Photography – Having operator controlled data entry into camera – Manual data entry using peripheral device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-08
2001-02-27
Perkey, W. B. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Having operator controlled data entry into camera
Manual data entry using peripheral device
C396S439000, C712S037000, C711S103000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195511
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a program alteration system for a camera which incorporates a flash memory, and its control method.
Conventionally, a microcomputer mounted in a camera normally uses a mask ROM and, hence, the contents of the entire program area cannot be altered. Some cameras use a memory such as an EEPROM which is rewritable in units of bytes, and can rewrite data and parameters. However, a rewrite control program (loader) itself exists in the mask ROM. Therefore, even when data and parameters are rewritten in such camera, the loader itself is not rewritten; it is impossible to destroy the loader itself.
Recently, a microcomputer that incorporates a flash memory which can simultaneously erase the contents of its program area in units of bytes has become popular. For example, in case of a 32-bit microcomputer named V853 available from NEC corp., the entire 128-kbyte program ROM area is made up of a flash memory.
However, in V853, the loader itself is incorporated as firmware of the microcomputer. Therefore, the contents of the flash memory in the microcomputer are rewritten after the microcomputer is reset, and its mode is switched to a flash rewrite mode as one of test modes.
However, in the conventional microcomputer which incorporates the flash memory, the contents of the flash memory can be rewritten in only the mode under the control of firmware, as described above. In such mode under the control of firmware, a user program cannot run. Hence, customization such as arbitrary initialization of the I/O ports of the microcomputer by the user program cannot be attained, and it is impossible to rewrite the loader itself for the purpose of improving the function of the loader itself, which controls flash memory rewrites.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a memory alteration system, which can rewrite the contents of the entire program area of a flash memory incorporated in a camera, and its control method.
According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a memory alteration system for a camera comprising storage means divided into at least two areas, wherein the at least two areas of the storage means respectively hold control programs for altering contents of the storage means, and when the control program held in one of the at least two areas is executed to alter the contents of the other area, the contents of all the areas of the storage means are altered.
With this arrangement, the degree of freedom in program alteration can be increased, and possibility of camera improvements can be widely assured.
And it is another object of the present invention to provide a memory alteration system which can automatically support a newly connected accessory in a camera which incorporates a flash memory, and its control method.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the memory alteration system further comprises connection means for connecting an external device, and data held in the external device is written in the flash memory by executing the control program.
With this arrangement, the user can easily enjoy new functions of the camera.
The invention is particularly advantageous since the contents of the entire program area on the flash memory can be rewritten in the camera which incorporates the flash memory.
Therefore, program alteration with a very high degree of freedom such as debugging for camera software, customization of display operability in units of users, updating of a flash memory rewrite control loader itself, and the like can be realized in addition to updating of a camera control program and support for a new accessory, thus widely assuring possibility of camera improvements.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
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patent: 4853733 (1989-08-01), Youji et al.
patent: 5278604 (1994-01-01), Katsunori
patent: 5300978 (1994-04-01), Tetsuo
patent: 5828911 (1998-10-01), Miyazawa
patent: 6009497 (1999-12-01), Wells et al.
patent: 07 191364 (1995-07-01), None
Patent Abstract of Japan 07191364, published Jul. 28. 1995.
European Search Report Dated Jul. 17, 2000.
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Morgan & Finnegan LLP.
Perkey W. B.
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