Basic questions regarding BIOS vs. embedded controller

[richk]

Is the embedded controller a separate chip or is it just a BIOS segment? When you look at the download for a newer thinkpad, where the BIOs and embedded controller updates are combined, there are 2 images: a .fl1 file and a .fl2 file. The command that gets run is flash2 /u and both are updated, but are the 2 files merged into a single ROM file? Any info would be appreciated.