Firmware is a type of control software that provides the operating environment to perform the more complex functions of the component that handles the industrial production processes. It can also act as the same internal operating system that runs the component.
Therefore, the firmware is the one that instructs the component how it should perform when operating in conjunction with other devices. Moreover, it is an element of vital importance since the firmware includes all the information related to the specifications of the device and what makes the communication and connectivity is done correctly and without any failure, making the chips of the devices work in adequate times and speeds, which facilitates the execution of production processes.
And where is this internal control software code stored? As a general rule, it is usually in a non-volatile memory chip, which can be ROM, EPROM or NAND Flash memory. The latter is the most demanded as it is the easiest and most effective when it comes to updating the firmware, which is essential from time to time.
Regarding how the industrial computer processor communicates with the chip that stores its firmware, in some cases this is done by means of low-power ports and bridges. For example, some interfaces usually implement between the communication pins, a central or support processor to allow it to access the chip that stores the firmware during startup.