CN1967480A - Firmware loading method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a firmware loading method and device of an electronic device. The firmware loading method of the electronic device comprises the following steps: when the electronic device is started, detecting whether a firmware storage component of the electronic device stores data or not; and when the firmware storage component has no stored data, starting an in-system programming (ISP) function, receiving the firmware data transmitted from the outside and burning the firmware data into the firmware storage component.

Description

Firmware loading method and device

technical field

The present invention relates to a firmware update method and device, in particular to a firmware update method and device capable of in-system programming (insystem programming) a firmware storage device that does not store data.

Background technique

Firmware is an electronic device in which a software program is burned into a firmware storage device, such as a hardware read-only chip, which is a kind of hardware with built-in software. Firmware may be a special program code, for example: Machine Language (Machine Language) program is stored in a read-only memory (ROM) chip so that the processor (processor) can access it at any time, and it will still be saved after the computer is turned off.

The in-circuit programming device is an electronic device that can receive external update firmware data and burn it into the firmware storage device. Using the online programming device, the user or maintenance personnel can update the firmware data of the computer without removing the firmware storage component.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional electronic device 10 with an in-circuit programming device. The electronic device 10 includes a processor 11 , a firmware storage component 12 and an in-circuit programming device 13 . When the electronic device 10 is turned on, the processor 11 to the firmware storage component 12 read the program codes for initial setting, so the electronic device can operate normally. When the electronic device 10 needs to update the firmware data, the processor 11 controls the in-circuit programming device 13 to start, receives the external updated firmware data, and burns it into the firmware storage component 12 .

In traditional electronic devices, valid firmware data must be pre-programmed in the firmware storage component before the firmware storage component is installed in the electronic device. This is because if there is no data in the firmware storage component, the processor cannot be initialized, and the electronic device cannot operate. Therefore, the in-circuit programming device cannot accept processor startup, so that it cannot receive external update firmware data.

Contents of the invention

The present invention provides a firmware loading method of an electronic device, comprising: when the electronic device is turned on, detecting whether a firmware storage component of the electronic device stores data; and when the firmware storage component has no stored data, starting an online programming function, Receive externally transmitted firmware data and burn it into the firmware storage component.

The present invention further provides an electronic device including: a processor; a firmware storage component; an online programming device; and a detection device, which detects whether a firmware storage component stores data when the electronic device is turned on; When the storage component has no stored data, the detection device notifies the in-circuit programming device to start to receive firmware data transmitted from the outside and burn it into the firmware storage component.

Some of the additional features and advantages of the invention will be mentioned in the description below, and some will be apparent from the description below, or can be learned by practicing the invention. The features and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the components and combinations of mechanisms particularly pointed out in the recitation of the patent claims.

The foregoing brief description and the following detailed description herein are only used to demonstrate and explain the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention defined by the scope of the patent application.

The accompanying figures, which are included in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and, together with the text, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Description of drawings

The present invention will be easier to fully understand through the illustrations accompanying the detailed description, which are for illustration purposes only and do not limit the present invention to the scope of the illustrations.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional electronic device 10 with an in-circuit programming device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device 20 with an in-circuit programming device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electronic device 30 with an in-circuit programming device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Description of reference symbols

11, 21, 31 processors

12, 22, 32 firmware storage components

13, 23, 33 online programming device

24, 34 detection device

Detailed ways

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device 20 with an in-circuit programming device according to an embodiment of the invention. The electronic device 20 includes a processor 21 , a firmware storage component 22 , an in-circuit programming device 23 and a detection device 24 .

The detection device 24 detects whether the firmware storage component 22 stores firmware data when the electronic device 20 is turned on. When the detection device 24 detects that the firmware storage component 22 has stored data, it notifies the processor 21 to perform a normal boot operation. When the detection device 24 detects that the firmware storage component 22 has no stored data, the detection device 24 notifies the in-circuit programming device 23 to start to receive the externally transmitted firmware data and burn it into the firmware storage component 22 .

If the firmware storage component 22 is not programmed with data, its content is generally logic “1” for each bit. The storage space of an electronic device will plan an address segment for the processor or other electronic components to access the firmware data in the firmware storage component. Depending on the processor used, different segment addresses will be assigned to the firmware storage components. The first request sent by the processor after booting is to read data in a storage address belonging to the firmware storage component. The first requested memory address is generally referred to as the processor's initial address. If the firmware storage component has programmed data, it is impossible for the content of the storage space at the initial address to be logic "1" for each bit. The method of judging whether a firmware storage unit has programmed data is generally to read the storage space pointed to by the initial address of the processor, and whether all bits of its content are logic “1”.

The detection device 24 detects whether the firmware storage component 22 stores firmware data in a manner that reads the content of a storage address of the electronic device 20, and when the value of each bit of the content of the storage address is logic "1" , it is judged that the firmware storage component 22 has no data. Wherein, the storage address is the initial address of the processor 21 .

When firmware data is stored in the firmware storage component 22, the processor 21 will control the online programming device 23 to start when the electronic device 20 needs to update the firmware data, receive external updated firmware data, and burn it into the firmware storage. Component 22.

The in-circuit programming device 23 can send a reset signal to reset the electronic device 20 after the firmware data is updated to the firmware storage component 22 , so that the electronic device 20 can be re-initialized with the updated firmware data and can operate normally.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electronic device 30 with an in-circuit programming device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 30 includes a processor 31 , a firmware storage component 32 , an in-circuit programming device 33 and a detection device 34 . Wherein, the initial address of the processor 31 is 0.

The detection device 34 includes AND gates 341 and 344 , a NOR gate 343 and an inverter 342 . The NOR gate 34 is connected to the firmware address bus A[0..N], where N+1 is the number of bits of the firmware address bus. The AND gate 341 is connected to the firmware data bus D[0..M], where M+1 is the number of bits of the firmware data bus. Inverter 342 is connected to the read enable signal RE. The AND gate 341 is connected to the AND gate 341 , the NOR gate 343 and the inverter 342 .

When the electronic device 30 is turned on, the processor 31 sends an initial address 0 to the firmware address bus A[0..N] for the firmware processing device to make the address 0. The processor 31 also sends out a valid read enable signal RE, at this time the firmware address bus A[0..N] and the read enable signal RE is logic level '0'. The NOR gate 343 and the inverter 342 receive the signals of the logic level '0', and will send out the result of the logic level '1'. If each bit of the data sent by the firmware storage component 32 to the firmware data bus D[0..M] is a logic '1' at this time, the output of the AND gate 341 is a logic '1', and the input of the AND gate 344 All are logic '1', the signal of logic '1' is output to the in-circuit programming device 33 . When the in-circuit programming device 33 receives the signal of logic '1', it starts the in-circuit programming function, receives external update firmware data, and burns it into the firmware storage component 32.

Through the embodiment of the present invention, the firmware storage component can be directly set into the electronic device when no data is stored in it. In this way, in the production process, the step of burning firmware data in the firmware storage component before the parts are set to the electronic device can be omitted; and then the firmware can be loaded in the way of online programming in the delivery test department of the production line. Since the date of system hardware assembly and shipment may be very different, the pre-burned firmware data often needs to be updated again when it is shipped. With this embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device only needs to perform online programming of the latest firmware data once in the delivery test department of the production line, which saves production costs.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in the art can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, this The scope of protection of the invention shall be defined by the scope of the appended patent application.

Claims (6)

1. the firmware loading method of an electronic installation comprises:

When this electronic installation start, detect a firmware stores assembly of this electronic installation and whether store data; And

When this firmware stores assembly does not have the storage data, start an online programming function, the outside firmware data that transmits of reception also is burned onto in the firmware stores assembly.

2. the firmware loading method of electronic installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein, it reads the content of a memory address of this electronic installation, and when each value of the content of this memory address is logical one, judges this firmware stores assembly no datat; This memory address is determined by a processor of this electronic installation.

3. the firmware loading method of electronic installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein, its further the firmware stores module data is burned finish after, this electronic installation of resetting is so that this electronic installation regular event.

4. an electronic installation comprises:

One processor;

One firmware stores assembly;

One online programming device; And

One pick-up unit, this pick-up unit detect a firmware stores assembly and whether store data when electronic installation is started shooting; Do not have storage during data detecting this firmware stores assembly, this pick-up unit notifies this online programming device to start to receive the outside firmware data that transmits and to be burned onto in this firmware stores assembly.

5. electronic installation as claimed in claim 4, wherein, this pick-up unit reads the content of a memory address of this electronic installation, and is logic in each value of the content of this memory address " 1 " time, judge this firmware stores assembly no datat; This memory address is determined by this processor.

6. as claimed in claim 4 at the sequence of threads electronic installation, wherein, this online programming device further the firmware stores module data is burned finish after, this electronic installation of resetting is so that this electronic installation regular event.

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