PARTICLE COUNTER WITH INTEGRATED BOOTLOADER

• US 20140281476A1
• Filed: 03/15/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Particles Plus, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Particles Plus, Inc.
• Inventors: PARISEAU, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,983,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/10 Investigating individual particles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system

Abstract

An airborne or liquid particle sensor with integrated bootloader. A particle sensor incorporating at least one bootloader for programming or retrieval of program or data in local memory.

Claims

1. A particle counter comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one non-volatile memory, which is in communication with the processor, for storing a bootloader program code;

at least one particle sensor, which is in communication with the processor, for detecting particles; and

at least one external communications interface, which is communication with the processor,

wherein the external communication interface signals the particle counter to execute the bootloader program code to initiate a bootloader session and new code is written to the at least one non-volatile memory.

2. The particle counter of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory can be read.

3. The particle counter of claim 1, wherein data written or read from the non-volatile memory is encrypted during transmission over the external communication interface.

4. The particle counter of claim 1, wherein the external communication interface is used to implement installation of post-purchase options.

5. The particle counter of claim 1, wherein the external communication interface is used to implement a subscription service.

6. The particle counter of claim 1, wherein the external communication interface is used to implement remote diagnostics and troubleshooting.

7. The particle counter of claim 1, wherein the external communication interface is used to implement an assisted calibration service.

8. The particle counter of claim 1, wherein the external communication interface is used to implement a user-customization of the particle counter.

9. A particle counter comprising:

a non-volatile memory for storing program code and configured to allow read/write operations from an external device; and

a microcontroller, which is in communication with the non-volatile memory, configured to receive at least one program image from an external device through an interface, wherein the program image updates the program code.

10. The particle counter of claim 9, wherein the non-volatile memory is selected from the group including:

a non-volatile memory internal to the microcontroller and a non-volatile memory external to the microcontroller.

11. The particle counter of claim 9, further comprising a second microcontroller in communication with the microcontroller.

12. A method for updating a particle counter, the method comprising:

receiving from an external device, at a first microcontroller of the particle counter, a request for a bootload session;

transmitting the request from the first microcontroller of the particle counter to a second microcontroller of the particle counter;

providing, at each of the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller, access from the external device to a respective non-volatile memory; and

updating code, which is stored at the respective non-volatile memory, with new code received from the external device.