Metering unit with downloadable firmware
US5467286A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 1993 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R21/133
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Firmware is downloaded to a metering unit located in a distributed power network carrying a power-related waveform, where the metering unit senses power-related parameters associated with the power-related waveform and generates and transmits data representative thereof. The metering unit is provided with a sector-erasable flash EEPROM having a first section for storing main functionality firmware and a second section for storing boot code. The boot code includes a reset portion for resetting the metering unit and a firmware update section for downloading external firmware to the first section. The firmware update section includes a writing routine for writing the external firmware to the first section. The metering unit is also provided with a volatile RAM. The external firmware is downloaded to the first section of the EEPROM by executing the firmware update section. While executing the firmware update section, the writing routine is copied to the RAM and executed therefrom to write the external firmware to the first section of the EEPROM.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.