JPH0784892A - Memory device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and accurately restore characteristic data which are lost by allowing data to be written in a 1st memory space only when specific input operation is performed. CONSTITUTION:It is decided whether or not the specific input operation for a password, etc., is performed to allows a 1st memory space to be referred to and inhibits the 1st memory space from being written when a machine is actually operated without inputting a password, and allows the 1st memory space to be written when the password is inputted. Then when it is decided that data for adjustment written in a 2nd memory space are abnormal and the number of the abnormal data is less than a specific value, the data in the 1st memory space 11 corresponding to the abnormal data are referred to and the data are overwritten on the abnormal data in the 2nd memory space 12. When the number of the abnormal data is larger than the specific value, on the other hand, all the data in the 1st memory space 11 are referred to and overwritten while made to correspond to all the data in the 2nd memory space 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a memory device which is provided in a machine which requires adjustment for each individual and which stores unique data for adjustment unique to each machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is provided with a non-volatile memory for storing adjustment data, while a memory device for controlling input / output of adjustment data to / from the non-volatile memory is provided. Has been. Further, the factory that manufactures the image forming apparatus is equipped with a ROM (read only memory) in which standard adjustment data for adjusting the image forming apparatus is stored, and the standard adjustment data written in the ROM is stored. Is reconstructed into the unique data for adjustment peculiar to each apparatus at the time of factory shipment of the image forming apparatus and stored in the non-volatile memory.

The image forming apparatus sometimes deteriorates with time from the time of shipment from the factory. When the image forming apparatus deteriorates with time, the unique data in the memory of the image forming apparatus is suitable for the image forming apparatus. Rewritten with adjustment data.

[0004]

By the way, in the conventional memory device, if the data unique to the image forming apparatus is erroneously rewritten after being shipped to the market due to an operation error of a service person or an operator. , The output image formation result is not the desired output. In that case, there is no recovery means other than storing the most standard adjustment data, which is written in the ROM, in the non-volatile memory again, and even if it is performed, it is not the adjustment data peculiar to the device. There is a possibility that the image forming output may not be obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and it is possible to easily and accurately restore the unique data even if the unique data for adjustment unique to the machine is lost. An object is to provide a memory device.

[0006]

Therefore, the present invention is based on FIG.
As shown in, it is equipped with a machine that requires adjustment for each individual,
A memory device for storing adjustment-specific data unique to each machine, in which a first memory space for storing the adjustment-specific data and at least a part of the data stored in the first memory space are stored separately. A rewritable non-volatile memory having a memory space is provided, while detection means for detecting the presence / absence of a specific input operation and the second memory space are always referable / rewritable while the first memory is provided. For space, unless there is a specific input operation
A permission unit that permits only the reference and prohibits the writing, and permits the writing to the first memory space only when a specific input operation is performed is provided.

Also, abnormal data determining means for determining whether the unique data stored in the second memory space is abnormal data, and when it is determined that the stored unique data is abnormal data, Rewriting means for referring to the data in the first memory space corresponding to the abnormal data and overwriting the data on the abnormal data in the second memory space;
I was prepared.

Further, when the number of abnormal data stored in the second memory space exceeds a predetermined number, all the data in the first memory space is referred to, and the data is stored in the second memory space. All data rewriting means to overwrite is provided.

[0009]

According to the above structure, the nonvolatile memory is provided with the first and second memory spaces, and the same data is stored in the first and second memory spaces. When the machine is operating, the adjustment data stored in the second memory space is referred to.

With respect to the first space memory, since only the reference is permitted by the permitting means even if there is no specific input operation, even if the data in the second memory space is lost, it is necessary for the adjustment unique to the machine. It is possible to restore unique data quickly and easily. On the other hand, if a specific input operation is performed, the presence of the specific input operation is detected by the detection unit, and the writing to the first memory space is permitted by the permission unit. Therefore, the first memory space is also written as necessary. become able to.

Further, when the abnormal data is written in the second memory space, the abnormal data determining means determines that the abnormal data is present, and the rewriting means refers to the data in the first memory space to obtain the data corresponding to the abnormal data. Is overwritten on the abnormal data in the second memory space. Therefore, even if abnormal data is written in the second memory space, accurate machine-specific data can be restored.

Furthermore, when the number of abnormal data stored in the second memory space exceeds a predetermined number, the all data rewriting means refers to the data in the first memory space and all the data in the first memory space Since all the corresponding data in the second memory space are overwritten, when the number of abnormal data is large, the unique data stored in the second memory space are collectively rewritten and the unique data restoration process is performed. It will be easy.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2 showing the present embodiment, the memory device is composed of a rewritable nonvolatile RAM 1 having a first memory space 11 and a second memory space 12, and a CPU 2, and is used as an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine. It is built in.

The ROM 3 is provided in a factory that manufactures the image forming apparatus. The ROM 3 is stored in the ROM 3 when the image forming apparatus is shipped from the factory.
Standard data is written for standard adjustment of the image forming apparatus. First memory space of the nonvolatile RAM 1
The same data is stored in each of 11 and the second memory space 12. And for the first memory space 11,
Writing is possible only when a specific input operation, for example, a password is input. Regarding the second memory space 12,
Reference / writing is always possible.

The above-described image forming apparatus is a machine that requires adjustment for each individual. Therefore, at the time of shipment from the factory, the image forming apparatus is adjusted for each individual based on the standard data of the ROM 3, and the first memory space 11 stores the initial adjustment data unique to the apparatus. When actually operating the machine, the data in the second memory space 12 is referred to, so that the first memory space 11 cannot be written unless there is the above-mentioned specific input operation, in case of data loss. Keep it.

The data input device 4 is a device for inputting adjustment data as needed, and the password is input from this device. The CPU 2 also stores software for performing input processing to the nonvolatile RAM 1. Next, the operation of the CPU 2 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

Steps (denoted by "S" in the figure,
The same applies hereinafter) 1, it is determined whether or not there is a specific input operation such as the aforementioned password. For example, when the service person or operator is actually operating the machine without entering the password, step 1 → 2
Proceed to. In step 2, only the reference is permitted and the writing is prohibited for the first memory space 11. Therefore, in the process of actually forming an image, the data stored in the second memory space 12 that can be referenced / rewritten is always used,
An image is formed.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus sometimes deteriorates with time from the time of shipment from the factory, and it is necessary to rewrite the initial adjustment data with the optimum adjustment data. In that case, a specific person who recognizes the password inputs the password from the data input device 4 and inputs the optimum adjustment data. When the password is input, the process proceeds to steps 1 to 3 to permit writing to the first memory space 11. As a result, the adjustment data input from the data input device 4 is written in the first memory space 11. At this time, the same data is also written in the second memory space.

Next, the processing operation for the data written in the second memory space 12 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step 11, it is determined whether the adjustment data written in the second memory space 12 is abnormal data. If the adjustment data is not abnormal data, this routine is ended from step 11, and if it is determined that the adjustment data is abnormal data that exceeds a certain range, the process proceeds to step 11 → 12, and the abnormal data It is determined whether the number of data is a predetermined value or more.

When the number of abnormal data is less than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to steps 12 → 13 to refer to the data of the first memory space 11 corresponding to the abnormal data,
Overwrite the abnormal data in the memory space 12. When the number of abnormal data is equal to or larger than the predetermined number, the process proceeds to steps 12 → 14 to refer to all the data in the first memory space 11 and overwrite all the data in the second memory space 12.

The step 1 corresponds to the detecting means, the steps 2 and 3 correspond to the permitting means, the step 13 corresponds to the rewriting means, and the step 14 corresponds to the all data rewriting means. According to this configuration, the nonvolatile RAM 1 having the first and second memory spaces for storing the adjustment data is provided, and unless the password is input, only the reference is permitted in the first memory space and the writing is prohibited. By writing the adjustment specific data of the image forming apparatus so that the two memory spaces can be referenced / rewritten at all times, even if the adjustment data stored in the second memory space is lost, there is no need for troublesome mechanical readjustment. It becomes possible to quickly and easily restore the machine-specific adjustment-specific data.

When the data stored in the second memory space is abnormal data which is erroneously input due to an operation error of a serviceman or an operator, for example,
Since the data in the first memory space corresponding to the abnormal data is overwritten on the abnormal data in the second memory space,
Even when abnormal data is input, normal adjustment data can be restored, and the original image forming output can be obtained.

Further, when the number of abnormal data is more than the predetermined number, all the data in the first memory space are collectively overwritten on the corresponding data in the second memory space.
The restoration process of the adjustment data becomes easy.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the nonvolatile memory having the first and second memory spaces is provided, and only the reference is permitted in the first memory space for writing unless a specific input operation is performed. Prohibit and always use the second memory space
By making reference / rewriting possible, even when the data in the second memory space is lost, it is possible to quickly and easily restore the unique data for adjustment unique to the machine without troublesome machine readjustment.

When the unique data stored in the second memory space is abnormal data, the data in the first memory space corresponding to the abnormal data is overwritten on the abnormal data in the second memory space. Even if abnormal data is written, normal data can be restored. Further, when the number of abnormal data is large, the unique data stored in the second memory space is rewritten in a batch, which facilitates the recovery process of the unique data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the same as above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 non-volatile RAM 2 CPU 3 ROM 4 data input device 11 first memory space 12 second memory space

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A memory device, which is provided in a machine that requires adjustment for each individual, and stores unique data for adjustment unique to each machine, including a first memory space for storing the unique data for adjustment, and the first memory. A rewritable non-volatile memory having a second memory space for separately storing at least a part of the data stored in the space, and a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a specific input operation; and the second memory space As for the first memory space, the reference / rewrite operation is always enabled, while the first memory space allows only the reference and the writing is prohibited unless a specific input operation is performed, and only the first memory is accessed when a specific input operation is performed. A memory device comprising: a permission unit that permits writing to a space. 2. An abnormal data determination means for determining whether or not the unique data stored in the second memory space is abnormal data, and when it is determined that the stored unique data is abnormal data, 2. The memory device according to claim 1, further comprising: a rewriting unit that refers to data in the first memory space corresponding to the abnormal data and overwrites the data on the abnormal data in the second memory space. . 3. When the number of abnormal data stored in the second memory space exceeds a predetermined number, all the data in the first memory space is referred to and the data is stored in the second memory space. 3. The memory device according to claim 1, further comprising an all-data rewriting means for overwriting.