JPH08174922A - Electronic apparatus and controlling method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily update a control program or data by checking whether or not an update program for updating contents stored in a storing means is stored in a memory installed in a mounting means and executing the update program if the program is stored when controlling is started. CONSTITUTION: A nonvolatile memory 101 which stores a control program (firmware) for controlling the whole apparatus and is an electrically reloadable memory is provided with a judging means 102 for judging the presence/absence of an extension program as a part of the control program stored in the memory 101. When the electricity is supplied to the apparatus, it is checked by the judging means 102 whether an external extension program is set at an extension memory 104 connected to the apparatus. If the answer is YES, the update program is executed. When the judging means 102 judges that the external extension program is not set, a normal printing process 103 is executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to an electronic device having a control program and data stored in a non-volatile memory and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a printing apparatus prints by expanding print data (character code, graphic data, etc.) transmitted from a host computer in accordance with an output form of a printing mechanism section. When the printing devices are classified by this printing mechanism, there are a page printer typified by a laser beam printer, which performs printing in page units, and a serial printer typified by a dot impact printer, which performs printing in line units. This type of printing device consists of the following mechanisms. The program that controls the entire device and the character fonts for print output are the EPROM and mask R of the controller.
Stored in OM.

(1) Print data is received from a host computer, processed, converted into information (for example, a video signal) that matches the form of the printing mechanism unit, and output information is sent to the printing mechanism unit (printer engine). Controller unit (2) Printing mechanism unit (printer engine) that outputs the output information sent from the controller unit as a visible image on recording paper

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems. In other words, if a ROM that stores a control program and character fonts is attached to the controller board, for example, by soldering, it becomes very difficult to change the control program that is stored in the ROM. This difficulty is exacerbated once the printing device is in the hands of the end user.

Further, in the assembly process of such an apparatus, the control program cannot be written in the EPROM or the like until it is guaranteed that the control program operates properly due to a debug, so that the printing mechanism unit (printer engine) ), Or even if the controller board part excluding the ROM can be assembled, if it takes time to obtain the operation guarantee of the control program, the entire assembling process will waste time. Further, even after the operation guarantee of the control program is obtained, it takes a lot of time to write the control program in the EPROM, and when the mask ROM is used, it takes an even longer time to manufacture it. .

Further, in the printing apparatus which has been completed once, if it becomes possible to add an optional device such as an optional cassette or a double-sided printing mechanism at a later date, the control program and data for the optional device are set so as to correspond to the optional device. It is necessary to modify the function addition of. Similarly, when a serious bug is found in the control program in the completed printing apparatus, the control program must be corrected. In such cases, EPRO
Since it is impossible to modify M or mask ROM as it is,
Generally, this means that the entire controller board is replaced, but the cost and time required for replacement are enormous.

Of course, such a problem is not limited to the printing device, but is a problem common to all devices in which the control program and data are stored in the EPROM or the mask ROM.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device in which control programs and data can be easily updated, and a control method thereof.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

The present invention has the following structure as one means for achieving the above object.

The electronic device according to the present invention is equipped with a storage means in which a control program and data for controlling the operation of the device are stored in advance, and a memory in which a program and data for extending the operation of the device are stored in advance. Means and control means for controlling the operation of the apparatus according to the programs and data stored in the storage means and the memory, the control means being mounted on the mounting means when starting the control thereof. It is characterized in that whether or not an update program for updating the content stored in the storage means is stored in the memory, and if the update program is stored, the update program is executed.

Further, the control method of the electronic device according to the present invention is such that the control program and data for controlling the operation of the device are stored in advance, and the program and data for extending the operation of the device are stored in advance. A method of controlling an electronic device, comprising: a mounting means for mounting a memory, the operation of the device being controlled according to a program and data stored in the storage means and the memory, wherein the mounting is performed when the control is started. A check step for checking whether or not an update program for updating the contents stored in the storage means is stored in the memory attached to the means; and an update step for executing the update program if the update program is stored It is characterized by having.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following, a laser beam printer that performs printing by an electrophotographic process will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various print data sent from a host computer is received and analyzed. Any printing device that prints out can be applied.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the functional arrangement of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 101 is a non-volatile memory (for example, flash ROM) whose contents can be electrically rewritten, and a control program (firmware) for controlling the entire apparatus is stored in the memory. Reference numeral 102 denotes an extended program presence / absence determining unit, which is a part of the control program stored in the non-volatile memory 101. When the apparatus is powered on,
Check whether the external extension program described below is set. 103 is a normal printing process, and the nonvolatile memory 1
This is a part of the control program stored in 01, and is executed when the extension program presence / absence determining means 102 determines that the external extension program is not set.

Here, the normal print processing 103 is to receive various print data sent from the host computer,
It is the process of analyzing and printing out. The print data includes data such as character codes, graphics, and images for actually performing print processing, print data that specifies a print position and size, and control data for the printer engine. The control data is, for example, data for designating a paper feed mode (cassette paper feed or manual paper feed) and a paper ejection mode switching control. The normal printing process 103 in the assembly process of the apparatus may be a non-operating program or a test program for the assembly process.

Further, in this embodiment, the input print data is analyzed, the print data is output as output data into one page of bitmap information, and the expanded one page of bitmap information is used as a video signal in the printer. Transfer to engine.

Reference numeral 104 denotes an expansion memory that can be set externally to the apparatus, and a program for rewriting the apparatus control program (firmware) stored in the non-volatile memory 101 is stored in advance. The expansion memory 104 is generally a program card 501, SIMM, an example of which is shown in FIG.
It is supplied in the form of a model expansion ROM 502, an expansion ROM board 503, or the like.

Next, each function of the extension program stored in the extension memory 104 will be described. 105 is a non-volatile memory 101
Erase function to erase the contents of
A writing function for writing the new firmware 108 stored in the non-volatile memory 101 into the nonvolatile memory 101, and 107 is the new firmware 108.
Is a verification function for verifying whether or not was correctly written in the non-volatile memory 101. The new firmware 108
The configuration of is the same as the configuration of the firmware stored in the non-volatile memory 101.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of this embodiment. 201 is a host computer for transmitting various print data, and 202 is an electronic device of this embodiment. The electronic device 202 includes a controller 203 and a printer engine 204 having the following configurations.

A control unit 205 controls the entire printer engine 204, receives a video signal and a control command from the controller 203, and sends the status of the printer engine 204 to the controller 203. Reference numeral 206 is an optical system of the printer engine 204, and 207 is an electrophotographic process and a paper feeding / conveying system of the printer engine 204. 208 is the operation panel, 2
Reference numeral 09 is the expansion memory 104 described above.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of the controller 203.

In FIG. 3, 301 is a CPU for controlling the entire controller 203, 302 is a program memory in which a program for controlling the controller 203 is stored, and 303 is font information for expanding a character code into a bit map. Program memory 302
The font memory 303 is composed of an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash ROM. 304 is a direct memory access controller DMAC
Then, the bitmap image in which the print data is expanded is transferred to the printing mechanism unit. A FIFO may be used instead of the DMAC. A non-volatile memory 305 stores print environment information, and is composed of, for example, an EEPROM.

An input interface (I / F) circuit 306 connects the host computer and the controller 203. Reference numeral 307 denotes a work memory, which is a work necessary for the program stored in the program memory 302 to operate, and is composed of, for example, a RAM. The work memory 307 is also used as a storage area for input data, a development area for print data, and the like. An extended memory interface (I / F) circuit 308 connects the controller 203 and the extended memory 209. An output interface (I / F) circuit 309 connects the controller 203 and the printer engine 204.

An image signal generator 310 generates a video signal from the bitmap data expanded in the print data expansion area of the work memory 307 in synchronization with the operation of the printer engine 204. 311 is a panel interface circuit for connecting the operation panel 208 and the controller 203. An internal bus 312 connects each memory or circuit and the CPU 301 to each other.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a controller board on which the controller 203 is mounted.

In FIG. 4, 401 corresponds to the CPU 301, 402 corresponds to the flash ROM constituting the program memory 302 and the font memory 303, and 403 is RAM used as the work memory 307. 404 is an EEPROM used as the non-volatile memory 305, 405 is an IO controller (IO Controll) that controls the interface between the controller 203 and its peripheral devices.
er), input I / F circuit 306, expansion ROM I / F circuit 308, output I / F
It corresponds to the circuit 309, the panel I / F circuit 311 and the like. 406 is an ASIC that constitutes a logic circuit in the controller 203.
It corresponds to the image signal generator 310 and the like. 407 is expanded memory 20
In the case of FIG. 4, a SIMM socket is shown as an example of a connector for connecting 9. In addition, the expansion memory 2
Before connecting 09, turn off the power to the device.

The controller board shown in FIG.
As an input I / F circuit 306 for inputting print data, a general-purpose interface RS232C and Centronics are provided. Further, the engine I / F shown in the figure corresponds to the output I / F circuit 309.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a program structure in the extension memory 209, and 601 represents the entire memory area of the extension memory 209.
A firmware rewriting program 602 corresponds to the erasing function 105, the writing function 106, and the verification function 107 shown in FIG. A new firmware 603 is written in the flash ROM 402 and corresponds to the new firmware 108 in FIG. Reference numeral 604 denotes an ID portion indicating that the program stored in the expansion memory 209 is a firmware rewriting program, 605
Is the main body of the rewriting program.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described in detail.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an operation example at the time of power-on and reset of the present embodiment, which is executed by the CPU 301 according to the apparatus control program.

When the power is turned on (or reset),
In step S701, it is determined whether or not the expansion memory 209 is attached. If not, the process proceeds to normal printing processing in step S703. If the expansion memory 209 is installed, in step S702 the ID of the expansion memory 209 (see FIG.
No. 604) is checked to determine whether the expansion memory 209 is for device control program rewriting, and if it is for rewriting, jump to the rewriting program of the expansion memory 209 in step S704. Also, if not for rewriting, step
Proceed to the normal print process of S703.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an example of the rewriting operation of the device control program, which is executed by the CPU 301 according to the rewriting program when the expansion memory 209 for rewriting the device control program is installed.

First, since it generally takes time to erase / write the flash ROM 402, in step S801, as shown in FIG.
A “control program updating message” as indicated by reference numeral 901 is displayed on the operation panel 208. Then, step S80
In step 2, the contents of the flash ROM 402 are erased, in step S803 the new firmware stored in the extension memory 209 is written to the flash ROM 402, and in step S804 it is verified whether the new firmware was correctly written to the flash ROM 402. For this verification, for example, the firmware in the flash ROM 402 and the new firmware in the expansion memory 209 are compared and collated, and if they completely match, a method of determining that they have been written correctly, and checking the firmware in the flash ROM 402 There is a method such as obtaining the thumb and checking whether the value is correct.

Next, in step S805, the verification result is determined, and if it is not correctly written, the process returns to step S802, and the process of writing new firmware is performed again. If it is written correctly, a “control program update end message” as indicated by reference numeral 902 in FIG.
Displayed at 208 and the process ends.

In this state, if the power is turned on after the power is turned off and the expansion memory 209 is removed, the power is naturally turned on.
The CPU 301 operates according to the new firmware. In the above description and FIGS. 7 and 8, the procedure for rewriting the firmware has been described.
Deletes font information stored in font memory 303
It goes without saying that it is possible to add / update.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
It is necessary to prepare a special device or host computer simply by mounting an expansion memory that stores a rewritable non-volatile memory such as flash ROM and a new device control program on the device and turning on the power. It is also possible to easily write a new device control program to a flash ROM, etc., anytime, anywhere.

As a result, even if the flash ROM or the like is mounted on the controller board by soldering, for example, the control program can be easily changed.

Further, in the device assembling process, the device can be assembled independently of the debug of the control program. In this case, the flash RO attached to the device
For M, etc., the extension program presence / absence determining means 10 shown in FIG.
Write only 2, and when the control program is completed, write the control program to flash ROM. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary time in the assembly process.

Further, in the device once completed, at a later date,
Even if an optional device can be added or a serious bug is found in the control program, the new control program can be easily written in the flash ROM or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the apparatus equipped with the printer engine using the electrophotographic process is assumed, but the present invention stores the control program in the rewritable nonvolatile memory regardless of the printing mechanism. However, it goes without saying that the invention can be applied to any printer (inkjet, serial, etc.) as long as the device can be equipped with the expansion memory.

Further, the present invention can be applied not only to an electronic device such as a printer and its control method, but also to an electronic device in which a control program is stored in a rewritable nonvolatile memory and an expansion memory can be mounted. I wish I had it.

The present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including 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.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an electronic device in which a control program and data can be easily updated and a control method thereof.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a functional configuration of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the present embodiment,

3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of the controller shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a controller board equipped with the controller shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing an example of supply form of the extended memory shown in FIG.

6 is a diagram showing a program configuration in the extended memory shown in FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation example at power-on and reset according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of rewriting operation of a device control program,

9 is an example of a message displayed on the operation panel when the process shown in FIG. 8 is executed.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit pre-stored with a control program and data for controlling the operation of the device, a mounting unit with a memory pre-stored with a program and data for extending the operation of the device, and the storage unit. And control means for controlling the operation of the device according to the program and data stored in the memory, wherein the control means stores the storage means of the storage means in the memory mounted on the mounting means when starting the control. An electronic device which checks whether or not an update program for updating stored contents is stored, and executes the update program if the update program is stored. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a non-volatile memory whose stored contents can be electrically rewritten. 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the memory stores update data together with the update program in advance. 4. The update program has a function of erasing the stored contents of the non-volatile memory, a function of writing the update data to the non-volatile memory, and a function of correctly writing the update control program to the non-volatile memory. The electronic device according to claim 3, further comprising a function of verifying that the electronic device is rare. 5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the update data is a control program. 6. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the update data is font data. 7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control means starts its control when the power of the device is turned on. 8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the device executes printing based on print information sent from an external device. 9. A storage means pre-stored with a control program and data for controlling the operation of the apparatus, and a mounting means with a memory pre-stored with a program and data for expanding the operation of the apparatus. A control method of an electronic device for controlling the operation of the device according to a program and data stored in a storage means and the memory, wherein the storage means stores the memory of the storage means in a memory attached to the attachment means when the control is started. Control of an electronic device, comprising: an investigation step for checking whether or not an update program for updating stored contents is stored; and an update step for executing the update program if the update program is stored Method.