A firmware update method, circuit, device, and storage medium for an electronic device

Abstract

The present application discloses a firmware update method, circuit, device and storage medium for an electronic device, relating to the technical field of electronic circuits. The method includes: when establishing a connection through a connection cable base and a universal connection cable, supplying power to a capacitor module through a power supply module, and transmitting current to a first triode through the capacitor module, so that the first triode changes from a cut-off state to a conducting state; if the system switch of the power supply module is closed before the first triode changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state, transmitting current to a second triode through the power supply module, so that the second triode changes from a cut-off state to a conducting state; transmitting a voltage to a main control chip through the second triode, so that the current voltage of the connection pin between the main control chip and the second triode is at a high level, thereby triggering firmware update. The above technical solution realizes triggering firmware update using a universal connection cable, reduces production costs, and helps reduce the workload of the user in storing and managing special connection cables.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of electronic circuits, and particularly to the technical field of interface control logic. Specifically, the present application relates to a method, circuit, device, and storage medium for firmware update of an electronic device. Background Art

[0002] In existing electronic devices, some need to write firmware to work properly, and these electronic devices can update the firmware to correct defects, update functions, optimize performance, etc.

[0003] Among these electronic devices, some achieve firmware update by connecting to a computer using a dedicated USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable. This requires providing a dedicated USB cable for the device, increasing the production cost. During user use, if the dedicated USB cable is lost or damaged, the user needs to contact the supplier to obtain a new one, which additionally increases the burden on the user. In addition, since the USB connector used for the dedicated USB cable is the same as that of the general USB cable, it is easy to be confused. Once misplugged, it may also damage the device, causing greater losses. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a method, circuit, device, and storage medium for firmware update of an electronic device, so as to trigger firmware update using a general connection cable and reduce the production cost.

[0005] According to an aspect of the present application, a method for firmware update of an electronic device is provided. The method is applied to a firmware update circuit of a target electronic device. The firmware update circuit includes a connection cable base, a main control chip, a power supply module, a capacitor module, a first triode, and a second triode. The capacitor module includes at least a target capacitor. The negative electrode of the target capacitor is grounded through a resistor. The negative electrode of the target capacitor is connected to the first triode through a resistor. The first triode is connected to the second triode through a resistor. The second triode is connected to the main control chip through a resistor. The method includes:

[0006] When establishing a connection with a general connection cable through the connection cable base, power is supplied to the capacitor module through the power supply module, and current is transmitted to the first triode through the capacitor module, so that the first triode changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state;

[0007] If the system switch of the power supply module is closed before the first triode changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state, current is transmitted to the second triode through the power supply module, so that the second triode changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state; wherein, the first triode changing back from the conducting state to the cut-off state means that the negative voltage of the target capacitor continuously drops to be less than or equal to the base conduction voltage of the first triode.

[0008] Voltage is transmitted to the main control chip through the second triode, so that the current voltage of the connection pin between the main control chip and the second triode is at a high level, thereby triggering firmware update.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present application, a firmware update circuit for an electronic device is provided. The circuit includes a connection line base, a main control chip, a power supply module, a capacitor module, a first triode, and a second triode; the capacitor module at least includes a target capacitor; the negative pole of the target capacitor is grounded through a resistor; the negative pole of the target capacitor is connected to the first triode through a resistor; the first triode is connected to the second triode through a resistor; the second triode is connected to the main control chip through a resistor.

[0010] The power supply module is used to supply power to the capacitor module when establishing a connection with a general connection line through the connection line base.

[0011] The capacitor module is used to transmit current to the first triode, so that the first triode changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state.

[0012] The power supply module is further used to transmit current to the second triode when the system switch of the power supply module is closed before the first triode changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state, so that the second triode changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state; wherein, the first triode changing back from the conducting state to the cut-off state means that the negative voltage of the target capacitor continuously drops to be less than or equal to the base conduction voltage of the first triode.

[0013] The second triode is used to transmit voltage to the main control chip, so that the current voltage of the connection pin between the main control chip and the second triode is at a high level, thereby triggering firmware update.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present application, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes:

[0015] One or more processors;

[0016] A memory for storing one or more programs;

[0017] When the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors implement any firmware update method for an electronic device provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, and when the program is executed by a processor, it implements any firmware update method for an electronic device provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a computer program product, including a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements any firmware update method for an electronic device provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0020] When the present application establishes a connection through a connection cable base and a general connection cable, the power supply module supplies power to the capacitor module, and the capacitor module transmits current to the first triode, so that the first triode changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state; if the system switch of the power supply module is closed before the first triode changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state, the power supply module transmits current to the second triode, so that the second triode changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state; wherein, the first triode changing back from the conducting state to the cut-off state means that the negative voltage of the target capacitor continuously drops to be less than or equal to the base conduction voltage of the first triode; the voltage is transmitted to the main control chip through the second triode, so that the current voltage of the connection pin between the main control chip and the second triode is at a high level, thereby triggering firmware update. The above technical solution can use a general USB cable to update the firmware of an electronic device, reduce costs, and avoid damage to the electronic device caused by misusing a dedicated USB cable. Description of the Drawings

[0021] Figure 1a is a flowchart of a firmware update method for an electronic device provided by Embodiment 1 of the present application;

[0022] Figure 1b is a circuit schematic diagram of a firmware update circuit for an electronic device provided by Embodiment 1 of the present application;

[0023] Figure 2 is a flowchart of a firmware update method for an electronic device provided by Embodiment 2 of the present application;

[0024] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of a firmware update circuit for an electronic device provided by Embodiment 3 of the present application;

[0025] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of an electronic device implementing the firmware update method for an electronic device in Embodiment 4 of the present application. Detailed Embodiments

[0026] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the solution of this application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0027] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and do not necessarily need to be used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such used data can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances so that the embodiments of this application described here can be implemented in an order different from those illustrated or described here. In addition, the terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product or device comprising a series of steps or units does not necessarily have to be limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but may include other steps or units not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0028] In addition, it should also be noted that in the technical solution of this application, the collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision and disclosure and other processing of relevant data such as the cut-off state and conduction state comply with the provisions of relevant laws and regulations and do not violate public order and good customs.

[0029] Embodiment 1

[0030] Figure 1a is a flowchart of a method for updating the firmware of an electronic device according to Embodiment 1 of this application. This embodiment is applicable to the situation of updating the firmware of an electronic device using a general USB cable and can be executed by the firmware update circuit of the electronic device. The firmware update circuit of the electronic device can be implemented in the form of hardware and can be configured in the firmware update circuit of the target electronic device, such as Figure 1b the circuit shown; the firmware update circuit includes a connection base, a main control chip, a power module, a capacitor module, a first triode and a second triode; the capacitor module at least includes a target capacitor; the negative electrode of the target capacitor is grounded through a resistor; the negative electrode of the target capacitor is connected to the first triode through a resistor; the first triode and the second triode are connected through a resistor; the second triode and the main control chip are connected through a resistor. As Figure 1a shown, the method includes:

[0031] S110. When establishing a connection through a connection line base and a general connection line, power is supplied to the capacitor module through the power module, and current is transmitted to the first triode through the capacitor module, so that the first triode changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state.

[0032] In this embodiment, the connection line base refers to the connection interface part in an electronic device, which is used to connect other devices or cables; the connection line base can specifically refer to, for example, Figure 1b the Micro-USB (Micro-Universal Serial Bus) base shown in the figure. The general connection line refers to a connection line that conforms to the general standard (such as a USB cable), which can connect different devices for data transmission or power supply. The power module refers to a circuit module that provides power, which transfers electrical energy from a power source (such as a battery or an external power source) to other circuit parts to ensure the normal operation of the device. The capacitor module refers to a circuit module composed of capacitors, resistors, etc., which is used to store electrical energy, regulate voltage, or play roles such as filtering and noise reduction in the circuit. The triode refers to an electronic component that can amplify signals or switch circuits; in this application, the first and second triodes act as switches to control the on and off of current; it should be noted that the first triode in this application refers to an NPN (Negative-Positive-Negative) type triode, and the second triode refers to a PNP (Positive-Negative-Positive) type triode. The cut-off state means that no current flows through the triode, which is equivalent to the switch being in the off state and the circuit not conducting. The conducting state means that the switch of the triode is turned on, allowing current to flow through and the circuit to conduct.

[0033] Optionally, the power module can include at least one of the power pins and the power conversion module in the connection line base; correspondingly, when establishing a connection through the connection line base and the general connection line, power is supplied to the capacitor module through the power pins in the connection line base of the power module, and current is transmitted to the first triode through the capacitor module, so that the first triode changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state.

[0034] Exemplarily, taking the Figure 1b circuit diagram shown in the figure as an example, the power pin in the connection line base can be the Vbus (Voltage Bus) pin; when using a general Micro-USB cable to connect a computer and a device, the voltage of the positive electrode of the target capacitor C1 with respect to the ground instantaneously rises to the voltage of the Vbus pin, that is, 5V; since the voltage across the capacitor cannot change instantaneously, the voltage of the negative electrode of the target capacitor C1 with respect to the ground also instantaneously rises to 5V, and since it is higher than the base conduction voltage of the first triode Q1 by 0.7V, current is generated to pass through the first bias resistor R4 and the base of the first triode Q1, making the first triode Q1 conduct.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment, referring to Figure 1b , the present application also optimizes the ID (Identification) pin of the Micro-USB base, and sets the ID pin of the Micro-USB base to an empty pin.

[0036] It can be understood that setting the ID pin of the Micro-USB base to an empty pin can use a common USB cable to update the firmware of the electronic device without changing the appearance and function of the system.

[0037] S120: If the system switch of the power supply module is closed before the first triode changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state, current is transmitted to the second triode through the power supply module, so that the second triode changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state.

[0038] In this embodiment, the first triode changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state means that the negative voltage of the target capacitor continuously drops to less than or equal to the base conduction voltage of the first triode; wherein, the base conduction voltage means that when the base voltage of the triode exceeds a certain threshold, the triode starts to conduct, and this voltage is usually a specific value to ensure that the triode is in the working state; the target capacitor refers to a specific capacitor used to store or release electrical energy in the circuit, and the target capacitor can specifically refer to the capacitor C1 as shown in Figure 1b .

[0039] Specifically, if the system switch of the voltage conversion module in the power supply module is closed before the first triode changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state, current is transmitted to the second triode through the power supply module, so that the second triode changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state.

[0040] Exemplarily, taking the circuit diagram shown in Figure 1b as an example, before the first triode changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state, at this time the first triode Q1 is in the conducting state, the equivalent resistance from the collector to the emitter of the first triode Q1 is very small, one end of the second bias resistor R5 connected to the collector of the first triode Q1 is pulled down to about 0.1V, and the emitter (i.e., the e-pole) of the second triode Q2 is connected to Vbus, so Q2 conducts.

[0041] S130: Transmit voltage to the main control chip through the second triode, so that the current voltage of the connection pin between the main control chip and the second triode is at a high level, thereby triggering firmware update.

[0042] In this embodiment, the main control chip refers to the core processing unit of the entire circuit or system, which is responsible for coordinating, controlling, and managing the operation of each subsystem or module. Firmware update refers to upgrading or changing the firmware embedded in the device to enhance functions or fix vulnerabilities. High level refers to the state of higher voltage in the circuit, usually representing the "on" state, and the signal is at 1. Low level refers to the state of lower voltage in the circuit, usually representing the "off" state, and the signal is at 0.

[0043] It should be noted that this application is applicable to the situation where the main control chip uses a specific pin, the DET pin, for firmware update. When the main control chip is powered on, it selects normal startup or enters the firmware update mode by judging the level of this pin.

[0044] Exemplarily, taking Figure 1b the shown circuit diagram as an example, when the second triode Q2 conducts, the resistance from the emitter to the collector of the second triode Q2 becomes very small. One end of the first voltage-dividing resistor R6 connected to the collector of the second triode Q2 is pulled up to about 5V - 0.1V = 4.9V. After being divided by the first voltage-dividing resistor R6 and the second voltage-dividing resistor R7, the voltage of the DET (Detection) pin of the main control chip is 4.9V × R7 / (R6 + R7). By setting reasonable resistance values of R6 and R7, it can be ensured that the voltage of the DET pin is at a high level at this time. For example, when VCC is 3.3V, R6 is 10KΩ, and R7 is 20KΩ, then the voltage of the DET pin at this time is 4.9V × 20KΩ / (10KΩ + 20KΩ) = 3.266V, that is, a high level, and the system enters the firmware update mode.

[0045] Optionally, referring to Figure 1b , the second triode Q2 is connected to the main control chip through the first voltage-dividing resistor R6 and the second voltage-dividing resistor R7; the second triode Q2, the first voltage-dividing resistor R6, and the second voltage-dividing resistor R7 are connected in series; the connection pin DET is connected in parallel with the second voltage-dividing resistor R7.

[0046] Optionally, continuing to refer to Figure 1b , the negative electrode of the target capacitor C1 is grounded through the grounding resistor R3; the grounding resistor R3 is connected in parallel with the first triode Q1; the negative electrode of the target capacitor C1 is connected in series with the grounding resistor R3; the negative electrode of the target capacitor C1 and the first triode Q1 are connected in series through the resistor R4.

[0047] Furthermore, the grounding resistance value of the grounding resistor R3 and the capacitance value of the target capacitor C1 can be adjusted according to the supply voltage of the power supply module to control the time length of the first triode Q1 changing from the cut-off state to the conducting state and then back to the cut-off state.

[0048] In this embodiment, the grounding resistance value refers to the resistance value of the grounding resistor, and the resistance value determines the degree of obstruction that the current encounters when passing through the resistor; the larger the resistance, the stronger the obstruction to the passing of the current, and the smaller the current; usually, we control the current or divide the voltage through the resistance value. The capacitance value refers to the ability of the target capacitor C1 to store electric charges; the capacitor plays roles such as filtering, coupling, decoupling, and timing in the circuit; the larger the capacitor, the more electric charges it stores, and the slower the speed of voltage change.

[0049] Optionally, mark the moment when Q1 changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state as T0, and mark the moment when Q1 changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state as T1; the time setting from T0 to T1 can be achieved through the following formula:

[0050]

[0051] Wherein, represents the function of the voltage on the capacitor changing with time. represents the input voltage (unit: volt). t represents the charged time (unit: second). R represents the resistance value of the grounding resistor R3 (unit: ohm). C represents the capacitance value of the capacitor C1 (unit: farad). e is the base of the natural logarithm, approximately equal to 2.71828.

[0052] Exemplarily, taking the circuit diagram shown in Figure 1b as an example, V0 = 5V. When the voltage of the negative electrode of C1 with respect to the ground drops to 0.7V, Q1 starts to be in the cut-off state. At this time, the voltage across C1 is 5V - 0.7V = 4.3V, that is, V(t)=0.86 , substituting it into the resistor-capacitor charging formula, we can get: 1 - e^(-t / RC) = 0.86. After calculation, we get: RC = t / 1.966. Just set the appropriate values of R3 and C1 to obtain the desired time length from T0 to T1. For example, if we want the time length from T0 to T1 to be 3 seconds, then RC = 3 / 1.966 = 1.526. We can set C1 to 100uF, then the resistance value of R3 is 1.526 / (100×0.000001)=15260Ω.

[0053] It should be noted that the above is only a rough calculation. Since the negative electrode of the target capacitor C1 is also connected to the first bias resistor R4, and the other end of the first bias resistor R4 is connected to the base of the first triode Q1, there will be a certain current in the first bias resistor R4 during the conduction process of the first triode Q1, and this current will have a certain impact on the above calculation results. In addition, the voltage of the negative electrode of the target capacitor C1 with respect to ground needs to be higher than the conduction voltage of the base of the first triode Q1 in order to make the current flowing through the first bias resistor R4 and the base of the first triode Q1 large enough, so that after two-stage amplification through the first triode Q1 and the second triode Q2, a sufficient current is generated to pull up the DET pin of the main control chip to a high level.

[0054] Further, referring to Figure 1b , the negative electrode of the target capacitor C1 is serially connected to the base of the first triode Q1 through the first bias resistor R4; the collector of the first triode Q1 is serially connected to the base of the second triode Q2 through the second bias resistor R5; the grounding resistor R3 is connected in parallel with the first bias resistor R4 and the first triode Q1; the error of the time setting from T0 to T1 can be reduced by adjusting the first bias resistor R4, the second bias resistor R5, the first voltage-dividing resistor R6 or the second voltage-dividing resistor R7.

[0055] Exemplarily, set R4 larger to reduce the current flowing through R4 and the base of Q1 and reduce the impact on the calculation results; set R5 smaller to increase the current flowing through the base of Q2, that is, increase the collector current of Q2 in the amplification state; set R6 and R7 larger to reduce the current that needs to flow through R6 and R7 on the premise of ensuring that the DET pin can be pulled to a high level; it is also possible to adopt the method of actual measurement to adjust the parameters of the above components, especially R3 and C1, in the actual circuit environment to achieve the desired time length from T0 to T1.

[0056] Optionally, referring to Figure 1b , the capacitor module further includes a discharge resistor R8 and a discharge diode D1; the target capacitor C1, the discharge resistor R8 and the discharge diode D1 are serially connected.

[0057] It should be noted that the discharge diode can specifically refer to a germanium diode.

[0058] Further, when the connection base of the connecting wire is disconnected from the general connecting wire, current is transmitted to the discharge resistor and the discharge diode through the positive electrode of the target capacitor to form a discharge loop to discharge the target capacitor.

[0059] Exemplarily, when the USB cable is unplugged, since C1 is in a charged state, if the charge in it cannot be released in time, it will still be in a charged state when the USB cable is plugged in again next time, resulting in Q1 not being able to conduct, so the DET pin will not be pulled high, that is, the firmware update mode cannot be entered. R8 and D1 play a role in discharging in this circuit. When the USB cable is unplugged, Vbus fails. Since C1 is in a charged state, the voltage across its two ends acts on the series circuit composed of R8 and D1, and the voltage direction is the same as the conduction direction of D1, that is, C1, R8, and D1 form a discharge loop, and C1 discharges through this discharge loop. Since D1 uses a germanium diode, its conduction voltage is relatively low, about 0.1V, and the discharge law of the entire discharge loop is approximately the same as that of an RC discharge.

[0060] For the sake of simplicity in explanation, here the common practice in engineering is adopted, that is, the concept of the time constant RC of an RC charging and discharging circuit is introduced, where R is the resistance value and C is the capacitance value. According to the publicly available data, during discharge, after 1RC time, the voltage across the capacitor drops to 0.37 times the initial voltage; after 2RC time, the voltage across the capacitor drops to 0.14 times the initial voltage; after 3RC time, the voltage across the capacitor drops to 0.05 times the initial voltage. In the circuit of this application, when 3RC time has passed, the voltage across the capacitor drops to 5V × 0.05 = 0.25V, and it can be considered that the capacitor has been fully discharged. Example of parameter calculation: For example, if it is desired to fully discharge within 1 second, that is, 3RC = 1, and C = 100uF is set, then: R = 1 / (3×C) = 1 / (3×100×0.000001) = 3333Ω; here C and R correspond to C1 and R8 in the circuit.

[0061] When the embodiment of this application establishes a connection through the connection base and the general connection cable, the power supply module supplies power to the capacitor module, and the capacitor module transmits current to the first triode to change the first triode from the cut-off state to the conducting state; if the system switch of the power supply module is closed before the first triode changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state, then the power supply module transmits current to the second triode to change the second triode from the cut-off state to the conducting state; wherein, the first triode changing back from the conducting state to the cut-off state means that the negative voltage of the target capacitor continuously drops to be less than or equal to the base conduction voltage of the first triode; the voltage is transmitted to the main control chip through the second triode to make the current voltage of the connection pin between the main control chip and the second triode be at a high level, thereby triggering the firmware update. The above technical solution can use a general USB cable to update the firmware of the electronic device, reduce costs, and avoid damage to the electronic device due to the incorrect use of a dedicated USB cable.

[0062] See Figure 1b For the convenience of understanding the solution of this application, this application Figure 1bThe related applications of the shown circuit are further described. In the improved circuit of this application, the ID pin in the Micro-USB base is an empty pin. Add an NPN transistor Q1, a PNP transistor Q2, a germanium diode D1, a capacitor C1, and resistors R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8.

[0063] When the device is powered off, that is, when the power switch K1 is not closed and no USB cable is connected, C1 is not charged, and the voltage across it with respect to ground is 0. The base current of Q1 through R4 is 0, and the current through the base of Q2 through R5 is also 0, that is, both Q1 and Q2 are in the cut-off state.

[0064] When connecting the computer and the device with a common Micro-USB cable, the voltage across the positive terminal of C1 with respect to ground instantly rises to Vbus, that is, 5V. Since the voltage across the capacitor cannot change instantaneously, the voltage across the negative terminal of C1 with respect to ground also instantly rises to 5V. Since it is higher than the base conduction voltage of Q1 by 0.7V, a current is generated through the base of R4 and Q1, making Q1 conduct. For the convenience of description, this moment is marked as T0. Starting from T0, the positive terminal of C1 is connected to the 5V power supply, the negative terminal of C1 is connected to ground through R3, and through R4 to the base of Q1 and then to the emitter and connected to ground. The circuit continuously charges the capacitor C1, and the voltage across it continuously rises, that is, the voltage across the negative terminal of C1 with respect to ground continuously decreases. After a period of time, when the voltage across the negative terminal of C1 drops to near the base conduction voltage of Q1, this moment is marked as T1. Starting from T1, since the voltage across the negative terminal of C1 with respect to ground is less than or equal to the base conduction voltage of Q1, the current flowing through the base of R4 and Q1 drops to 0, and Q1 starts to be in the cut-off state. From the above analysis, it can be seen that Q1 is in the conducting state after T0 and before T1, and Q1 is in the cut-off state after T1. When the device is powered on, that is, when K1 is closed, the system power supply VCC starts to take effect, that is, it rapidly rises from 0V to the voltage value set by the power supply module, and then the main control chip starts to operate. Since the time required for this process is relatively short, it can be ignored.

[0065] There are the following three cases of power-on for the circuit designed in this application:

[0066] The first case of power-on: When powering on using the built-in battery instead of the USB cable, since Q2 is in the cut-off state, the DET pin of the main control chip will be pulled to a low level by R7, and the system starts up normally.

[0067] The second power-on situation: Power on after T0 and before T1. At this time, Q1 is in the conducting state, and the equivalent resistance from the collector to the emitter of Q1 is very small. One end of R5 connected to the collector of Q1 is pulled down to about 0.1V. Since the emitter of Q2, i.e., the e-pole, is connected to Vbus, Q2 conducts, and the resistance from the emitter to the collector of Q2 becomes very small. One end of R6 connected to the collector of Q2 is pulled up to about 5V - 0.1V = 4.9V. After being divided by R6 and R7, the voltage of the DET pin is 4.9V×R7 / (R6 + R7). By setting reasonable values of R6 and R7, it can be ensured that the voltage of the DET pin is at a high level at this time. For example, when VCC is 3.3V, R6 is 10KΩ, and R7 is 20KΩ, then the voltage of the DET pin at this time is 4.9V×20KΩ / (10KΩ + 20KΩ) = 3.266V, which is a high level, and the system enters the firmware update mode.

[0068] The third power-on situation: Power on after T1. At this time, Q1 is in the cut-off state, and the currents flowing through R5 and the base of Q1 are both 0. Q2 is also in the cut-off state, and the DET pin of the main control chip is pulled to a low level by R7, and the system starts normally.

[0069] It can be understood that when using a general USB cable, power on after T0 and before T1 to enter the firmware update mode, and power on normally in other cases. That is, the present application realizes the purpose that the user can choose whether to enter the firmware update mode under the premise of using a general USB cable and without changing the system appearance functions such as adding buttons. And this circuit only adds two triodes, one germanium diode, one capacitor, and several resistors, which has the advantages of low cost, simple circuit, not easy to be damaged, and less occupied space.

[0070] Embodiment 2

[0071] Figure 2 is a flowchart of a firmware update method for an electronic device according to Embodiment 2 of the present application. On the basis of the technical solutions of the above embodiments, "transmitting current to the main control chip through the second triode to make the current voltage of the connection pin between the main control chip and the second triode a high level" is refined to "transmitting voltage from the collector of the second triode to the first voltage-dividing resistor, and after voltage division by the first voltage-dividing resistor, transmitting the voltage to the connection pin and the second voltage-dividing resistor respectively; controlling the current voltage of the connection pin by setting the values of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor to make the current voltage of the connection pin a high level". It should be noted that for the parts not detailed in the embodiments of the present application, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. As Figure 2 shown, the method includes:

[0072] S210. When establishing a connection through the connection line base and the general connection line, power is supplied to the capacitor module by the power module, and current is transmitted to the first triode through the capacitor module, so that the first triode changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state.

[0073] S220. If the system switch of the power module is closed before the first triode changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state, current is transmitted to the second triode through the power module, so that the second triode changes from the cut-off state to the conducting state.

[0074] S230. Voltage is transmitted to the first voltage-dividing resistor through the collector of the second triode, and after voltage division by the first voltage-dividing resistor, the voltage is transmitted to the connection pin and the second voltage-dividing resistor respectively.

[0075] In this embodiment, the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor refer to the resistors used to divide the collector voltage of the second triode; the resistance values of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor determine the voltage distribution ratio; different resistance values can be selected to control the magnitude of the voltage of the connection pin connected between the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor. The connection pin is the interface point of the circuit board or integrated circuit, and these pins are usually used for the transmission of electrical signals or connection with external circuits; the pin here is used to receive a specific voltage signal to trigger firmware update.

[0076] Exemplarily, taking Figure 1b the shown circuit diagram as an example, voltage is transmitted to the first voltage-dividing resistor R6 through the collector c of the second triode Q2, and after voltage division by R6, the voltage is transmitted to the connection pin DET and the second voltage-dividing resistor R7 respectively.

[0077] S240. The current voltage of the connection pin is controlled by setting the resistance values of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor, so that the current voltage of the connection pin is at a high level, thereby triggering firmware update.

[0078] In this embodiment, the high level refers to a higher voltage state. For example, in a digital circuit, it represents logic "1" or the on state; in this application, the voltage signal of the high level is used to trigger firmware update.

[0079] Optionally, the resistance values of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor are pre-configured according to the system voltage of the power module to control the current voltage of the connection pin to be at a high level; wherein, the current voltage is calculated and determined through the collector voltage of the first triode collector, the resistance values of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor via a series-parallel circuit.

[0080] In this embodiment, the series-parallel circuit includes at least one of a series circuit and a parallel circuit, etc.; a series circuit means that multiple components are connected in sequence, with the same current, and the voltage is distributed among the components; a parallel circuit means that multiple components are connected side by side, with the same voltage, and the current is distributed among the components.

[0081] Exemplarily, the current voltage of the connection pin can be determined by the following series voltage division formula:

[0082]

[0083] Wherein, refers to the current voltage of the connection pin. refers to the collector voltage of the collector of the first triode. R6 refers to the resistance value of the first voltage dividing resistor. R7 refers to the resistance value of the second voltage dividing resistor.

[0084] It can be understood that the resistance of the connection pin (such as the DET pin shown in Figure 1b ) to the ground is very large. When calculating the voltage of R7, only the series effect of R6 and R7 needs to be considered, and the connection pin is regarded as an open circuit.

[0085] Exemplarily, taking the circuit shown in Figure 1b as an example, when the second triode Q2 is turned on, the resistance from the emitter to the collector of the second triode Q2 becomes very small. One end of the first voltage dividing resistor R6 connected to the collector of the second triode Q2 is pulled up to about 5V - 0.1V = 4.9V. After voltage division by the first voltage dividing resistor R6 and the second voltage dividing resistor R7, the voltage of the DET (Detection) pin of the main control chip is 4.9V × R7 / (R6 + R7). By setting reasonable resistance values of R6 and R7, it can be ensured that the voltage of the DET pin is at a high level at this time. For example, when VCC is 3.3V, R6 is 10KΩ, and R7 is 20KΩ, then the voltage of the DET pin at this time is 4.9V × 20KΩ / (10KΩ + 20KΩ) = 3.266V, that is, a high level, and the system enters the firmware update mode.

[0086] It should be noted that the resistance of the DET pin of the main control chip to the ground is very large, and the current flowing through this pin can be ignored, that is, only the voltage division effect of the series connection of R6 and R7 needs to be considered.

[0087] When the embodiment of the present application establishes a connection through the connection line base and the general connection line, the power supply module supplies power to the capacitor module, and the capacitor module transmits current to the first triode to change the first triode from the cut-off state to the conducting state; if the system switch of the power supply module is closed before the first triode changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state, the power supply module transmits current to the second triode to change the second triode from the cut-off state to the conducting state; wherein, the first triode changing back from the conducting state to the cut-off state means that the negative voltage of the target capacitor continuously drops to be less than or equal to the base conduction voltage of the first triode; the voltage is transmitted to the first voltage-dividing resistor through the collector of the second triode, and after being voltage-divided by the first voltage-dividing resistor, the voltage is respectively transmitted to the connection pin and the second voltage-dividing resistor; by setting the resistance values of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor, the current voltage of the connection pin is controlled so that the current voltage of the connection pin is at a high level, thereby triggering firmware update. The above technical solution can use a general USB cable to update the firmware of an electronic device, reduce costs, and avoid damage to the electronic device caused by misusing a dedicated USB cable.

[0088] Embodiment 3

[0089] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of a firmware update circuit of an electronic device provided according to Embodiment 3 of the present application, which is applicable to the situation of using a general USB cable to update the firmware of the electronic device. The firmware update circuit of the electronic device can be implemented in the form of hardware, and the firmware update circuit of the electronic device can be configured in a target electronic device, such as a USB base. As Figure 3 shown, the circuit includes a connection line base 10, a main control chip 20, a power supply module 30, a capacitor module 40, a first triode 50, and a second triode 60; the capacitor module 40 at least includes a target capacitor; the negative electrode of the target capacitor is grounded through a resistor; the negative electrode of the target capacitor is connected to the first triode 50 through a resistor; the first triode 50 is connected to the second triode 60 through a resistor; the second triode 60 is connected to the main control chip 20 through a resistor;

[0090] The power supply module 30 is used to supply power to the capacitor module 40 when establishing a connection through the connection line base 10 and the general connection line;

[0091] The capacitor module 40 is used to transmit current to the first triode 50 to change the first triode 50 from the cut-off state to the conducting state;

[0092] The power supply module 30 is also configured to transmit current to the second triode 60 to change the second triode 60 from the cut-off state to the conducting state when the system switch of the power supply module 30 is closed before the first triode 50 changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state; wherein, the first triode 50 changing back from the conducting state to the cut-off state means that the negative voltage of the target capacitor continuously drops to be less than or equal to the base conduction voltage of the first triode.

[0093] The second triode 60 is configured to transmit voltage to the main control chip 20 to make the current voltage of the connection pin between the main control chip 20 and the second triode 60 be at a high level, thereby triggering firmware update.

[0094] In the embodiment of the present application, when establishing a connection through the connection line base and the general connection line, the power supply module supplies power to the capacitor module, and the capacitor module transmits current to the first triode to change the first triode from the cut-off state to the conducting state; if the system switch of the power supply module is closed before the first triode changes back from the conducting state to the cut-off state, the power supply module transmits current to the second triode to change the second triode from the cut-off state to the conducting state; wherein, the first triode changing back from the conducting state to the cut-off state means that the negative voltage of the target capacitor continuously drops to be less than or equal to the base conduction voltage of the first triode; the second triode transmits voltage to the main control chip to make the current voltage of the connection pin between the main control chip and the second triode be at a high level, thereby triggering firmware update. The above technical solution can use a general USB cable to update the firmware of the electronic device, reduce costs, and avoid damage to the electronic device caused by misusing a dedicated USB cable.

[0095] Optionally, the second triode 60 and the main control chip 20 are connected through a first voltage dividing resistor and a second voltage dividing resistor; the second triode 60, the first voltage dividing resistor, and the second voltage dividing resistor are connected in series; the connection pin is connected in parallel with the second voltage dividing resistor;

[0096] The collector of the second triode is configured to transmit voltage to the first voltage dividing resistor;

[0097] The first voltage dividing resistor is configured to divide the voltage and then transmit the voltage to the connection pin and the second voltage dividing resistor respectively;

[0098] The resistance values of the first voltage dividing resistor and the second voltage dividing resistor are used to control the current voltage of the connection pin to make the current voltage of the connection pin be at a high level.

[0099] Optionally, the first voltage dividing resistor and the second voltage dividing resistor are specifically configured to:

[0100] The system voltage of the power supply module 30 is used to pre-configure the resistance values of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor to control the current voltage of the connection pin to be at a high level; wherein, the current voltage is calculated and determined via a series-parallel circuit based on the collector voltage of the collector, and the resistance values of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor.

[0101] Optionally, the negative electrode of the target capacitor is grounded through a grounding resistor; the grounding resistor is connected in parallel with the first triode 50; the negative electrode of the target capacitor is connected in series with the grounding resistor; the negative electrode of the target capacitor is connected in series with the first triode 50 through a resistor; the grounding resistor and the target capacitor are used for:

[0102] According to the supply voltage of the power supply module, the grounding resistance value of the grounding resistor and the capacitance value of the target capacitor are adjusted to control the time length of the first triode changing from the cut-off state to the conducting state and then back to the cut-off state.

[0103] Optionally, the negative electrode of the target capacitor is connected in series with the base of the first triode 50 through a first bias resistor; the collector of the first triode 50 is connected in series with the base of the second triode 60 through a second bias resistor; the grounding resistor is connected in parallel with the first bias resistor and the first triode 50.

[0104] Optionally, the capacitor module 40 further includes a discharge resistor and a discharge diode; the target capacitor, the discharge resistor, and the discharge diode are connected in series;

[0105] The target capacitor is used to transmit current from the positive electrode to the discharge resistor and the discharge diode to form a discharge loop to discharge the target capacitor when the connection base of the connection line is disconnected from the general connection line.

[0106] The firmware update circuit of the electronic device provided by the embodiments of the present application can execute the firmware update method of the electronic device provided by any embodiment of the present application, and has the corresponding functional modules and beneficial effects for executing the firmware update methods of various electronic devices.

[0107] According to the embodiments of the present application, the present application also provides an electronic device, a readable storage medium, and a computer program product.

[0108] Embodiment 4

[0109] Figure 4It is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device 410 that implements the firmware update method of the electronic device according to the embodiments of the present application. The electronic device is intended to represent various forms of digital computers, such as laptop computers, desktop computers, workstations, personal digital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframe computers, and other suitable computers. The electronic device can also represent various forms of mobile devices, such as personal digital processors, cellular phones, smart phones, wearable devices (such as helmets, glasses, watches, etc.) and other similar computing devices. The components shown herein, their connections and relationships, and their functions are merely examples and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present application described and / or claimed herein.

[0110] As Figure 4 shown, the electronic device 410 includes at least one processor 411, and a memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor 411, such as a read-only memory (ROM) 412, a random access memory (RAM) 413, etc. Among them, the memory stores a computer program executable by the at least one processor. The processor 411 can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to the computer program stored in the read-only memory (ROM) 412 or the computer program loaded from the storage unit 418 into the random access memory (RAM) 413. In the RAM 413, various programs and data required for the operation of the electronic device 410 can also be stored. The processor 411, the ROM 412, and the RAM 413 are connected to each other through a bus 414. The input / output (I / O) interface 415 is also connected to the bus 414.

[0111] Multiple components in the electronic device 410 are connected to the I / O interface 415, including: an input unit 416, such as a keyboard, a mouse, etc.; an output unit 417, such as various types of displays, speakers, etc.; a storage unit 418, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, etc.; and a communication unit 419, such as a network card, a modem, a wireless communication transceiver, etc. The communication unit 419 allows the electronic device 410 to exchange information / data with other devices through a computer network such as the Internet and / or various telecommunication networks.

[0112] The processor 411 can be various general-purpose and / or special-purpose processing components with processing and computing capabilities. Some examples of the processor 411 include but are not limited to a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), various dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) computing chips, various processors running machine learning model algorithms, a digital signal processor (DSP), and any appropriate processor, controller, microcontroller, etc. The processor 411 executes the various methods and processes described above, such as the firmware update method of the electronic device.

[0113] In some embodiments, a method for firmware update of an electronic device may be implemented as a computer program tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, such as storage unit 418. In some embodiments, part or all of the computer program may be loaded and / or installed onto the electronic device 410 via ROM 412 and / or communication unit 419. When the computer program is loaded into RAM 413 and executed by processor 411, one or more steps of the method for firmware update of the electronic device described above may be performed. Alternatively, in other embodiments, processor 411 may be configured to perform the method for firmware update of the electronic device by any other suitable means (e.g., by means of firmware).

[0114] The various embodiments of the systems and techniques described above in this document may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuit systems, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), application specific standard products (ASSP), systems on a chip (SOC), complex programmable logic devices (CPLD), computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These various embodiments may include: being implemented in one or more computer programs executable and / or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be a special-purpose or general-purpose programmable processor, receiving data and instructions from a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device, and transmitting the data and instructions to the storage system, the at least one input device, and the at least one output device.

[0115] The computer programs for implementing the methods of the present application may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These computer programs may be provided to a processor of a firmware update device of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable electronic device, such that when the computer programs are executed by the processor, the functions / operations specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram are implemented. The computer programs may be executed entirely on the machine, partially on the machine, as a stand-alone software package partially on the machine and partially on a remote machine, or entirely on a remote machine or server.

[0116] In the context of this application, a computer-readable storage medium can be a tangible medium that can contain or store a computer program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer-readable storage medium can include, but is not limited to, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor systems, apparatus, or devices, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Alternatively, the computer-readable storage medium can be a machine-readable signal medium. More specific examples of the machine-readable storage medium would include an electrical connection based on one or more wires, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0117] To provide for interaction with a user, the systems and techniques described herein can be implemented on an electronic device having: a display device (e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor) for displaying information to the user; and a keyboard and a pointing device (e.g., a mouse or a trackball) by which the user can provide input to the electronic device. Other kinds of devices can also be used to provide for interaction with the user; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback); and input from the user can be received in any form (including acoustic input, voice input, or tactile input).

[0118] The systems and techniques described herein can be implemented in a computing system that includes backend components (e.g., as a data server), or a computing system that includes middleware components (e.g., an application server), or a computing system that includes frontend components (e.g., a user computer having a graphical user interface or a web browser through which the user can interact with an implementation of the systems and techniques described herein), or a computing system that includes any combination of such backend components, middleware components, or frontend components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., a communication network). Examples of communication networks include: a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a blockchain network, and the Internet.

[0119] A computing system may include a client and a server. The client and the server are generally far from each other and usually interact via a communication network. The client-server relationship is created by computer programs running on respective computers and having a client-server relationship with each other. The server can be a cloud server, also known as a cloud computing server or a cloud host, which is a host product in the cloud computing service system, solving the defects of difficult management and weak business scalability existing in traditional physical hosts and VPS services.

[0120] It should be understood that various forms of the processes shown above can be used, with steps reordered, added, or deleted. For example, the steps recited in this application can be executed in parallel, sequentially, or in a different order, as long as the desired results of the technical solution of this application can be achieved, and no limitation is imposed herein.

[0121] The above specific embodiments do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions can be made according to design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application shall be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method for updating the firmware of an electronic device, characterized in that: A firmware update circuit applied to a target electronic device; the firmware update circuit comprises a connection line base, a main control chip, a power module, a capacitor module, a first transistor and a second transistor; the capacitor module comprises at least a target capacitor; the negative electrode of the target capacitor is grounded through a resistor; the negative electrode of the target capacitor is connected to the first transistor through a resistor; the first transistor and the second transistor are connected through a resistor; the second transistor and the main control chip are connected through a first voltage-dividing resistor and a second voltage-dividing resistor; the second transistor, the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor are connected in series; The connecting pins of the main control chip and the second transistor are connected in parallel with the second voltage-dividing resistor; the method comprises: When the connection is established with the universal connection line through the connection line base, the power supply module supplies power to the capacitor module, and the capacitor module transmits current to the first transistor, so that the first transistor changes from a cut-off state to a conducting state; If the system switch of the power module is closed before the first transistor changes from the on state to the off state, current is transmitted to the second transistor through the power module to change the second transistor from the off state to the on state; wherein the first transistor changes from the on state to the off state means that the negative electrode voltage of the target capacitor continues to drop to less than or equal to the base on voltage of the first transistor; transmitting a voltage to the first voltage-dividing resistor through the collector of the second transistor, and after dividing the voltage through the first voltage-dividing resistor, transmitting the voltage to the connecting pin and the second voltage-dividing resistor respectively; The current voltage of the connection pin is controlled by setting the resistance values ​​of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor so that the current voltage of the connection pin is a high level, thereby triggering a firmware update.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Controlling the current voltage of the connection pin by setting the resistance values ​​of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor includes: By pre-configuring the resistance values ​​of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor according to the system voltage of the power module, so as to control the current voltage of the connecting pin to be a high level; The current voltage is determined by calculating the collector voltage of the collector, the resistance values ​​of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor via a series-parallel circuit.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The negative electrode of the target capacitor is grounded through a grounding resistor; the grounding resistor is connected in parallel with the first transistor; the negative electrode of the target capacitor is connected in series with the grounding resistor; the negative electrode of the target capacitor is connected in series with the first transistor through a resistor; accordingly, the method further includes: The grounding resistance of the grounding resistor and the capacitance of the target capacitor are adjusted according to the supply voltage of the power module to control the time length for the first transistor to change from the off state to the on state and from the on state back to the off state.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The negative electrode of the target capacitor is connected in series with the base of the first transistor through a first bias resistor; the collector of the first transistor is connected in series with the base of the second transistor through a second bias resistor; the grounding resistor is connected in parallel with the first bias resistor and the first transistor.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The capacitor module further includes a discharge resistor and a discharge diode; the target capacitor, the discharge resistor and the discharge diode are connected in series; accordingly, the method further includes: When the connection line base is disconnected from the universal connection line, current is transmitted to the discharge resistor and the discharge diode through the positive electrode of the target capacitor to form a discharge loop to discharge the target capacitor.

6. A firmware update circuit for an electronic device, characterized in that: The circuit includes a connecting wire base, a main control chip, a power module, a capacitor module, a first transistor and a second transistor; the capacitor module includes at least a target capacitor; the negative electrode of the target capacitor is grounded through a resistor; the negative electrode of the target capacitor is connected to the first transistor through a resistor; the first transistor and the second transistor are connected through a resistor; the second transistor and the main control chip are connected through a first voltage-dividing resistor and a second voltage-dividing resistor; the second transistor, the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor are connected in series; the connecting pin between the main control chip and the second transistor is connected in parallel with the second voltage-dividing resistor; The power supply module is used to supply power to the capacitor module when a connection is established with the universal connection line through the connection line base; The capacitor module is used to transmit current to the first transistor, so that the first transistor changes from a cut-off state to a conducting state; The power module is further configured to transmit current to the second transistor when the system switch of the power module is closed before the first transistor changes from the on state to the off state, so that the second transistor changes from the off state to the on state; wherein the first transistor changes from the on state to the off state means that the negative electrode voltage of the target capacitor continues to drop to a value less than or equal to the base on-voltage of the first transistor; The collector of the second transistor is used to transmit voltage to the first voltage-dividing resistor; The first voltage-dividing resistor is used to transmit the voltage to the connecting pin and the second voltage-dividing resistor respectively after voltage division; The resistance values ​​of the first voltage-dividing resistor and the second voltage-dividing resistor are used to control the current voltage of the connecting pin, so that the current voltage of the connecting pin is at a high level, thereby triggering a firmware update.

7. An electronic device, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; A memory for storing one or more programs; When the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors implement the firmware update method for an electronic device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that: When the program is executed by a processor, the firmware updating method of the electronic device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5 is implemented.

9. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, wherein when the computer program is executed by a processor, the computer program implements the firmware update method for an electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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