Apparatus and method for updating ROM without removing it from circuit board
First Claim
1. A self-powered, portable, hand-held, in situ updater device for read-only memory (ROM) attached to a printed circuit board, said updater device comprising:
- a portable body having a substantially cylindrical shape, adapted to be held in a user'"'"'s hand, said body containing a controller and, connected to said controller, a battery for powering said controller;
coupled to said controller, a first port located in said body, adapted for engaging a source ROM, said first port adapted for reading data from said source ROM when engaged therewith, and said first port adapted for maintaining engagement with said source ROM;
coupled to said controller, a second port located in said body, adapted for engaging a target ROM that remains attached to a printed circuit board, said second port adapted for reading data from and writing data to said target ROM when engaged therewith, and said second port adapted for maintaining engagement with said target ROM; and
said controller adapted for;
generating and transmitting to said second port erasure signals for erasing an old datum from said target ROM;
receiving and reading a new datum from said first port; and
generating and transmitting to said second port re-write signals for writing said new datum into said target ROM.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An updater device for flash read-only memory is provided. The updater device may be constructed using a power input interface that transfers battery from either a battery or an electrical adapter to the updater device. The updater device has a body containing circuitry that controls the operations of the device. Located in the body is an input, or first, port and an output, or second, port for engaging flash read-only memories. A source flash read-only memory is inserted into the input port and the updater is then placed over the target flash read-only memory so that the updater device engages the target flash memory. A button that is located on the body activates the updating process. First the microprocessor reads data from the source flash read-only memory via a first read-only memory interface located in the input port. Then the microprocessor uses a second read-only memory interface in the second port to erase the target read-only memory. Next, the microprocessor encodes the data read from the source flash memory onto the target flash memory. Before ending the updating process, the updater device confirms that the data encoded on the target flash read-only memory matches that previously read from the source flash read-only memory. During the updating process, the target flash memory is not removed from the attached printed circuit board. Light emitting diodes are attached to the body of the updater device to indicate the status of the updating process. After the newly encoded data on the target flash memory is confirmed a light emitting diode is activated to inform the user whether the target flash memory was properly encoded.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A self-powered, portable, hand-held, in situ updater device for read-only memory (ROM) attached to a printed circuit board, said updater device comprising:
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a portable body having a substantially cylindrical shape, adapted to be held in a user'"'"'s hand, said body containing a controller and, connected to said controller, a battery for powering said controller; coupled to said controller, a first port located in said body, adapted for engaging a source ROM, said first port adapted for reading data from said source ROM when engaged therewith, and said first port adapted for maintaining engagement with said source ROM; coupled to said controller, a second port located in said body, adapted for engaging a target ROM that remains attached to a printed circuit board, said second port adapted for reading data from and writing data to said target ROM when engaged therewith, and said second port adapted for maintaining engagement with said target ROM; and said controller adapted for; generating and transmitting to said second port erasure signals for erasing an old datum from said target ROM; receiving and reading a new datum from said first port; and generating and transmitting to said second port re-write signals for writing said new datum into said target ROM. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A process for updating a target read-only memory (ROM) in situ with a portable, self-powered, hand-held updater device, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) engaging a source ROM with a first port of a portable, self-powered, hand-held updater device, said first port of said updater device being adapted for maintaining engagement with said source ROM and for reading data therefrom while engaged therewith; (2) engaging a second port of said updater device with a target ROM attached to a printed circuit board, said second port of said updater device being adapted for maintaining engagement with said target ROM and for reading data therefrom and writing data thereto, while engaged therewith; (3) erasing a pre-existing datum on said target ROM via said second port; (4) reading a datum from said source ROM via said first port; (5) copying said datum read from said source ROM to said target ROM via said second port; (6) reading said datum copied to said target ROM and comparing it with said datum read from said source ROM to determine whether the data are identical, thereby confirming the accuracy of said datum copied to said target ROM; and (7) at all times from steps (2) through (6), maintaining said target ROM in situ in said printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A self-powered, portable, hand-held, automatic, in situ updater device for read-only-memory (ROM) attached to a printed circuit board, said updater device comprising:
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a portable body having a substantially cylindrical shape, adapted to be held in a user'"'"'s hand, said body containing a controller, said controller comprising a programmed microprocessor chip, said body containing, connected to said controller, a battery for powering said controller; coupled to said controller, a first port located at a first end of said body, said first port adapted for engaging, and maintaining engagement with, a source ROM, said first port adapted for reading data from said source ROM when engaged therewith; coupled to said controller, a second port located at a second end of said body distanced from said first end of said body, said second port adapted for engaging, and maintaining engagement with, a target ROM that remains attached to a printed circuit board, said second port adapted for reading data from and writing data to said target ROM when engaged therewith; said microprocessor adapted for, and programmed to automatically carry out in a predetermined sequence, the following operations when the controller is activated; generating and transmitting to said second port erasure signals for erasing old data from said target ROM; recovering and reading new data from said first port; generating and transmitting to said second port re-write signals for writing said new data into said target ROM; receiving and reading said new data from said target ROM via said second port; comparing said new data read from said target ROM with said new data read from said first port, and confirming whether said compared data are identical to one another; said body further containing a CONFIRM light-emitting diode (LED) coupled to said programmed microprocessor and adapted to light up when said programmed microprocessor confirms that said compared data are identical, and a NOT-CONFIRM LED coupled to said programmed microprocessor and adapted to light up when said programmed microprocessor confirms that said compared data are not identical.
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Specification