Electronic Meter Firmware Update Without Measurement Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic meters stop functioning during firmware updates, preventing continuous measurement of physical amounts like electricity, gas, and water during the updating process.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus and meter design that includes an operation unit, microcontroller, update controller, and storing unit, allowing for program updating without interrupting operations, using a program updating bus and multiple communication circuits to transmit and store programs within predetermined time frames, ensuring continuous measurement and calculation of physical amounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If firmware is updated through wired/wireless communication, then the firmware can be updated to change measuring date and billing system, but the electronic meter stops operations of the micro processor during updating, making it impossible to measure physical amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent operational paths: a first communication circuit for firmware updates and a second communication circuit for data transmission. This segmentation allows firmware updates to occur without interrupting the measurement and data transmission functions, as each circuit operates independently during its designated task.
Solution Approach 2:
The micro controller stores operation results in memory during the firmware update process before the update is complete. This preliminary storage ensures that measurement data is preserved and not lost during the update period, maintaining data continuity even though the processor is reset during updating.
2Ease of manufacture
If the micro processor stops operations during firmware updating, then the firmware can be successfully updated, but measurement of physical amounts cannot be performed during the updating period
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement function continues uninterrupted during firmware updates through the use of a separate communication circuit for data transmission. The operation unit continuously measures physical amounts and the micro controller continuously stores results in memory, ensuring that the useful action of measurement never stops, even when the processor is reset for firmware updates.
3Reliability
If a separate communication circuit is used for firmware updates, then updates can occur without interrupting measurement operations, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The micro controller is designed with multi-functionality, handling both firmware update reception through the first communication circuit and measurement data transmission through the second communication circuit. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple functions, reducing the need for entirely separate dedicated hardware for each function while maintaining operational independence.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided an electronic apparatus and a meter which are operable during the updating of an operating program and firmware. The electronic apparatus operable during program updating includes an operation unit performing a preset operation, a micro controller controlling an operation result of the operation unit to be stored according to a predetermined period of storing time, and controlling a program received from the outside to be stored, an update controller allowing the program stored during the predetermined period of storing time to be updated in the micro controller, and a storing unit storing the program and the operation result under control of the micro controller.