Data Replacement Circuitry for ROM Firmware Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern electronic devices face challenges in easily correcting firmware errors stored in read-only memory, as existing systems require resource-intensive circuitry changes or dedicated hardware, making it difficult to modify or replace faulty firmware instructions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of data replacement circuitry between memory and processing circuitry allows for selective replacement of faulty firmware instructions, using a comparator block and switching circuitry to intercept address signals and provide replacement data or instructions, thereby bypassing the need for altering existing memory or processing configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated circuitry or processing changes are used to correct firmware errors, then firmware reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary data replacement circuit positioned between the read-only memory and processing circuitry. This circuit includes a comparator that compares address signals with stored reference addresses, and a multiplexer that selectively replaces data based on comparison results. This intermediary approach allows firmware correction without modifying the original memory or processing circuitry, thereby improving reliability while avoiding increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The data replacement circuit is segmented into distinct functional blocks: an address comparator unit for matching addresses, a data multiplexer unit for selective replacement, and a reference address storage unit. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, enabling firmware correction capability without requiring complex integrated solutions that would increase overall device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If read-only memory is used to store firmware, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the firmware instruction at runtime by selectively replacing data from the read-only memory. The data replacement circuit generates corrected versions of firmware instructions on-the-fly by intercepting address signals, comparing them against reference addresses, and substituting corrected data through the multiplexer. This copying approach maintains the manufacturing precision benefits of read-only memory while enabling repair capabilities through dynamic data replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
Reference addresses identifying firmware locations requiring correction are pre-stored in the data replacement circuit before system operation. This preliminary action allows the comparator to quickly identify and replace faulty firmware instructions without requiring complex repair procedures, thereby improving ease of repair while maintaining the manufacturing precision advantages of read-only memory storage.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic system such as an imaging system may include processing circuitry and memory circuitry. Data replacement circuitry may be interposed between the processing circuitry and the memory circuitry. In some implementations, the memory circuitry may be a read-only memory, and data replacement circuitry may be used to selectively replace executable firmware instructions stored on the read-only memory. The selective replacement operations may be based on an address that processing circuitry provides to access the memory circuitry. The data replacement circuitry may be implemented separately from the processing circuitry and the memory circuitry and may include a comparator block, registers, and switching circuitry.