Mass Storage Programmer for Target Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional programming systems for target devices are not well-suited for informal environments like educational or hobby settings due to the need for special purpose software and drivers, which increases costs and poses security concerns.

Innovation Solution

A programmer that appears as a mass storage device to the host, allowing file transfers and programming control signals to be generated internally, reducing the need for additional software and drivers, and utilizing existing generic device drivers on host computers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional programmer interface unit with special purpose software is used, then programming control flexibility is improved, but device complexity and security concerns increase due to the need for additional software and drivers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogramming control flexibilityVSAvoidsoftware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the special purpose software and driver requirements from the programming system by making the programmer appear as a standard mass storage device. This removes the need for proprietary software layers while maintaining programming capability through standard file transfer operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The programmer is designed to function both as a mass storage device for file transfers and as a programming interface unit. By appearing as a standard USB mass storage device, it can be used with any host computer without requiring specialized software, thus achieving universality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional programmer interface unit is used, then programming capability is improved, but cost increases due to special purpose software requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogramming capabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The programmer maintains full programming capability while eliminating the need for proprietary software by appearing as a standard mass storage device. This universal approach reduces costs by leveraging existing host computer capabilities rather than requiring additional licensed software.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional programmer interface unit is used, then programming control is improved, but security concerns increase in educational environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogramming controlVSAvoidsecurity concerns

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the security vulnerability associated with loading special purpose software and drivers onto host computers. By appearing as a standard mass storage device, it eliminates the need for software installation that is tightly controlled or prohibited in educational environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS7788417B2Target device programmer

Publication Date: 2010.08.31 ARM LTD

AI summary

A programmer 10 for a target device 16 is provided with a mass storage interface 12 for connecting to a host 2 so as to appear as a mass storage device to the host 2. A target programmer 18 is responsive to an image transferred from the host 2 to the programmer 10 to apply that image to the target device 16.