Method and apparatus for programming memory through battery terminals
First Claim
1. A method of programming data into a portable electronic device having programmable memory, a device controller, and a portable power source with associated power connections, said programming method comprising the steps of:
- (a) disabling said electronic device power source;
(b) connecting a substrate power source to said power connections to provide a substitute power signal;
(c) encoding said substitute power signal with the program data to provide a coded power signal to said electronic device;
(d) decoding said coded power signal to provide said program data to said programmable memory; and
(e) applying a programming voltage to said programmable memory, whereby said program data is programmed into said electronic device memory through said power connections.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A memory programming system which provides a method and apparatus for programming and reading an electronic device memory through its power source connections. Circuitry is provided for programming and reading internal EEPROM memory of a portable radio with information provided by an external programming apparatus through its existing battery terminals, wihout removing the EEPROM from the unit, and without the use of supplementary connectors. The radio battery is disabled and a substitute power source is connected to the existing battery terminals, the substitute power signal is encoded with program data by the programming apparatus circuitry and decoded by the radio circuitry, and a programming voltage is applied to the EEPROM such that the program data is programmed into the radio memory through the battery terminals. The program data can be verified by encoding the substitute power signal with verification data in the radio and decoding the signal externally to provide a visual indication for verification. The present invention may be used with any electronic device having a programmable memory that warrants field re-programming.
57 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method of programming data into a portable electronic device having programmable memory, a device controller, and a portable power source with associated power connections, said programming method comprising the steps of:
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(a) disabling said electronic device power source; (b) connecting a substrate power source to said power connections to provide a substitute power signal; (c) encoding said substitute power signal with the program data to provide a coded power signal to said electronic device; (d) decoding said coded power signal to provide said program data to said programmable memory; and (e) applying a programming voltage to said programmable memory, whereby said program data is programmed into said electronic device memory through said power connections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A memory programming system for programming data into a portable electronic device having programmable memory, a device controller, and a portable power source with associated power connections, said programming system comprising in combination:
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a programming apparatus including means for providing a substitute power signal to said power conenctions when said electronic device power source is disabled; means for encoding said substitute power signal with the program data to provide a coded power signal to said electronic device;
said electronic device includingmeans for disabling said electronic device power source; means for decoding said coded power signal to provide said program data to said programmable memory; and means for applying a programming voltage to said programmable memory, whereby said program data is programmed into said electronic device memory through said power connections. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of programming internal memory of a portable radio with predetermined serial program data provided by an external programming apparatus, said radio having a detachable battery and associated battery terminals, said programming method comprising the steps of:
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(a) detaching said radio battery; (b) providing a substitute voltage; (c) modulating said substitute voltage according to said serial program data to provide a programming signal; (d) coupling said programming signal to said radio through said radio battery terminals; (e) regulating said programming signal to provide constant DC voltage to at least portions of said radio; (f) demodulating said programming signal to provide said serial program data to said radio memory; and (g) controlling the programming operation of said radio memory in response to said programming signal DC voltage levels and said serial program data, whereby said radio internal memory is programmed by said external programming apparatus through said radio battery terminals. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A memory programming system capable of programming internal memory of a portable radio with predetermined serial program data provided by an external programming apparatus, said radio having a detachable battery and associated battery terminals, said programming system comprising:
- said external programming apparatus including
means for providing a substitute voltage when said radio battery is detached; means for modulating said substitute voltage according to the serial program data to provide a programming signal; means for coupling said programming signal to said radio through said radio battery terminals;
said portable radio includingmeans for detaching said radio battery; means for regulating said programming signal to provide constant DC voltage to at least portions of said radio; means for demodulating said programming signal to provide the serial program data to said radio memory; and means for controlling the programming operation of said radio memory in response to said programming signal DC voltage levels and said serial program data, whereby said radio internal memory is programmed by said external programming apparatus through said radio battery terminals. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
- said external programming apparatus including
Specification