TWI888160B - Guangmingdeng firmware update system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for updating the firmware of a light bulb, the system comprises a host and a plurality of light bulb groups connected to the host and connected in series, each light bulb group has a microcontroller, each microcontroller executes an original firmware and stores a boot program, and each microcontroller receives and temporarily stores an updated firmware sent by the host in turn, and when each microcontroller determines that each stored firmware When the firmware is updated, each microcontroller receives the startup command sent by the host and executes the boot program according to the startup command. The boot program reads the updated firmware in each microcontroller and replaces the original firmware with the updated firmware, so that each microcontroller executes the updated firmware, saving the operating time and manpower required for personnel to perform firmware updates on a large number of bright light modules one by one.

Description

Guangmingdeng firmware update system and method

The present invention relates to a bright lamp, and in particular to a bright lamp firmware update system and method.

"Lighting up the Guang Ming Lanterns" is one of the activities that many Chinese people do during the Spring Festival, praying for a safe and smooth new year. Guang Ming Lanterns are usually set up on the walls or poles of temples. Each Guang Ming Lantern displays the name of the believers, blessings and other information. With the increasing attention paid to environmental protection issues in recent years, most Guang Ming Lanterns have changed from the previous form of candles with paper name tags to the form of LEDs with electronic displays. On the one hand, it reduces the time and labor of temple staff to frequently replace candles and set up the aforementioned paper name tags, and on the other hand, it avoids fires caused by candles.

Each existing light fixture is equipped with a control circuit board to control the brightness of the light-emitting diode and the display content of the electronic display. During the operation of each light fixture, some display errors may occur or the developers want to add new functions after running for a period of time. Therefore, each control circuit board will be updated with firmware to repair the display errors or add new functions. The firmware update process requires removing the control circuit board of each light fixture and connecting it to a burning device (such as a computer or host) to install new firmware. However, a large number of light fixtures are usually installed in temples, so the developers need to dismantle, update the firmware, and reinstall them one by one, which consumes a lot of time and manpower. Therefore, the firmware update method of the existing light fixture must be improved.

The existing temple lamps are individually connected to a burning device (such as a computer or host) for firmware update. A large number of temple lamps are usually installed in a temple, so that the R&D personnel need to spend a lot of time and manpower to update all the temple lamps one by one. In view of this, the present invention provides a system and method for updating the firmware of temple lamps to overcome the above problems.

The present invention discloses a light fixture firmware update system, comprising: a host, transmitting an update firmware and a startup command; a plurality of light fixture groups, each of which has a microcontroller, the microcontrollers of the plurality of light fixture groups are connected in series to the host, each of which executes an original firmware and stores a boot program, and the microcontrollers of the plurality of light fixture groups receive and temporarily store the update firmware transmitted by the host in turn; when each of the microcontrollers determines that the update firmware is stored in each of them, Each microcontroller receives the startup command sent by the host and executes the boot program according to the startup command. The boot program reads the updated firmware in each microcontroller and replaces the original firmware with the updated firmware, so that each microcontroller executes the updated firmware. Each microcontroller includes: a memory storing the boot program, the memory including an execution firmware block and a temporary data block, wherein the execution firmware block stores the original firmware; a processing core, the electrical The processor core reads and executes the original firmware when the host transmits the updated firmware to each microcontroller. When the host transmits the updated firmware to each microcontroller, the processor core writes and stores the updated firmware in the temporary data block. When the updated firmware is stored in each microcontroller, the processor core executes the boot program. The boot program reads the updated firmware in the temporary data block and writes the updated firmware into the execution firmware block to replace the original firmware. The plurality of light groups include A first light group to an Nth light group are connected in series, the host is connected to the first light group, the microcontroller of the first light group is a first microcontroller, and the microcontroller of an N-1th light group is an N-1th microcontroller, where N is a positive integer greater than 1; when the processing cores of the first microcontroller to the N-1th microcontroller receive the updated firmware, each of the processing cores simultaneously transmits the updated firmware to the processing core of the next microcontroller.

The present invention discloses a method for updating the firmware of a light bulb. The method is executed on a host and a plurality of light bulb groups connected to the host and connected in series. Each of the light bulb groups has a microcontroller. Each of the microcontrollers executes an original firmware and stores a boot program. The method for updating the firmware of a light bulb comprises: the microcontrollers of the plurality of light bulb groups receive and temporarily store an update firmware sent by the host in turn; when each of the microcontrollers determines that the update firmware is stored in each of the microcontrollers, each of the microcontrollers receives the update firmware sent by the host and then sends the update firmware to the host. A boot instruction is sent by the microcontroller; and each microcontroller executes the boot program according to the boot instruction, the boot program reads the updated firmware in each microcontroller and replaces the original firmware with the updated firmware, so that each microcontroller executes the updated firmware; wherein each microcontroller comprises: a memory storing the boot program, the memory comprising an execution firmware block and a temporary data block, wherein the execution firmware block stores the original firmware; a processing core electrically connected to the memory, the processing core reads and executes the original firmware; when the host transmits the updated firmware to each of the microcontrollers, the processing core writes and stores the updated firmware in the temporary data block; when the updated firmware is stored in each of the microcontrollers, the processing core executes the boot program, the boot program reads the updated firmware in the temporary data block, and writes the updated firmware into the execution firmware block to replace the original firmware; wherein the plurality of bright light groups include sequentially connected A first light group connected to an Nth light group, the host is connected to the first light group, the microcontroller of the first light group is a first microcontroller, and the microcontroller of an N-1th light group is an N-1th microcontroller, where N is a positive integer greater than 1; When the processing cores of the first microcontroller to the N-1th microcontroller receive the updated firmware, each of the processing cores simultaneously transmits the updated firmware to the processing core of the next microcontroller.

In the present invention, the microcontroller in each of the light groups stores the boot program, and each of the microcontrollers can temporarily store the updated firmware sent by the host when executing the original firmware. When each of the microcontrollers determines that the updated firmware is stored, the microcontrollers of the plurality of light groups execute the boot program in turn according to the startup command sent by the host. The boot program replaces the original firmware with the updated firmware in each of the microcontrollers to complete the firmware update. The microcontrollers of the group can transmit the updated firmware downward, so that the host only needs to transmit the updated firmware once, and all the microcontrollers can receive the updated firmware. The boot program is stored in each microcontroller. Each microcontroller executes the boot program according to the host's one-time control (the startup command). The boot program enables each microcontroller to execute the updated firmware. Compared with the previous technology, the present invention saves the time and manpower required for personnel to perform firmware updates on a large number of bright light modules one by one.

10: Host

20: Bright light module

21: Shell

22: Front cover

23: Display

23A: First display

23B: Second display

23C: Third display

24: Control circuit board

24A: First control circuit board

24B: Second control circuit board

24C: Third control circuit board

240: Microcontroller

240A: First microcontroller

240B: Second microcontroller

240C: Third microcontroller

241: Display port

241A: First monitor port

241B: Secondary display port

241C: Third monitor port

242: Input port

242A: First input port

242B: Second input port

242C: Third input port

243: Output port

243A: First output port

243B: Second output port

243C: Third output port

25: Memory

250: Execute firmware block

251: Temporary data block

26: Processing core

BL: Boot program

C: Startup command

G: Bright Light Group

F1: Update firmware

F2: Original firmware

Figure 1: Circuit block diagram of the firmware update system of the present invention.

Figure 2: Structural explosion diagram of the bright light module of the present invention.

Figure 3: Circuit block diagram of the control circuit board of the present invention.

Figure 4: Circuit block diagram of the microcontroller of the present invention, in which the temporary data block has not yet stored the updated firmware.

Figure 5: Circuit block diagram of the microcontroller of the present invention, in which the temporary data block stores the updated firmware.

Figure 6: A circuit block diagram of the microcontroller of the present invention, wherein the execution firmware block stores the updated firmware.

Figure 7: Flowchart of the method for updating the firmware of the bright lamp of the present invention.

In order to understand the technical features and practical effects of the present invention in detail and to implement it according to the content of the invention, the present invention is further described in detail with an embodiment as shown in the figure: Please refer to Figure 1. The light firmware update system of the present invention includes a host 10 and a plurality of light groups G. The plurality of light groups G are connected in series with the host 10, that is, the host 10 is connected to a first light group, and the first light group is connected to a second light group. , and so on, an N-1th light group is connected to an Nth light group. The host 10 can be a computer, for example. The host 10 can send information to the plurality of light groups G, or receive information sent by the plurality of light groups G. Specifically, the host 10 is used to send an update firmware F1 and a startup command C. The purpose of the update firmware F1 and the startup command C will be further explained in the following text with the help of the figures.

Each of the light groups G has a microcontroller. The microcontrollers of the plurality of light groups G are connected in series to the host 10. Each of the light groups G includes at least one light module 20. The following description is made by taking each of the light groups G including a light module 20 as an example. Please refer to FIG. 2. Specifically, each of the light groups G has a control circuit board 24. Each of the light modules 20 includes a housing 21, a front cover 22 and a display 23.

The housing 21 has a storage space inside, and the storage space can be used to place a statue and a lighting fixture for the statue; the front cover 22 is detachably mounted on the housing 21, and at least one transparent area is formed on the front cover 22. When the front cover 22 is mounted on the housing 21, the at least one transparent area can be used by a user to view the statue in the storage space; the display 23 can be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, etc. The display 23 is mounted on the housing 21, and when the front cover 22 is mounted on the housing 21, the display 23 is located between the front cover 22 and the housing 21, and the user can also view the display content of the display 23 through the at least one transparent area.

Since each of the light groups G includes a light module 20, the control circuit board 24 is disposed on the top of the housing 21. When the light group G includes a plurality of light modules 20, the plurality of light modules 20 will be disposed side by side, and the control circuit board 24 can be disposed on the back of the plurality of light modules 20.

The control circuit board 24 is provided with a microcontroller 240, at least one display connection port 241, an input port 242 and an output port 243. The at least one display connection port 241, the input port 242 and the output port 243 are electrically connected to the microcontroller 240 respectively. Each microcontroller 240 is used to control each light group G respectively. The at least one display connection port 241 is connected to the display 23 of each light module 20 respectively through a line, so that the microcontroller 240 can be electrically connected to at least one display 23. The input port 242 and the output port 243 are used to connect the microcontrollers 240 of the plurality of light groups G in series and connect to the host 10.

For example, the plurality of light groups G are a first light group, a second light group, and a third light group. The light module in the first light group is a first light module, the light module in the second light group is a second light module, and the light module in the third light group is a third light module. As shown in FIG. 3 , the control circuit boards of the first light module, the second light module, and the third light module are a first control circuit board 24A, a second control circuit board 24B, and a third control circuit board 24C, respectively. The first control circuit board 24A includes a first microcontroller 240A, a first display connector, and a control circuit board 24C. The first display port 241A, the second display port 241B and the first output port 243A are connected to the second control circuit board 24B, the second microcontroller 240B, the second display port 241B, the second input port 242B and the second output port 243B, and the third control circuit board 24C includes a third microcontroller 240C, a third display port 241C, a third input port 242C and a third output port 243C, wherein the first display port 241A, the second display port 241B and the third display port 241C are electrically connected to a first display 23A, a second display 23B and a third display 23C respectively.

The first input port 242A is electrically connected between the host 10 and the first microcontroller 240A. The first microcontroller 240A is then connected to the second input port 242B through the first output port 243A. The second input port 242B is then connected to the second microcontroller 240B, and so on to the third microcontroller 240C, so that the first microcontroller 240A, the second microcontroller 240B and the third microcontroller 240C are connected in series with the host 10. The third output port 243C can be used to connect to the control circuit board 24 (the input port 242) of another bright lamp group G.

Please refer to FIG. 4. As mentioned above, the microcontrollers 240 of the plurality of light bulb groups G are connected in series to the host 10. Each of the microcontrollers 240 executes an original firmware F2 and stores a boot program BL (Boot Loader). The microcontrollers 240 of the plurality of light bulb groups G receive and temporarily store the updated firmware F1 transmitted by the host 10 in turn. Specifically, each of the microcontrollers 240 includes a memory 25 and a processing core 26. The memory 25 stores the boot program BL. The memory 25 includes an execution firmware block 250 and a temporary data block 251. The execution firmware block 250 stores the original firmware F2. The temporary data block 251 stores the boot program BL. The data block 251 is used to store the operating data of each microcontroller 240 when the firmware is not updated, for example: the display content of the display 23 connected to each microcontroller 240; the processing core 26 is electrically connected to the memory 25, and has the authority to write data into the memory 25 and read the data in the memory 25. For example, the processing core 26 can be a central processing unit (CPU), and the processing core 26 reads and executes the original firmware F2.

When the host 10 transmits the update firmware F1 to each of the microcontrollers 240, the processing core 26 writes the update firmware F1 into and stores it in the temporary data block 251. Specifically, each of the processing cores 26 except the processing core 26 farthest from the host 10 transmits the update firmware F1 to the processing core 26 of the next microcontroller 240 while receiving the update firmware F1. For example, The plurality of light groups G include a first light group to an Nth light group connected in series in sequence, the microcontroller 240 of the host 10 connected to the first light group is a first microcontroller, the microcontroller of an N-1th light group is an N-1th microcontroller, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1, and the processing core 26 of the Nth light group is the processing core 26 farthest from the host 10.

When the processing core 26 of the first microcontroller to the N-1th microcontroller receives the update firmware F1, the processing core 26 of the first microcontroller to the N-1th microcontroller further transmits the update firmware F1 to the processing core 26 of the next microcontroller at the same time, wherein the processing core 26 of the next microcontroller of the first microcontroller is the processing core 26 of the second microcontroller, and the processing core 26 of the next microcontroller of the second microcontroller is the processing core 26 of the third microcontroller, and so on. It should be particularly noted that, since there is a transmission delay time between the microcontrollers 240 of the plurality of light modules 20, the microcontrollers 240 of the plurality of light modules 20 do not receive the update firmware F1 at the same time, but receive and temporarily store the update firmware F1 in turn.

As shown in FIG. 5 , when each of the microcontrollers 240 determines that the updated firmware F1 is stored in each of them, each of the microcontrollers 240 receives the startup command C sent by the host 10 and executes the boot program BL according to the startup command C. The boot program BL reads the updated firmware F1 in each of the microcontrollers 240 and replaces the original firmware F2 with the updated firmware F1, so that each of the microcontrollers 240 executes the updated firmware F1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 , the microcontroller 240 directly connected to the host 10 has stored therein the updated firmware F1. The updated firmware F1, the processing core 26 of the microcontroller 240 executes the boot program BL according to the startup instruction C, the boot program BL reads the updated firmware F1 in the temporary data block 251, and writes the updated firmware F1 into the execution firmware block 250 to replace (cover) the original firmware F2, which means that when the microcontroller 240 performs a firmware update, the next microcontroller 240 of the microcontroller 240 may still be receiving the updated firmware F1, so each microcontroller 240 performs a firmware update in turn.

In which, how each microcontroller 240 determines that the update firmware F1 is stored is that the update firmware F1 includes a plurality of packets, which are a first packet, a second packet, ... to an end packet in sequence, and each microcontroller 240 stores the information in the end packet, and each microcontroller 240 receives the entire information of the update firmware F1 in the order of the first packet to the end packet, and each microcontroller 240 receives each packet and determines whether the content in each packet is the same as the information in the end packet. When each microcontroller 240 determines that they are the same, indicating that the update firmware F1 is stored therein, each microcontroller 240 receives the startup command C sent by the host 10 to perform the subsequent firmware update action.

In addition, the boot program BL includes a reboot instruction. After the boot program BL replaces the original firmware F2 with the updated firmware F1, the boot program BL clears the data in the temporary data block 251. The processing core 26 then reboots according to the reboot instruction to execute the updated firmware F1. Specifically, the reboot instruction is a section of program code of the boot program BL. When the boot program BL is executed, the updated firmware F1 first replaces the original firmware F2 in the execution firmware block 250, clears the data in the temporary data block 251, and then executes the reboot instruction. The start command is used to restart the processing core 26. When the processing core 26 is restarted, it indicates that the corresponding light group G of the processing core 26 has completed the firmware update. The update of each light group G will be as shown in FIG6. The execution firmware block 250 in each microcontroller 240 will store the updated firmware F1, and each temporary data block 251 will not store data. Subsequently, the user can transmit a display data of each light group G through the host 10, and the microcontroller 240 of each light group G will store the display data in the temporary data block 251.

The present invention's light fixture firmware update method is executed on the host 10 and a plurality of light fixture groups G connected to the host 10 and connected in series. Each of the light fixture groups G has the microcontroller 240. Each of the microcontrollers 240 executes the original firmware F2 and stores the boot program BL. As shown in FIG. 7, the light fixture firmware update method includes the following steps.

S01: The microcontrollers 240 of the plurality of light groups G take turns to receive and temporarily store the updated firmware F1 sent by the host 10.

S02: When each microcontroller determines that the updated firmware is stored in each microcontroller, each microcontroller 240 receives the startup command C sent by the host 10.

S03: Each microcontroller 240 executes the boot program BL according to the startup instruction. The boot program BL reads the updated firmware F1 in each microcontroller 240 and replaces the original firmware F2 with the updated firmware F1, so that each microcontroller executes the updated firmware F1. The specific implementation of the above steps is as described above and will not be repeated here.

In the present invention, the microcontroller 240 in each of the light groups G stores the boot program BL. Each of the microcontrollers 240 originally executes the original firmware F2. When the plurality of light groups G perform firmware updates, each of the microcontrollers 240 can temporarily store the updated firmware F1 transmitted by the host 10. When each of the microcontrollers 240 determines that the updated firmware F1 is stored in each of them, the microcontrollers 240 of the plurality of light groups G execute the boot program BL in turn according to the startup command C transmitted by the host 10. The boot program BL replaces the original firmware F2 with the updated firmware F1 in each of the microcontrollers 240 to complete the firmware update.

Since the microcontrollers 240 of the plurality of light groups G of the present invention can transmit the updated firmware F1 downward, the host 10 only needs to transmit the updated firmware F1 once, and all the microcontrollers 240 can receive the updated firmware F1. In addition, the boot program BL is stored in each microcontroller 240. Each microcontroller 240 executes the boot program BL according to a control (the startup command) of the host 10. The boot program BL enables each microcontroller 240 to execute the updated firmware F1. Compared with the prior art, the present invention saves the time and manpower required for personnel to perform firmware updates on a large number of light modules one by one.

In summary, the above only records the implementation methods or examples of the technical means adopted by the present invention to solve the problem, and is not used to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention. That is, all equivalent changes and modifications that are consistent with the scope of the patent application of the present invention or made according to the scope of the patent of the present invention are covered by the scope of the patent of the present invention.

10: Host

20: Bright light module

C: Startup command

G: Bright Light Group

F1: Update firmware

Claims (6)

A light fixture firmware update system, comprising: A host, transmitting an update firmware and a startup command; A plurality of light fixture groups, each of which has a microcontroller, the microcontrollers of the plurality of light fixture groups are connected in series to the host, each of which executes an original firmware and stores a boot program, and the microcontrollers of the plurality of light fixture groups take turns to receive and temporarily store the update firmware transmitted by the host; When each of the microcontrollers determines that the updated firmware is stored in each of them, each of the microcontrollers receives the startup command sent by the host and executes the boot program according to the startup command. The boot program reads the updated firmware in each of the microcontrollers and replaces the original firmware with the updated firmware, so that each of the microcontrollers executes the updated firmware; Each of the microcontrollers includes: A memory storing the boot program, the memory including an execution firmware block and a temporary data block, wherein the execution firmware block stores the original firmware; A processing core electrically connected to the memory, the processing core reads and executes the original firmware; When the host transmits the update firmware to each microcontroller, the processing core writes the update firmware into and stores it in the temporary data block; When the update firmware is stored in each microcontroller, the processing core executes the boot program, the boot program reads the update firmware in the temporary data block, and writes the update firmware into the execution firmware block to replace the original firmware; Wherein, the plurality of light groups include a first light group to an Nth light group connected in series in sequence, the host is connected to the first light group, the microcontroller of the first light group is a first microcontroller, and the microcontroller of an N-1th light group is an N-1th microcontroller, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1; When the processing cores of the first microcontroller to the N-1th microcontroller receive the updated firmware, each processing core simultaneously transmits the updated firmware to the processing core of the next microcontroller. The Guangmingdeng firmware update system as described in claim 1, wherein the boot program includes a reboot command. After the boot program replaces the original firmware with the updated firmware, the boot program clears the data in the cached data block, and the processing core restarts according to the reboot command to execute the updated firmware. The bright light firmware update system as described in claim 2, wherein when the processing core executes the update firmware in the execution firmware block, the temporary data block is used to store display data. A light firmware update system as described in claim 1, wherein each light group includes at least one light module, and each light module has a display. The Guangmingdeng firmware update system as described in claim 1, wherein the updated firmware includes a first packet to an end packet, and each microcontroller stores the information in the end packet, each microcontroller receives the packets in the order of the first packet to the end packet, and each microcontroller simultaneously determines whether the content in each packet is the same as the information in the end packet. When each microcontroller determines that they are the same, each microcontroller receives the startup command sent by the host and executes the boot program according to the startup command. A method for updating the firmware of a light bulb is performed on a host and a plurality of light bulb groups connected to the host and connected in series. Each of the light bulb groups has a microcontroller. Each of the microcontrollers executes an original firmware and stores a boot program. The method for updating the firmware of a light bulb comprises: The microcontrollers of the plurality of light bulb groups receive and temporarily store an updated firmware sent by the host in turn; When each of the microcontrollers determines that the updated firmware is stored in each of them, each of the microcontrollers receives a startup command sent by the host; and Each microcontroller executes the boot program according to the startup instruction, and the boot program reads the updated firmware in each microcontroller and replaces the original firmware with the updated firmware, so that each microcontroller executes the updated firmware; Each microcontroller includes: A memory storing the boot program, the memory including an execution firmware block and a temporary data block, wherein the execution firmware block stores the original firmware; A processing core electrically connected to the memory, the processing core reads and executes the original firmware; When the host transmits the update firmware to each microcontroller, the processing core writes the update firmware into and stores it in the temporary data block; When the update firmware is stored in each microcontroller, the processing core executes the boot program, the boot program reads the update firmware in the temporary data block, and writes the update firmware into the execution firmware block to replace the original firmware; Wherein, the plurality of light groups include a first light group to an Nth light group connected in series in sequence, the host is connected to the first light group, the microcontroller of the first light group is a first microcontroller, and the microcontroller of an N-1th light group is an N-1th microcontroller, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1; When the processing cores of the first microcontroller to the N-1th microcontroller receive the updated firmware, each processing core simultaneously transmits the updated firmware to the processing core of the next microcontroller.

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