Circuit Board Wireless Program Writing via On-Board Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Writing programs to circuit boards is time-consuming, as it requires setting each board in a jig with an external power supply or activating the power supply of the apparatus, which can be inefficient and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A circuit board with a substrate, a wireless reception unit, a storage unit, and a power supply that allows for wireless receipt and writing of programs without an external power source, using a low-power wide-area (LPWA) technique for communication and power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If programs are written before circuit boards are incorporated into apparatuses using a jig with external power supply, then program writing can be performed, but it takes time to set each board in the jig and use the external power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply function from the external jig and relocates it to the circuit board itself by incorporating a power supply unit and battery. This allows the board to be powered independently during program writing, eliminating the time-consuming process of setting boards in a jig and activating external power supplies.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board becomes self-sufficient by including its own power supply unit and battery, enabling it to perform program writing operations autonomously without requiring external power supply equipment. This self-service capability eliminates the need for jig-based processing and reduces manufacturing time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If programs are written after circuit boards are incorporated into apparatuses, then program writing can be performed, but it takes time to activate the power supplies of the apparatuses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply requirement from the apparatus and relocates it to the circuit board level. By incorporating a power supply unit and battery directly on the board, the system eliminates the need to activate apparatus power supplies for program writing, significantly reducing activation time.
3Extent of automation
If wireless reception unit is added to circuit board, then autonomous program writing is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless reception unit is designed to perform multiple functions: receiving program data wirelessly, providing communication capability, and enabling autonomous operation. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by consolidating several potential components into one universal unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit board incorporable into an apparatus includes a substrate, a reception unit that is provided on the substrate and that wirelessly receives a function program for achieving a function, a storage unit that is provided on the substrate and to which a writing program for writing the function program received by the reception unit has been written in advance, a power supply provided on the substrate, and a power control unit that supplies power for receiving, with the reception unit, the function program and power for writing, on a basis of the writing program, the function program to the storage unit using the power supply without using an external power supply.