What is Firmware?

In 1967, Ascher Opler invented the term "firmware". Its original meaning referred to the contents of a writable control store which contained a microcode in the computers instruction set. In other words, it was a type of specialized high speed memory with microcode that could be modified with special instructions for the CPU to execute. Firmware was originally differentiated from hardware, which was the CPU itself, and software, which were essentially instructions that executed on the CPU. In contrast, firmware was lower-level microcode that was used to implement machine instructions. One could describe firmware as the boundary between hardware and software. In later decades, the meaning of the term firmware was extended to anything that was ROM-resident, or read-only memory. ROM is a storage medium used in computers and other electronic devices. Firmware could now refer to any of the following:

•   Processor machine-instructions for BIOS


• Bootstrap loaders


• Specialized applications

In the past, updating firmware usually involves replacing the storage medium that contains the firmware, which was almost always a socketed ROM. Flash memory allows firmware to be updated without physically removing an integrated circuit from the system. Any errors made during the upgrade system ran the risk of making the device non-functional. Up until the invention of integrated circuits, firmware products used discrete semiconductor diode matrices. Technology has improved from the initial firmware products, but the basic functionality still remains the same. Firmware is still held in non-volatile memory devices such as ROM, EPROM, or flash memory. Firmware is rarely ever changed. In fact, many firmware memory devices are permanently installed and manufactured to not allow any changes to be made. It can, however, be updated if for example, bugs need to be fixed or features need to be added to the device. This usually requires changing ROM integrated circuits and reprogramming it altogether.
Firmware - A Must Component in Many Devices:
Nowadays, you will find many examples of devices containing firmware:

• Traffic lights


• Consumer appliances


• Digital watches


• Computers


• Computer peripherals


• Mobile phones


• Digital cameras


• Automobiles


• Portable music players

Choose the New Firmware Parts from Leading Manufacturers:
If you require new firmware parts, it can be found at any of the following manufacturers:

• 3Com


• Adtran


• Alcatel Lucent


• Apple


• Avaya


• Axiom Memory Solutions


• Cisco Memory


• Compaq


• DELL


• Diamond Multimedia


• Digital Equipment Corporation


• EMC Corporation


• Enterasys


• Epson


• Fargo HID Global


• Fortinet


• HITACHI Electronics


• HP


• IBM


• Intermec


• International Rectifier


• Juniper Networks


• Lenovo


• Lexmark


• Netapp
  Nortel Networks


• OKI Electric Industry


• Output Technology


• Printek


• Printronix


• QMS Memory


• Quantum


• Sony Electronics


• Standard Register


• SUN Memory


• Tally Genicom


• Texas Instruments


• Transcend


• Unisys


• Western Digital

In this modern day and age, firmware components are considered to be just as important as the operating system of a computer itself. In addition, firmware can be found in various other consumer products as well. For example, the timing and control systems of washing machines use firmware as well as the controlling sound and video attributes and the channel list in modern TVs. As of 2010, most portable music players support firmware upgrades.

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