Method for burning chips

A method for burning a BIOS chip (108) and a network card chip (107) that are attached on a motherboard (106), includes the steps of: storing a plurality of MAC addresses in a burning device (102); loading a BIOS file and a network card file into the burning device; sending the BIOS file from the burning device to a burning card (104), and burning the BIOS file into the BIOS chip via the burning card; the burning device sending the network card file which includes a MAC address from the burning device to the burning card, and burning the network card file into the network card chip via the burning card; and verifying whether the BIOS chip and the network card chip have been burned correctly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Relevant subject matter is disclosed in a co-pending U.S. patent application (application Ser. No. 11/306,525; Pub. No. 2007/0171150; filed on Dec 30, 2005and entitled “BURNING APPARATUS”, and another co-pending U.S. patent application (application Ser. No. 11/308,951; Pub. No. 2007/0145993; filed on May 29, 2006 and entitled “CHIP BURNING SYSTEM”, which are assigned to the same assignee as this patent application.

The present invention relates to a method for burning chips, and more particularly to a method for burning chips on a motherboard.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Generally, motherboards have a plurality of chips for different functions, such as BIOS (Basic Input Output System) chips, network card chips, and so on.

Conventionally, the chips are burned before being attached to the motherboard. A typical chip-burning device includes a buffer, a micro processing unit, a burning unit, and a communication circuit. After the chip is burned by the chip-burning device, the chip is attached to the motherboard. However, pins of the chip are easily damaged during attachment to the motherboard due to misalignment of the pins to corresponding through holes of the motherboard.

Another method of burning chips is to burn the chip after it is attached to the motherboard. A motherboard test machine that has a burning function is used to burn the chip during testing of the motherboard. However, this burning method will cost the testing time. Moreover, the test machine doesn't have the function of verifying whether the chip was burned correctly.

What is needed, therefore, is a more efficient method for burning chips.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A method for burning a BIOS chip and a network card chip that are attached on a motherboard, includes the steps of: storing a plurality of MAC addresses in a burning device; loading a BIOS file and a network card file into the burning device; sending the BIOS file from the burning device to a burning card, and burning the BIOS file into the BIOS chip via the burning card; sending the network card file which includes a MAC address from the burning device to the burning card, burning the network card file into the network card chip via the burning card; and verifying whether the BIOS chip and the network card chip have been burned correctly.

Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with attached drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a chip burning system for implementing a method of burning chips in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a server100, a burning device102, a burning card104, and a motherboard106. The motherboard106has a network card chip107and a BIOS chip108attached thereon. The server100is coupled to the burning device102, and records the burn result that is sent from the burning device102. The burning card104is coupled to the burning device102, and controlled by the burning device102to burn the network card chip107and the BIOS chip108.

A method for burning the BIOS chip108and the network card chip107is shown by a main process ofFIG. 2and two detailed processes ofFIG. 3andFIG. 4. Referring toFIG. 2, the main process starts from step201. The chip burning system is initialized. A plurality of MAC addresses is stored in the burning device102(step202). A BIOS file and a network card file are loaded into the burning device102(step203). The burning device102burns the BIOS file into the BIOS chip108, and checks whether the burn is successful (step204). If the burn is unsuccessful, the burning device102displays “Fail” (step213).

If the burn is successful, the burning device102checks whether there is a Media Access Control (MAC) address in the network card chip107(step205). If there is no a MAC address in the network card chip107, the burning device102releases a MAC address (step206), and adds the MAC address to the network card file (step207).

Following step205, if there is a MAC address in the network card chip107, the burning device102adds the existing MAC address to the network card file (step207). Then, the burning device102burns the network card file into the network card chip107, and checks whether the burn is successful (step208). If the burn is unsuccessful, the burning device102displays “Fail” (step213).

Following step208, if the burn is successful, the burning device102checks whether the BIOS chip108is burned correctly (step209). If the BIOS chip108is burned incorrectly, the burning device102displays “Fail” (step213).

Following step209, if the BIOS chip108is burned correctly, the burning device102checks whether the network card chip107is burned correctly (step210). If the network card chip107is burned incorrectly, the burning device102displays “Fail” (step213).

Following step210, if the network card chip107is burned correctly, the burning device102scans the barcode of the motherboard106. The burning device102sends the barcode, the MAC address, and the burn result to the server100. The server100recodes the barcode and the MAC address, and checks whether the MAC address has been used in another motherboard (step211). If the MAC address has been used in another motherboard, the burning device102displays “Fail” (step213). If not, the burning device102displays “Pass” (step212).

Referring toFIG. 3, what is shown are the details of the steps204,208inFIG. 2for burning the chips. The burning process starts from step301. The burning device102sends the file (BIOS file or network card file) to the burning card104via a parallel interface (step302). Because communication between the burning card104and the burning device102is via a parallel interface, the communication between the two devices is quick, and the time required for burning is reduced. The burning card104transforms the file into serial data (step303). The burning card104then burns the transformed file to the chip via a serial interface, and checks if the burning process is successful (step304). If the burning process is successful, then step306is next, if not, then step305is next.

Referring toFIG. 4, what is shown are the details of the steps209,210inFIG. 2for checking the chips. The checking process starts from step401. The data in the chip is read by the burning card104(step402). The burning card104sends the data from the chip to the burning device102(step403). The burning device102compares the data with the original file to make sure the data in the chip is correct (step404). If the data is correct, the chip is burned correctly (step405). If the data is not correct, the chip is burned wrong (step406).

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of preferred embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the preferred embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.