coupling with a photocoupler, so the serial data boat SDA has a light emitting diode 13 driven to emit light by read data and a write / It is connected to a phototransistor 14 that receives optical transmission of write data from the reading device 20 side and converts it into an electrical signal. Further, the serial clock port SCL is connected to the output of a phototransistor 15 that receives light obtained by light emission driving using a clock pulse from the write/read device 20 side and converts it into an electric signal. Corresponding to the light emitting diode 13 and photo 1 to transistors 14 and 15 on the memory package unit 10 side, the writing/reading device 20 side receives light from the light emitting diode 13 driven to emit light based on read data. A light emitting diode 24 is driven to emit light by write address and data or read address signals and sends signal light to the phototransistor 14, and a light emitting diode 24 is further driven to emit light by a clock pulse. A light emitting diode 25 is provided to output an optical signal to the phototransistor 15.

The phototransistor 23 and light emitting diodes 24 and 25 provided on the write/read device 20 side are respectively connected to the I10 port 21 for serial transfer, and under the control of the microprocessor 22 write and receive data from the microprocessor 22. The read parallel output data is converted into serial data to drive the light emitting diode 24 to emit light, and the memory data obtained serially from the memory package unit 10 side by the phototransistor 23 is converted into parallel data and sent to the microprocessor 22. I started sending them.

Furthermore, a display and operation panel 26 is connected to the microprocessor 22 for reading and displaying memory data in the memory package unit 10 and rewriting the data. It allows data to be sent and received.

On the other hand, as a power supply device for supplying power from the writing/reading device 20 to the memory package unit 10 side, the primary side and the secondary side of the power transformer are divided into two, and the negative side transformer section 27 is used for writing/reading. A secondary transformer section 17 is provided on the memory package unit 10 side, and the primary winding 27a of the negative transformer section 27 is supplied with AC power at a constant frequency by an oscillator 28. , - An alternating magnetic field by the secondary winding 27a is generated in the transformer core.

On the other hand, a secondary winding 17a is wound around the secondary transformer section 17 on the side of the memory unit 10, and when the memory package 10 is aligned with the write/read device 20 as shown in the figure, the primary winding An alternating current induced magnetic field caused by an alternating current from the oscillator 28 flowing through the oscillator 27a is applied to the secondary winding "17a" between the primary and secondary transformer cores, and in response to this alternating current induced magnetic field, an alternating current induced voltage is generated in the secondary winding 17a. The AC induced voltage of the secondary winding 17a is input to the rectified and stabilized power supply 18, where it is rectified to DC and then stabilized to a constant circuit voltage to generate the unit including the nonvolatile memory 12. DC power supply voltage will be supplied to the internal circuitry.

A power supply circuit 29 supplied with commercial power is provided on the write/read device 20 side, and the DC power supply voltage from this power supply circuit 29 is used to operate each circuit section in the device. .

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a combination state of the memory package unit 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 and the writing/reading device 20. and keyboard 3 for operation.
0 and a display section 32, and a unit storage section 34 for setting the memory package unit 10 is formed on the top surface of the device.

On the other hand, the memory package unit 10 is made as a portable package case, has a combination shape that fits into the unit storage part 34 of the writing/reading device 20, and has a combination shape that fits into the unit storage part 34 of the writing/reading device 20, and The split transformer structure and the light receiving or emitting sides of the photocoupler are arranged to face each other. Therefore, by simply placing the memory package unit 10 on the unit storage section 34 of the writing/reading device 20 as shown in the figure, an electrical interface is formed between the two, and by operating the keyboard 30 or the like, the built-in memory package unit 10 can be connected. non-volatile memory 1
2 data reading and data rewriting can be performed.

In addition, power supply and signal transmission/reception for memory read/write between the memory package 10 and the write/read device 20 are as follows:
Since it is a non-contact coupling method that simply makes the terminals face each other without requiring an electrical terminal connection, there is no problem of poor contact due to oil adhesion or dirt when using a terminal structure, and it is also highly effective for long-term use. Reliability can be guaranteed.

Furthermore, power is supplied to the memory package unit 10 by supplying an AC induced magnetic field from the writing/reading device 20, but signal transmission for the memory is optical signal transmission using a photocoupler. Therefore, it is completely unaffected by the induced magnetic field for power supply.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another combination of the memory package unit 10 of the present invention and the writing/reading device 20. In this embodiment, the writing/reading device 20 is connected to the signal cable 36.
A scanner 38 with power supply and signal coupling means shown in dotted lines in the writing/reading device 20 shown in FIG.
By connecting this scanner 38 to the power supply and data transmission/reception coupling part 10a of the memory package unit 10, power is supplied to the memory package unit 10, and at the same time data reading and data writing of the built-in non-volatile memory 12 can be performed. We are making it possible to do this.

Further, as a specific application of the memory package unit 10 of the present invention, the memory package unit 10 can be used in place of a process management table provided for each product on a manufacturing line for automobiles, home appliances, etc. Especially when products with different formats and specifications are mixed on the same production line, data for manufacturing process management for each product is written to the memory package unit 10, and the memory package unit 10 with this data written is attached to the product. and pour it onto the line. In the manufacturing line, the memory package unit 10 attached to the product is removed at each step and set in the write/read device 20 as shown in FIG.
etc. to check the process work details, and when the process is completed, the process end data is stored in the memory package unit 1.
After writing it to 0, it is attached to the product again and sent to the next second process. Of course, since the write/read devices 20 provided at each stage of the manufacturing process are connected to the central monitoring device, the contents of the memory package unit 10 are sent to the central side in real time. It is also possible to rewrite the contents of the memory package 10 midway through the production line based on instructions from the manufacturer.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention together with a write/read device, and this embodiment is a non-volatile memory 1.
2 and a writing/reading device 20 outside the unit are transmitted and received by inductive magnetic coupling.

That is, a transformer core with a split structure is arranged on the abutting surface of the memory package unit 10 and the writing/reading device 20, and the transformer core on the signal sending side is provided with induction coils 40a, 4.2a, 44a, and receiving The transformer core on the side is equipped with a magnetic sensor 40b, as shown by the shaded area.
42b and 44b are provided, and this magnetic sensor 40b
, 42b, 44b may be a Hall element or a magnetoresistive element, and have the function of receiving an induced magnetic field from an induction coil and converting it into an electric signal. Note that the configuration of the bar is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Even when a magnetic coupling method consisting of a combination of an induction coil and a magnetic sensor is used for signal transmission and reception between the nonvolatile memory 12 and the outside of the unit, the electrical terminal connection is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. This becomes unnecessary, and power supply, memory reading, and signal transmission/reception for writing can be performed simply by placing the memory package unit 10 opposite the writing/reading device 20.

In the magnetic coupling shown in FIG. 5, it is desirable to magnetically shield the signal transmission/reception side from the power supply side in order to prevent the alternating current magnetism for power supply from affecting the magnetic sensor for signal transmission/reception. However, memory package unit 1
0 and the write/read device 20 shown by broken lines are all embedded in a ferromagnetic material such as a metal case, since magnetic shielding is provided by this embedded installation structure itself. , there is no need to provide a separate magnetic shield.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, a nonvolatile memory that retains stored information even when the power is cut off and is electrically rewritable is built into a package unit, and a nonvolatile Signal transmission and reception with the outside of the memory unit is performed via non-contact coupling devices such as photocouplers and magnetic induction, and for power supply, there is a built-in induction winding that generates an induced AC voltage by receiving an AC induced magnetic field from outside the unit. let me,
The voltage generated by this induction winding is rectified to supply DC power to the unit circuit including the memory, which enables external power supply to the memory package unit and writing and reading of the non-volatile memory built into the memory package unit. For all signal transmission and reception, there is no need for external electrical terminal connections, and even if oil or dirt adheres during use, power supply and data transmission and reception can be reliably performed without being affected. .

Furthermore, since the unit circuit including the memory is operated by receiving power from an external source, it can be used semi-permanently compared to a case where a battery is built-in.

Furthermore, by integrating the memory package unit of the present invention into a product or using it as an accessory, the product or device itself can be treated as a storage medium with sufficient storage capacity, and the storage of information in the memory can be improved. A sufficient amount of information can be obtained from the data transfer, and the information can be rewritten freely. By replacing the conventional record keeping of information that relied on slips and documents with the memory package unit of the present invention, it is possible to use an extremely wide range of computers. Management, control, process processing, etc. can be realized using the system.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the format of write/read data in the built-in memory of the unit, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing the memory package unit of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. 10: Memory package unit 12: Nonvolatile memory 13, 24, 25: Light emitting diode 14, 15, 23: Phototransistor 17: Secondary transformer section 17a: Secondary winding 18: Rectification stabilized power supply 20: Writing /Reading device 21: I10 port for serial transfer 22: Microprocessor 26: Display and operation panel 27: -Next transformer section 27a secondary primary winding 28: Oscillator 29: Power supply circuit 30: Keyboard 32: Display section 34: Unit storage Section 36: Signal cable 38: Scanner

Claims (1)

[Claims] An electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory that retains stored information even in a power-off state, and a coupling device that couples signal transmission and reception between the nonvolatile memory and the outside of the unit without electrical contact. and a power supply device comprising an induction winding that generates an induced AC voltage in response to an AC induced magnetic field from outside the unit, rectifying the voltage generated by the induction winding and supplying DC power to a circuit within the unit including the memory. A memory package unit characterized by comprising: