One chip microcomputer built-in system

• US 5,828,911 A
• Filed: 11/21/1996
• Issued: 10/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyazawa, Azuma
• Primary Examiner(s): MALLEY, DANIEL PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US08/752,746
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 396/236, 396/300, 395/800
• US Class Current: 396/236
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 43/00 Testing correct operation of photographic apparatus or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/091 Digital circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1433 during software upgrading

Abstract

A CPU in a one-chip microcomputer executes a control operation in accordance with program data stored in part of a flash memory capable of erasing/writing data in each memory block defined in the flash memory. A write controller writes data in a specific block in the flash memory. A plurality of adjustment values for correcting variations between products in which the system is to be used are written in a specific block of the flash memory after the adjustment values are determined. A control program for rewriting data stored in the flash memory is written before the one-chip microcomputer is incorporated in the system. After the one-chip microcomputer is incorporated in the system, data is written in the flash memory through the write controller. In addition, the circuit configuration of the system is stored in part of the flash memory. When a program stored in the flash memory of the system is upgraded, an upgrading program is selected on the basis of the circuit configuration written in the flash memory by the write controller.

Claims

1. A method for storing adjustment data in a camera having a control system main body and a one-chip microcomputer incorporated in said control system main body, wherein said one-chip microcomputer includes a flash memory storing a control program for controlling said control system main body, write means for writing data in said flash memory, a random access memory for temporarily storing data, and a communication terminal for providing communication between the one-chip microcomputer and an external adjustment device, the method comprising the steps of:

starting an adjustment operation of said external adjustment device;

storing adjustment data in said random access memory during the adjustment operation of said external adjustment device;

stopping the adjustment operation of said external adjustment device;

storing a write program, for executing a writing operation, in said flash memory; and

executing the write program to write the adjustment data stored in said random access memory in said flash memory.

2. A method for storing adjustment data in a camera having a camera body, and a one-chip microcomputer incorporated in said camera body, wherein said one-chip microcomputer includes a nonvolatile memory storing a control program for controlling said camera, write means for writing data in said nonvolatile memory, a random access memory for temporarily storing data, and a communication terminal for providing communication with an external adjustment device, the method comprising the steps of:

starting an adjustment operation of said external adjustment device;

storing adjustment data in said random access memory during the adjustment operation of said external adjustment device;

stopping the adjustment operation of said external adjustment device;

storing a write program, for executing a writing operation, in said non-volatile memory; and

executing the writing program to write the adjustment data stored in said random access memory in said nonvolatile memory.

3. A method for storing adjustment data in a camera having a control system main body, and a one-chip microcomputer incorporated in said control system main body, wherein said one-chip microcomputer includes a flash memory storing a control program for controlling said control system main body along with various other data, write means for writing the various other data in said flash memory, and an external device for transmitting the various other data to be written in said flash memory of said one-chip microcomputer, the method comprising the steps of:

starting an adjustment operation of the external device;

transmitting circuit version data representing a circuit version of an electric circuit board used in said control system to said one-chip microcomputer;

storing a write program, for executing a writing operation, in said flash memory; and

executing the write program to write the circuit version data in said flash memory, and stopping the adjustment operation of said external adjustment device.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

storing the control program in said flash memory; and

linking the control program to the circuit version data.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said control system main body is a camera body, the method further comprising the steps of:

transmitting an adjustment value for adjusting variations between a plurality of different cameras- that are respectively capable of using said control system main body to said camera body; and

storing the adjustment value in said flash memory.

6. A method for storing adjustment data in a camera having a control system main body, and a one-chip microcomputer incorporated in said control system main body, said one-chip microcomputer including a flash memory storing a control program in a memory area thereof for controlling said control system main body, a write controller for writing the control program in said memory area of said flash memory, and an input and output (I/O) port, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting a specific block rewrite program through said input and output (I/O) port for storage in another area of said flash memory; and

incorporating said one-chip microcomputer in said control system.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

inhibiting rewrite access to said another area of said flash memory; and

preventing rewriting of the specific block rewrite program stored in said another area.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

storing adjustment data of an object to be controlled by said one-chip microcomputer in a further memory area of the flash memory.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

utilizing the control system main body as a camera body.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

incorporating an external communication connector in said one-chip microcomputer for communicating with an external adjustment device; and

storing adjustment data of a camera to be controlled by said one-chip microcomputer in a further memory area of the flash memory.

11. A method for storing adjustment data in a camera having a control system main body, and a one-chip microcomputer incorporated in said control system main body, said one-chip microcomputer including a nonvolatile memory having a plurality of memory blocks and rewriting data in each of the plurality of memory blocks, control means, and rewrite means for rewriting data stored in said nonvolatile memory, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a rewrite program for said first memory block in a second memory block of said nonvolatile memory;

executing the rewrite program to rewrite data stored in a first memory block in accordance with a designation from an external device before said one-chip microcomputer is incorporated in said control system main body; and

executing the rewrite program to rewrite data stored in said first memory block in accordance with the rewrite program stored in said second memory block after said one-chip microcomputer is incorporated in said control system main body.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said rewrite means included in said one-chip microcomputer includes temporary storage means, the method further comprising the steps of:

temporarily storing the various data sent from said external device in the temporary storage means; and

rewriting said whole first memory block after an input operation of all the various data is completed.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

correcting variations in characteristics between products in which said control system main body is to be used.