Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory – Storage accessing and control – Specific memory composition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-19
2002-08-20
Kim, Matthew (Department: 2186)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory
Storage accessing and control
Specific memory composition
C711S104000, C711S133000, C711S159000, C711S165000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06438643
ABSTRACT:
This Application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 10-008129 filed Jan. 19, 1998, the content of which is incorporated hereinto by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for programming or reprogramming a programmable portion of a programmable read-only memory (programmable ROM, or PROM), that is, for erasing a processing program such as a firmware already stored in the programmable portion of the programmable ROM. More particularly, this invention is concerned with: a programming device for programming a programmable ROM; a program output device for generating a program to be supplied to at least one processing device including the programmable ROM; a communication system including the program output device and a plurality of processing devices; and a data storage medium storing a software program for operating the communication system.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
There is known a read-only memory (ROM) for storing data such that the stored data can only be read. The data stored in such a ROM often include a processing program for various control purposes. There has recently been developed a programmable ROM (PROM) such as a flash ROM, which includes a programmable portion which normally serves as an ordinary read-only memory and can be reprogrammed according to a predetermined programming program. Namely, a processing program originally or currently stored in the programmable portion of the programmable ROM can be replaced by a newly written processing program. Conventionally, the programmable portion is programmed according to a programming program, in the following procedure, for example.
Where the programming program is stored in the ROM which includes a programmable portion to be programmed, this programming is not possible due to different electric characteristics to be exhibited upon data reading and writing from and into the programmable portion. In view of this, it is considered to provide two programmable ROMs each of which stores the programming program. In this case, the programmable portion of one of these two programmable ROMs can be programmed according to the programming program stored in the programmable portion of the other programmable ROM.
It is also considered to divide a programmable ROM into two halves each of which stores the programming program. In this case, the programmable of one of the two halves of the ROM can be programmed according to the programming program stored in the other half.
In the former case, a device in question must employ two programmable ROMs and therefore tends to be complicated in physical construction. Further, some degree of control correlation is required between the two programmable ROMs, and the control system is accordingly complicated. In the latter case wherein the programmable program is stored at each of two portions of the programmable ROM, the storage capacity available is accordingly reduced. In addition, the programming operation must be implemented for each of the two halves of the programmable ROM, resulting in reduced programming efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a first object of the present invention to provide a programming device which permits efficient programing of a programmable ROM.
It is a second object of this invention to provide a program output device which is suitably constructed to generate a processing program to be supplied to such a programming device so that a processing program currently stored in the programmable ROM is replaced with the supplied processing program.
It is a third object of this invention to provide a communication system which comprises such a program transmitting device and a plurality of processing devices each including a programmable ROM.
It is a fourth object of the invention to provide a data storage medium storing a software program for operating such a communication system.
The first object indicated above may be achieved according to a first aspect of this invention, which provides a programming device for programming a programmable ROM having a programmable storage area which can be programmed and which stores a programming program for programming said programmable storage area, and a processing program for effecting a processing operation other than the programming of the programmable storage area, the programming device comprising: copying means for copying the programming program into a RAM connected to a CPU which is connected to the programmable ROM as well as the RAM; and programming means for replacing the processing program currently stored in the programmable storage area with a new processing program, according to the programming program stored in the RAM.
In the programming device constructed according to the first aspect of this invention, the programming program stored in the programmable storage area of the programmable ROM is copied by the copying means, into the RAM which is connected to the CPU which is also connected to the programmable ROM. The programmable storage area is programmed, that is, the processing program currently stored in the programmable storage area is replaced with a new processing program, according to the programming program currently stored in the RAM.
Thus, the present programming device is adapted to program or reprogram (rewrite) the programmable storage area, according to the programming program which has been copied into the RAM, so that the programmable storage area can be programmed at one time, namely, the processing program currently stored in the programmable storage area can be replaced with the desired new processing program at one time. Accordingly, the present programming device permits efficient programming of the programmable storage area of the programmable ROM in a reduced processing time, with simple mechanical and control arrangements, and without reducing the effective data storage capacity of the programmable ROM.
In a first preferred form of the programming device according to the first aspect of this invention, the programming means commands the CPU to execute the programming program stored in the RAM, to thereby program the programmable storage area. In this case, the programming device further comprises resetting means operable upon completion of programming of the programmable storage area by the programming means, for commanding the CPU to execute program data stored in the programmable ROM.
In the above first preferred form of the invention, the programming device commands the CPU to execute the programming program stored in the RAM, to rewrite the processing program stored in the programmable storage area of the programmable ROM. When the programmable storage area has been programmed or rewritten, the data stored in the programmable ROM are executed. The program data stored in the programmable ROM after completion of programming of the programmable storage area may include the new processing program which has been stored in the programmable storage area by the programing means, and/or a program stored in a non-programmable storage area of the programmable ROM.
The programming device according to the present first preferred form of the invention permits initiation of normal operations of a device including the programmable ROM, as soon as the programmable storage area has been programmed (as soon as the desired new processing program has been rewritten in the programmable storage area). Thus, the present programming device assures efficient programming of the programmable storage area of the programmable ROM.
In a second preferred form of the first aspect of this invention, the programming device further comprises program receiving means for receiving the new processing process to be newly stored in the programmable storage area, and the copying means and the programming means are operable, upon reception of the new processing program by the program receiving means, to copy the programming program into the RAM and write the new processing program in the programmable storage area, in place of the processi
Hattori Hiroshi
Ohara Kiyotaka
Anderson Matthew D.
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Kim Matthew
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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