Rom write device

The present invention relates to a ROM writing device that writes data to a PROM or the like that is a non-volatile read-only memory to which the invention can be written.

[0002] Conventional Technique A Read Only Memory (ROM), which is a read-only memory, is used for applications such as storing operating programs and data of a microcomputer or the like. ROMs include mask ROMs that cannot be rewritten and Programmable ROMs (PROMs) that can be rewritten. Furthermore, there are two types of PROM: a fuse ROM that can be written only once, and an Erasable PROM (EPROM) that can be erased and rewritten. Among the EPROMs, the type that can be erased by an electric signal is Electrically EPROM (EEPROM). Among EEPROMs, non-volatile memory (flash ROM) in a format called flash memory is widely used.

[0003] For example, the data writing time to the flash ROM varies depending on the environmental temperature when the data is written to the flash ROM, slight fluctuations in quality during flash ROM manufacturing, data values, and the like. Exists. Therefore, conventionally, the selection of the writing time when writing to the flash ROM has been performed based on various ideas. For example, there is a method of setting the maximum value of the variation in the writing time as the writing time. In addition, a time shorter than the maximum value of variation such as the average value of the writing time is set as the writing time, and when the writing incompleteness occurs or the writing incompleteness occurs more than the predetermined number of times, the writing is performed. There is a way to lengthen the time setting.

[0004] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The conventional writing method as described above has the following problems. In the method of setting the maximum value of the variation in the writing time to the writing time, since the writing time is set to be long, the writing incompleteness does not occur, but the writing operation is performed during the writing time. It will include wasted time that will not be used. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes a long time to make a product in which data or a program is written in the flash ROM, and the productivity is deteriorated.

[0005] In the method of setting the writing time to a time shorter than the maximum value of the variation such as the average value of the writing time, the wasted time included in the writing time is reduced, but the writing is not completed. By doing so, since the writing operation of the same data or program must be repeated, there is a problem that time loss occurs due to the repeating writing operation and the productivity deteriorates.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a ROM writing device capable of setting a writing time according to a data and ROM writing environment condition and efficiently performing writing.

[0007] The present invention is for writing data from data to be written to ROM in a ROM writing device that writes data to ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a non-volatile memory. The data is written to the ROM according to the extraction means for extracting information about the write time, which is the time required for the data, the arithmetic means for calculating the write time in response to the extraction output by the extraction means, and the write time calculated by the arithmetic means. It is a ROM writing device characterized by including a writing means for inserting.

[0008] According to the present invention, information regarding the writing time, which is the time required to write the data to the ROM, is extracted from the data to be written, and the writing time is calculated in response to the extraction output, and the calculation is performed. Data is written to ROM according to the writing time. As a result, the writing time corresponding to the amount of data to be written can be set, so that the occurrence of incomplete writing can be eliminated and the time required for repeated writing can be saved, and the writing corresponding to the amount of data can be saved. It is no longer necessary to set the write time including wasted time that exceeds the time. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate wasted time during the writing operation to the ROM and improve the productivity.

[0009] Further, according to the present invention, in a ROM writing device that writes data to a ROM that is a non-volatile memory, information regarding a writing time, which is the time required to write the data to the ROM, is extracted from the data to be written. Extraction means, temperature detection means for detecting the temperature around the ROM, voltage detection means for detecting the voltage applied to the ROM, extraction output by the extraction means, detection output by the temperature detection means and the voltage detection means. The ROM writing device is characterized by including an arithmetic means for calculating a writing time in response to the above, and a writing means for writing data to a ROM according to the writing time calculated by the arithmetic means.

[0010] According to the present invention, information regarding the writing time, which is the time required to write data to the ROM, is extracted from the data to be written, and the ambient temperature at which the ROM is arranged (hereinafter referred to as the ambient temperature). And the voltage applied to the ROM (hereinafter abbreviated as applied voltage) is detected, the write time is calculated in response to the extraction output and the detection output, and the data is written to the ROM according to the calculated write time. .. As a result, the writing time corresponding to the amount of data to be written and the writing operation condition can be set more accurately, thus eliminating wasted time during the writing operation to the ROM and improving productivity. Will be possible.

[0011] Further, in the ROM writing device that writes data to ROM, which is a non-volatile memory, the present invention extracts information on writing time, which is the time required to write data to ROM, from the data to be written. In response to the extraction output by the extraction means from the extraction means, the memory that stores the predetermined write time corresponding to the information about the write time, and the predetermined write time read from the memory 1 The ROM writing apparatus includes a selection means for selecting one writing time and a writing means for writing data to the ROM according to the writing time selected by the selection means.

[0012] According to the present invention, information on the writing time, which is the time required to write the data to the ROM, is extracted from the data to be written, and the writing is predetermined so as to correspond to the information on the writing time. The time is read from the memory, one write time is selected in response to the extraction output by the extraction means from the read predetermined write times, and the data is written to the ROM according to the selected write time. As a result, the writing time corresponding to the amount of data to be written is selected and set, so that it is possible to eliminate wasted time during the writing operation to the ROM and improve the productivity. Further, since the write time corresponding to the capacity of the data to be written is read from the memory and selected by the selection means, the calculation means for calculating the write time can be omitted.

[0013] Further, according to the present invention, in a ROM writing device that writes data to a ROM that is a non-volatile memory, information on a writing time, which is the time required to write the data to the ROM, is extracted from the data to be written. An extraction means, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature around the ROM, a voltage detecting means for detecting the voltage applied to the ROM, and a writing time predetermined to correspond to information about the writing time. Select one write time in response to the extraction output by the extraction means, the temperature detection means, and the detection output by the voltage detection means from the memory for storing the data and the predetermined write time read from the memory. It is a ROM writing apparatus including means and a writing means for writing data to a ROM according to a writing time selected by the selection means.

[0014] According to the present invention, information on the writing time, which is the time required to write the data to the ROM, is extracted from the data to be written, the ambient temperature and the applied voltage are detected, and the information on the writing time is used. A predetermined write time is read from the memory so as to correspond, and one write time is selected in response to the extraction output and the detection output from the read predetermined write times, and the selected book is selected. Write data to ROM according to the loading time. As a result, the writing time corresponding to the amount of data to be written and the writing operation condition can be set more accurately, thus eliminating wasted time during the writing operation to the ROM and improving productivity. Will be possible.

[0015] Further, the present invention has a determination means for determining whether or not the writing of data to the ROM has been completed according to the calculation or the selected write time, and the write time in response to the output of the determination means. It is characterized by further including a setting changing means for changing the setting so as to extend or shorten the setting.

[0016] According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the writing of the data to the ROM can be completed according to the calculation or the selected writing time, and the writing time is extended or extended in response to the output of the determination means. The setting is changed to shorten it. As a result, the execution result of the writing operation using the set writing time can be fed back to the set value of the writing time, so that it is possible to set an appropriate writing time with further reduction of waste. become.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of a ROM writing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ROM writing device 1 includes a device main body 2 and a writing unit 3. The device main body 2 includes a power supply circuit 4, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 5 that receives power from the power supply circuit 4 to control write operations, and data 6 to be written (hereinafter, may be simply abbreviated as data 6). Includes) and a program 19 that is transferred by the CPU 5 to the microprocessor 15, which will be described later, and is started to write data to ROM 7 of data 6.

The writing unit 3 calculates the writing time in response to the extraction means 8 that extracts information about the writing time, which is the time required to write the data from the data 6 to the ROM 7, and the extraction output by the extraction means 8. The calculation means 9 is provided, and the writing means 10 for writing data to the ROM 7 according to the writing time calculated by the calculation means 9 is provided. The extraction means 8, the calculation means 9, and the write means 10 are realized by a microprocessor 15 which is a CPU integrated in one or several LSIs (Large Scale Integrated Circuits). ROM7 is an EEPROM that can be erased by an electric signal in a form called a flash memory, and is hereinafter referred to as a flash ROM7.

[0019] The program 19 provided in the device main body 2 is transferred from the device main body 2 to the microprocessor 15 provided in the writing unit 3 by the operation of the CPU 5. When the program 19 transferred to the microprocessor 15 is activated, the extraction means 8 can extract information on the write time from the data 6.

[0020] The information regarding the writing time of the data 6 extracted by the extraction means 8 will be described below. Here, the data 6 to be written to the flash ROM 7 is given by "1" and "zero (hereinafter referred to as 0)" constituting the binary data, and the flash ROM 7 before the data 6 is written is given to the flash ROM 7. "1" is written as the initial value. When writing data 6 to the flash ROM 7, the part corresponding to the "0" part of the data 6 to be written is changed from "1" to "0" among the "1" given as the initial value to the flash ROM 7. It is done by rewriting.

[0021] Therefore, the write time t1 depends on the number of "0" of each bit to be rewritten in the binary data of the data 6 to be written. The number of "0" s in each bit to be rewritten from the data 6 to be written is called the information related to the writing time t1, and counting the number of the "0" s is the information related to the writing time t1. Is referred to as extraction. For example, if the time required for writing for a certain number of counted "0" is the basic writing time t0, the writing time t1 required for writing data can be obtained by Eq. (1). Writing time t1 = Basic writing time t0 × Data information correction coefficient D1 ... (1) Here, the data information correction coefficient D1 is a constant determined according to the number of counted "0" s.

[0022] The writing time is basically obtained by multiplying the basic writing time by the number of "0" counted, but the time required for actual data writing and the counted "0". Since the relationship with the number of is slightly deviated from the linear relationship, the data information correction count D1 is determined corresponding to the level of the number of "0" counted, and this is multiplied by the basic writing time t0. , Find the write time t1.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a writing operation by the ROM writing device 1 shown in FIG. The writing operation by the ROM writing device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In step a1, the program 19 is transferred from the device main body 2 to the microprocessor 15 provided in the writing unit 3 by the operation of the CPU 5 provided in the device main body 2 as described above. In step a2, program 19 transferred to microprocessor 15 is launched.

[0024] In step a3, the CPU 5 transfers the data 6 to the microprocessor 15 according to the processing instruction of the program 19. In step a4, the extraction means 8 counts the information about the write time t1 from the transferred data 6, that is, the number of "0" s of each bit in the data 6. In step a5, the write time t1 is calculated by the microprocessor 15 which is the calculation means 9 based on the above equation (1). In step a6, the microprocessor 15 which is also the writing means 10 writes the data 6 to the flash ROM 7 according to the writing time t1 set by the calculation result, and ends a series of writing operations.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of the ROM writing device 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The ROM writing device 21 of the present embodiment is similar to the ROM writing device 1 of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding portions, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the second embodiment, the ROM writing device 21 includes a temperature detecting means 16 for detecting the environmental temperature, a voltage detecting means 17 for detecting the voltage applied to the flash ROM 7, and an analog / digital (A) provided in the writing unit 3. / D) Includes converter 18 and more. The detection outputs of the temperature detecting means 16 and the voltage detecting means 17 are input to the microprocessor 15 via the A / D converter 18.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a writing operation by the ROM writing device 21 shown in FIG. The flowchart of the writing operation by the ROM writing device 21 is similar to the writing operation by the ROM writing device 1 of the first embodiment, and is the same except that step b5 and step b6 are added. Is omitted. In step b5, the temperature detecting means 16 detects the ambient temperature and the detection output is input to the microprocessor 15. In step b6, the voltage applied to the flash ROM 7 at the time of writing data is detected by the voltage detecting means 17, and the detection output is input to the microprocessor 15.

[0027] The writing time is affected by the environmental temperature and the applied voltage at the time of writing the data. For example, when the environmental temperature is high, the writing time required for data writing is short, and when the applied voltage is high, the writing time required for data writing is short. Therefore, in order to set the writing time more accurately adapted to the capacity of the data to be written, it is desirable to correct the writing time t1 in accordance with the environmental temperature and the applied voltage. For example, the corrected writing time t11 can be obtained by Eq. (2). Write time t11 = Write time t1 × Temperature correction coefficient T1 × Voltage correction coefficient V1 ... (2) In step b7, the write time t11 is set in the microprocessor 15 which is the calculation means 9 based on the equation (2). Calculate.

[0028] As a result, the writing time t11 corresponding to the capacity of the data 6 to be written and corresponding to the environmental temperature and the applied voltage can be set more accurately, which is wasteful during the writing operation to the flash ROM 7. It is possible to eliminate time and improve productivity.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of the ROM writing device 31 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The ROM writing device 31 of the present embodiment is similar to the ROM writing device 21 of the second embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding portions, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the third embodiment, the ROM writing device 31 includes a memory 14 composed of RAM (Random Access Memory) capable of writing and reading at any time in the writing unit 3, and the memory 14 is connected to the microprocessor 15.

Further, the microprocessor 15 provided in the ROM writing device 31 has a determination means 11 for determining whether or not the writing of the data 6 to the flash ROM 7 has been completed according to the set writing time. , The setting changing means 12 that changes the setting so as to extend or shorten the writing time in response to the output of the judging means 11, and the predetermined writing time read from the memory 14 in response to the extraction output by the extracting means 8. A selection means 13 for selecting one writing time from among them is provided. In this embodiment, the arithmetic means 9 of the microprocessor 15 may be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a writing operation by the ROM writing device 31 shown in FIG. The flowchart of the writing operation by the ROM writing device 31 is similar to the writing operation by the ROM writing device 21 of the second embodiment, and duplicate description will be omitted for the steps representing the same operation.

At the start of step c0, at least information about the write time, that is, the write time t12 predetermined to correspond to the number of "0" of each bit in the data, is stored in the memory 14. is there. The write time t12 corresponding to the number of "0" s in each bit in the data may be predetermined and stored in the memory 14 for each voltage applied to the flash ROM 7 and for each environmental temperature at which the write operation is performed. desirable.

[0033] The writing time t12 can be determined in advance based on the accumulated results of the time required for writing various data to the flash ROM. Table 1 shows the write time t12 corresponding to the number of "0" s in each bit of the data based on the write record for the cases where the applied voltage is 5 V and the environmental temperature is 20 ° C, 25 ° C and 30 ° C. An example of a table created in advance is shown. In the present embodiment, a table based on the format shown in Table 1 is created in advance for each level of applied voltage and stored in the memory 14.

[0034] In step c7, the write time t12 stored in the memory 14 is read. In step c8, in response to the extraction output of the extraction means 8 and the detection outputs of the temperature and voltage detection means 16 and 17, the microprocessor 15 which is the selection means 13 determines the number of "0" s in each bit in the data 6, the environmental temperature. And select one write time t12 that matches the applied voltage. In step c9, the data 6 is written to the flash ROM 7 by the microprocessor 15, which is the writing means 10, according to the writing time t12 selected by the selecting means 13.

[0035] In step c10, whether or not the writing of the data 6 is completed is determined by the microprocessor 15 which is the determination means 11. Whether or not the writing of data 6 is completed is determined as follows. The data written in the flash ROM 7 is once read and compared with the data 6 to be written, and if they match, it is judged that the writing is completed, and if they do not match, it is judged that the writing is not completed. If it is determined that the writing is completed, the process proceeds to step c12, and if it is determined that the writing is not completed, the process proceeds to step c11.

[0036] In step c11, the microprocessor 15 which is the setting changing means 12 extends the set value of the writing time t12 and resets it. For α, which is the extended time, a value such as 10% (α = t12 × 10/100) of the first selected writing time t12 is selected. Based on the idea that the selected write time t12 is short with respect to the capacity of the data 6, the cause of the incomplete writing of the data 6 is that the writing time t12 is extended and the data 6 is written again. Therefore, after the extended write time t12 is reset in step c11, the process returns to step c9 and proceeds to the subsequent steps.

[0037] In step c12, the microprocessor 15 which is the setting changing means 12 shortens the set value of the writing time t12 and resets it. For α, which is the time to be shortened, the same value as in the previous step c11 is selected. Since the writing of the data 6 is completed, it is considered that the selected writing time t12 has a margin for the capacity of the data 6, and the writing time t12 is shortened. In step c13, the time-reduced new write time t12 is stored in the memory 14, and a series of write operations is completed. By storing the new write time t12 with reduced time in the memory 14, it is possible to select and use the write time t12 that does not include more wasted time when writing data under the same conditions. Become.

[0038] As a result, the execution result of the write operation using the selected and set write time t12 can be fed back to the set value of the write time t12, so that appropriate writing with further reduction of waste is possible. It is possible to set the time t12. Further, since the write time t12 corresponding to the capacity of the data 6 to be written is read from the memory 14 and selected by the selection means 13, the calculation means 9 for calculating the write time can be omitted.

[0039] [Table 1]<img file="JP3942425B2_D0001.tif" />[0040] As described above, in the present embodiment, the ROM writing device 31 includes the temperature detecting means 16 and the voltage detecting means 17, but the temperature detecting means 16 is not limited thereto. And may be configured not to include the voltage detecting means 17. Further, the microprocessor 15 provided in the ROM writing device 31 is provided with the determination means 11 and the setting changing means 12, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the determination means 11 and the setting changing means 12 are not provided. You may.

[Effect of the Invention] According to the present invention, information on a writing time, which is the time required to write data to a ROM, is extracted from the data to be written, and the writing time is set in response to the extracted output. Calculate and write the data to ROM according to the calculated write time. As a result, the writing time corresponding to the amount of data to be written can be set, so that the occurrence of incomplete writing can be eliminated and the time required for repeated writing can be saved, and the writing corresponding to the amount of data can be saved. It is no longer necessary to set the write time including wasted time that exceeds the time. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate wasted time during the writing operation to the ROM and improve the productivity.

[0042] Further, according to the present invention, information on the writing time, which is the time required to write the data to the ROM, is extracted from the data to be written, and the ambient temperature at which the ROM is arranged (hereinafter referred to as the environmental temperature). ) And the voltage applied to the ROM (hereinafter abbreviated as applied voltage), calculate the write time in response to the extraction output and the detection output, and write the data to the ROM according to the calculated write time. Include. As a result, the writing time corresponding to the amount of data to be written and the writing operation condition can be set more accurately, thus eliminating wasted time during the writing operation to the ROM and improving productivity. Will be possible.

[0043] Further, according to the present invention, a document predetermined so as to extract information on the writing time, which is the time required to write the data to the ROM from the data to be written, and correspond to the information on the writing time. The loading time is read from the memory, one writing time is selected in response to the extraction output by the extraction means from the read predetermined writing time, and the data is written to the ROM according to the selected writing time. .. As a result, the writing time corresponding to the amount of data to be written is selected and set, so that it is possible to eliminate wasted time during the writing operation to the ROM and improve the productivity. Further, since the write time corresponding to the capacity of the data to be written is read from the memory and selected by the selection means, the calculation means for calculating the write time can be omitted.

[0044] Further, according to the present invention, information on the write time, which is the time required to write the data to the ROM, is extracted from the data to be written, the ambient temperature and the applied voltage are detected, and the information on the write time is detected. A predetermined write time is read from the memory so as to correspond to, and one write time is selected from the read predetermined write times in response to the extraction output and the detection output, and is selected. Write data to ROM according to the write time. As a result, the writing time corresponding to the amount of data to be written and the writing operation condition can be set more accurately, thus eliminating wasted time during the writing operation to the ROM and improving productivity. Will be possible.

[0045] Further, according to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the writing of the data to the ROM can be completed according to the calculation or the selected writing time, and the writing time is extended in response to the output of the determination means. Or the setting is changed to shorten it. As a result, the execution result of the writing operation using the set writing time can be fed back to the set value of the writing time, so that it is possible to set an appropriate writing time with further reduction of waste. become.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of a ROM writing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a writing operation by the ROM writing device 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of a ROM writing device 21 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a writing operation by the ROM writing device 21 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of a ROM writing device 31 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a writing operation by the ROM writing device 31 shown in FIG.

[Code description] 1,21,31 ROM writing device 4 Power supply circuit 5 CPU6 Data 7 Flash ROM8 Extracting means 9 Computational means 10 Writing means 11 Judging means 12 Setting changing means 13 Selecting means 14 Memory 15 Microprocessor 16 Temperature detecting means 17 Voltage detection means 19 Program