Memory module, printer assembly, and method for storing printer code
View Patent ↗A memory module, a printer assembly, and a method for storing a computer code for a printer-controller application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having a non-ROM memory control. The memory module has ROM memory cells and a non-ROM to ROM interface operatively connected to the ROM memory cells. The printer assembly has the above-described ASIC, the above-described memory module, and a transmission cable operatively connected to the non-ROM memory control of the ASIC and the non-ROM to ROM interface of the memory module. The method stores non-final versions of the computer code in a memory module having non-ROM memory cells, which allows the code to be changed during development, and stores the final version of the computer code in the above-described memory module having the ROM memory cells.
1. A method for storing computer code for a printer-controller application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having a non-ROM memory control comprising the steps of:
a) storing non-final versions of the computer code in a first memory module, wherein the first memory module has non-ROM memory cells and a non-ROM interface, and wherein the non-ROM interface is operatively connected to the non-ROM memory control of the printer-controller ASIC and to the non-ROM memory cells of the first memory module; and
b) storing the final version of the computer code in a second memory module, wherein the second memory module has a non-ROM to ROM interface and ROM memory cells, wherein the non-ROM to ROM interface is operatively connected to the non-ROM memory control of the printer-controller ASIC and to the ROM memory cells of the second memory module, and wherein the second memory module physically replaces the first memory module, and
wherein the non-ROM memory control of the printer-controller ASIC is a EPROM memory control, wherein the first memory module has EPROM memory cells and an EPROM interface, and wherein the second memory module has an EPROM to ROM interface.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the EPROM memory control of the printer-controller ASIC is a Flash memory control, wherein the first memory module has Flash memory cells and a Flash interface, and wherein the second memory module has a Flash to ROM interface.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the Flash memory control of the printer-controller ASIC is a serial memory control, wherein the Flash interface of the first memory module is a serial interface, and wherein the Flash to ROM interface of the second memory module is a serial interface.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the Flash to ROM interface has connections for a Flash clock transmission line, a Flash serial input transmission line, a Flash serial output transmission line, a Flash chip select transmission line, and a Flash reset transmission line, and wherein, during operation of the Flash serial input transmission line, the Flash serial input transmission line transmits a command selected from the group consisting of a status command, a read command, and a write command to the Flash to ROM interface.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the Flash to ROM interface passes through the status and read commands to the ROM memory cells but only indicates a ready status without passing through the write command to the ROM memory cells.