Computer with multi booting function

• US 6,079,016 A
• Filed: 05/07/1997
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Park, Jee-Kyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Palys, Joseph E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, RiJue
• Application Number:
  US08/852,874
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 709/221, 709/222, 709/220, 710/61, 710/129, 710/127, 710/10, 395/375, 395/575, 364/900, 712/15, 712/220, 714/10, 714/36
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded

Abstract

A computer having multi booting function with more than two boot-ROMs is disclosed. The boot-ROMs comprise a flash RAM, and have the same address space in the computer system. Preferably, the first boot-ROM is provided with a general boot program, and the second boot-ROM with detailed diagnostic program. Alternatively, the first boot-ROM is provided with a conventional boot program, and the second boot-ROM with reprogrammed or updated boot programs. Provided is a select signal generator for producing select signals which designate one of said boot-ROMs and a boot-ROM select circuit for producing control signals that selectively activate one boot-ROM in response to the memory control signals fed from the CPU and one of said select signals. The select signal generator includes a first and second reset switches for producing a first and second chip select signals, each designating the first and second boot-ROMs. Also, those first chip select signal and second chip select signal can be produced in response to an input of a specific key combination from the keyboard and keyboard controller.

Claims

1. A computer having multi booting function comprising:

a first boot memory;

a second boot memory;

a select signal generator for generating one of a first chip select signal and a second chip select signal;

a central processing unit for producing a third chip select signal, a write select signal and one of an output enable signal and a write enable signal; and

memory selection means responsive to said first chip select signal, said third chip select signal and said output enable signal for activating said first boot memory to perform a booting function of said computer, responsive to said second chip select signal, said third chip select signal and said output enable signal for activating said second boot memory to perform said booting function of said computer, responsive to said first chip select signal, said write select signal and said write enable signal for enabling a booting program to be stored in one of said first boot memory and said second boot memory.

2. The computer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said select signal generator comprises:

a first switch for generating said first chip select signal;

a second switch for generating said second chip select signal;

a keyboard having a plurality of keys; and

a keyboard controller responsive to a first combination of said keys for generating said first chip select signal and responsive to a second combination of said keys for generating said second chip select signal.

3. The computer as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first boot memory is activated to boot said computer when said first switch is activated, and said second boot memory is activated to boot said computer in response to activation of said second switch when said first boot memory fails to boot said computer.

4. The computer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said memory selection means comprises:

a node connected to receive said output enable signal and to provide said output enable signal to said first and second boot memories;

a chip select signal generator responsive to said third chip select signal one of said first and second chip select signals for generating one of a fourth chip select signal and a fifth chip select signal for selecting one of said first and second boot memories, respectively; and

a write enable generator responsive to said first chip select signal, said write select signal and said write enable signal for generating second and third write enable signals for enabling one of said first and second boot memories to be written to, and for generating a sixth chip select signal, said chip select signal generator being responsive to said third chip select signal, said sixth chip select signal and one of said first and second chip select signals for generating one of said fourth chip select signal and said fifth chip select signal for selecting one of said first and second boot memories during a write operation.

5. The computer as set forth in claim 4, wherein said chip select signal generator comprises:

a latch having a clock terminal for receiving said second chip select signal, a clear terminal for receiving said first chip select signal, a data terminal connected to a voltage source and an output terminal;

a first inverting gate connected to said output terminal of said latch;

a second inverting gate connected to receive said sixth chip select signal;

an AND gate having two input terminals respectively connected to output terminals of said first and second inverting gates;

an OR gate having a first input terminal connected to said output terminal of said latch and a second input terminal connected to receive said sixth chip select signal;

a third inverting gate connected to receive said third chip select signal;

a first NAND having a first input terminal connected to an output terminal of said third inverting gate, a second input terminal connected to an output terminal of said AND gate, and an output terminal for providing said fourth chip select signal to a chip select input terminal of said first boot memory; and

a second NAND gate having a first input terminal connected to an output terminal of said third inverting gate, a second input terminal connected to an output terminal of said OR gate, and an output terminal for providing said fifth chip select signal to a chip select input terminal of said second boot memory.

6. The computer as set forth in claim 4, wherein said write enable signal generator comprises:

a one bit register having an input terminal for receiving said write select signal and a clear terminal for receiving said first chip select signal and an output terminal for providing said sixth chip select signal;

an OR gate having a first input terminal connected to said output terminal of said one bit register, a second input terminal for receiving said write enable signal from said central processing unit and an output terminal for providing said second write enable signal to a write enable terminal of said first boot memory;

an inverting gate connected to receive said write enable signal from said central processing unit; and

a NAND gate having a first input terminal connected to said output terminal of said one bit register, a second input terminal connected to an output terminal of said inverting gate and an output terminal for providing said third write enable signal to a write enable terminal of said second boot memory.

7. The computer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first boot memory and said second boot memory are commonly connected to an address bus.

8. The computer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first boot memory and said second boot memory are each comprised of a non-volatile random access memory.

9. The computer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first boot memory and said second boot memory are each comprised of a flash random access memory.

10. The computer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first boot memory and said second boot memory are each comprised of a flash EEPROM.

11. A method for booting a computer having keyboard with a plurality of keys, a first boot memory and a second boot memory, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a first select signal by activating one of a first switch and a first predetermined combination of said keys;

generating a second select signal by activating one of a second switch and a second predetermined combination of said keys;

outputting from a central processing unit one or more of a chip select signal, an output enable signal, a write enable signal and a write select signal;

enabling a boot program to be stored in one of said first and second boot memories in response to said chip select signal, said write enable signal, said write select signal and one of said first and second select signals;

activating said first boot memory to boot said computer in response to said first select signal, said output enable signal and said first chip select signal;

determining whether said first boot memory performs a successful boot operation; and

activating said second boot memory to boot said computer in response to said second select signal, said output enable signal and said chip select signal when it is determined that said first boot memory failed to perform said successful boot operation.

12. A computer having multi booting function comprising:

a first boot memory;

a second boot memory;

a select signal generator for generating one of a first select signal and a second select signal, said first select signal being generated in response to one of a powering up of said computer and a combination of a first plurality of keys attached to a keyboard of said computer and said second select signal being generated in response to one of a reset operation of said computer and a combination of a second plurality of keys attached to said keyboard of said computer;

a central processing unit for producing a chip select signal, a write select signal and one of an output enable signal and a write enable signal; and

memory selection means responsive to said first select signal, said chip select signal and said output enable signal for activating said first boot memory to perform a booting function of said computer, responsive to said second select signal, said chip select signal and said output enable signal for activating said second boot memory to perform said booting function of said computer, responsive to said first select signal, said write select signal and said write enable signal for enabling a booting program to be stored in one of said first boot memory and said second boot memory.

13. The computer as set forth in claim 12, wherein said select signal generator comprises:

a power-on switch for generating said first select signal;

a reset switch for generating said second select signal; and

a keyboard controller responsive to said combination of said first plurality of keys for generating said first select signal and responsive to said combination of said second plurality of keys for generating said second select signal, the outputs of the first select signals from said power-on switch and said keyboard controller being connected in common and the outputs of the second select signals from said reset switch and said keyboard controller being connected in common.

14. The computer as set forth in claim 13, wherein said memory selection means comprises:

a node connected to receive said output enable signal and to provide said output enable signal to each of said first and second boot memories;

a chip select signal generator responsive to said chip select signal, said first select signal and said second select signal for generating one of a first boot memory select signal and a second boot memory select signal for selecting one of said first and second boot memories, respectively; and

a write enable generator responsive to said write select signal and said write enable signal for generating a first boot memory write enable signal and second boot memory write enable signal for respectfully enabling said first and second boot memories to be written to.

15. The computer as set forth in claim 14, wherein said write enable generator is responsive to said write select signal and said write enable signal for generating a second chip select signal, said chip select signal generator being responsive to said chip select signal produced by said central processing unit, said second chip select signal and one of said first and second select signals for generating one of said first boot memory select signal and said second boot memory select signal for selecting one of said first and second boot memories during a write operation.

16. The computer as set forth in claim 15, wherein said chip select signal generator comprises:

a latch having a clock terminal for receiving said second select signal, a clear terminal for receiving said first select signal, a data terminal connected to a voltage source and an output terminal;

a first inverting gate connected to said output terminal of said latch;

a second inverting gate connected to receive said second chip select signal;

an AND gate having two input terminals respectively connected to output terminals of said first and second inverting gates;

an OR gate having a first input terminal connected to said output terminal of said latch and a second input terminal connected to receive said second chip select signal;

a third inverting gate connected to receive said chip select signal produced by said central processing unit;

a first NAND having a first input terminal connected to an output terminal of said third inverting gate, a second input terminal connected to an output terminal of said AND gate, and an output terminal for providing said first boot memory select signal to a chip select input terminal of said first boot memory; and

a second NAND gate having a first input terminal connected to an output terminal of said third inverting gate, a second input terminal connected to an output terminal of said OR gate, and an output terminal for providing said second boot memory select signal to a chip select input terminal of said second boot memory.

17. The computer as set forth in claim 16, wherein said write enable signal generator comprises:

a one bit register having an input terminal for receiving said write select signal, a clear input terminal for receiving said first select signal and an output terminal for outputting said second chip select signal;

a second OR gate having a first input terminal connected to said output terminal of said one bit register, a second input terminal for receiving said write enable signal produced by said central processing unit and an output terminal for providing said first boot memory write enable signal to a write enable terminal of said first boot memory;

an inverting gate connected to receive said write enable signal produced by said central processing unit; and

a NAND gate having a first input terminal connected to said output terminal of said one bit register, a second input terminal connected to an output terminal of said inverting gate and an output terminal for providing said second boot memory write enable signal to a write enable terminal of said second boot memory.

18. The computer as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first boot memory and said second boot memory are each comprised of a flash EEPROM.

19. The computer as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first boot memory and said second boot memory are each comprised of a flash random access memory.