Vehicle-mounted instrument upgrading system and circuit integrated with CAN (Controller Area Network) interface and USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface
By designing an on-board instrument upgrade system with integrated CAN and USB dual interfaces, the problems of cumbersome and inefficient upgrade process in existing technologies are solved, flexible and reliable upgrade options are implemented, and silent upgrades and rapid processing of large upgrade packages are supported.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422463330.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-19
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-10-12
AI Technical Summary
The existing vehicle instrument upgrade system is difficult to be compatible with USB and CAN interfaces, resulting in a cumbersome and inefficient upgrade process, and unable to achieve silent upgrades and quickly process large upgrade packages.
A vehicle instrument upgrade system with integrated CAN and USB interfaces was designed. This system implements dual upgrade paths by connecting a microcontroller module to a central processing unit, a CAN transceiver, and a USB adapter board. The system also includes a built-in upgrade flag storage unit that automatically determines the source of upgrade requests and executes the corresponding upgrade operations.
It implements dual upgrade paths of USB and CAN bus, providing more flexible and reliable upgrade options. It can select the interface for upgrade according to user needs, and can achieve silent upgrades while quickly processing large upgrade packages.
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Figure CN223362613U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of vehicle-mounted instruments, and in particular to a vehicle-mounted instrument upgrade system and circuit integrating CAN and USB dual interfaces. Background Art
[0002] With the rapid development of electronic information technology, the performance of modern automotive instrument clusters has been significantly improved. From early microcontrollers (MCUs) to today's feature-rich systems-on-chips (SoCs), technological advances have continuously driven performance leaps. In-vehicle instrument clusters have also entered the era of large-screen dual-chips.
[0003] During the development and deployment of in-vehicle instrument cluster software, iterative upgrades are inevitable. There are three primary modes for microcontroller upgrades: ICP (In-Circuit Programming), ISP (In-System Programming), and IAP (In-Application Programming). While ICP and ISP are effective in certain specific applications, they are limited in versatility and highly hardware-dependent. Therefore, IAP is commonly used in the automotive field to upgrade the system. IAP allows the system to obtain the latest software through a peripheral interface within the application, allowing it to upgrade itself.
[0004] In the architecture of in-vehicle instrument systems, generally speaking, both an MCU is needed to drive hardware peripherals and a SoC is needed to push the screen display capability. However, the existing upgrade strategy for dual chips generally only upgrades through a single USB or CAN mode, which makes it difficult to compatibly gain the advantages of both interfaces.
[0005] USB has the advantages of high transmission rate, large transmission capacity, short upgrade time, and user convenience, but it cannot achieve silent upgrade. The upgrade process is cumbersome and has high hardware requirements. It requires the use of SD card or USB disk device.
[0006] CAN upgrades can be performed quickly through a diagnostic instrument or silently remotely through an on-board tbox, greatly simplifying the upgrade operation. However, CAN data carrying capacity is low and the transmission speed is limited. For large data packets containing screen materials, a lot of time is required. Utility Model Content
[0007] To solve the above technical problems, the present application provides an on-board instrument upgrade system and circuit integrating CAN and USB dual interfaces. The present application integrates a dual-interface upgrade system, which can provide greater flexibility and convenience for the upgrade of on-board instruments.
[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides an on-board instrument upgrade system integrating CAN and USB dual interfaces. The on-board instrument upgrade system is integrated on the on-board instrument and specifically includes:
[0009] Microcontroller module, central processing unit, CAN transceiver and USB adapter board.
[0010] A communication connection is provided between the microcontroller module and the central processing module.
[0011] The microcontroller module is connected to the CAN transceiver.
[0012] The central processing module is connected to the USB adapter board.
[0013] The micro-control processing module further includes an upgrade flag storage unit.
[0014] This application realizes dual upgrade paths of USB and CAN bus through the redundant design of dual interfaces, thereby providing a more flexible and reliable upgrade option for the MCU system.
[0015] Furthermore, the microcontroller module and the central processing module are communicatively connected via a UART communication protocol.
[0016] The microcontroller, the core of the system, is primarily responsible for managing instrument upgrades. A built-in upgrade flag storage unit helps the system determine whether the upgrade request originates from the CAN or USB interface. It also manages the instrument's power supply and handles vehicle CAN communications. It parses CAN bus messages, forwards alarm signals, and performs network management-related message functions.
[0017] Furthermore, the central processing module has a built-in EMMC memory.
[0018] The central processing unit drives the USB adapter board, receiving and transmitting upgrade files from a USB flash drive. Through serial communication, it interacts with the vehicle's speakers and central control display according to predefined protocols, enabling alarm and image display functions. Furthermore, this component includes built-in EMMC memory for storing images and other display content on the central control display.
[0019] Furthermore, the central processing module is also connected to a USB flash drive.
[0020] Furthermore, the USB flash drive contains firmware upgrade files required by the microcontroller processor.
[0021] The USB flash drive is used as a storage medium to store the firmware upgrade files required by the microcontroller processor, making it easier to perform system upgrades and maintenance.
[0022] Furthermore, the CAN transceiver is also connected to a CAN diagnostic instrument.
[0023] The CAN transceiver receives, parses, and sends messages on the CAN bus, ensuring smooth vehicle network communication. The upgrade system in this solution achieves efficient communication through the MCU's CAN interface, transmitting upgrade data packets through this interface to ensure fast and reliable data exchange.
[0024] Furthermore, the vehicle instrument upgrade system also includes a power supply module, which supplies power to other modules in the vehicle instrument upgrade system.
[0025] The power module provides stable power to the entire device, ensuring that the system can operate normally under various working conditions.
[0026] This application utilizes the vehicle's existing display module and USB port to provide a convenient MCU firmware upgrade solution. Users simply insert a USB flash drive into the vehicle's USB port to easily upgrade the firmware. Throughout the upgrade process, progress information will be displayed in real time on the vehicle's screen, providing intuitive feedback and ensuring that users can clearly understand the status and progress of the upgrade.
[0027] This solution cleverly leverages the existing USB interface in the system-on-chip (SoC) to enable MCU firmware upgrades, eliminating the need for complex hardware interface design. This design not only simplifies the upgrade process but also creates an efficient and versatile MCU upgrade solution with excellent adaptability.
[0028] In addition, this application also supports UDS (Unified Diagnostic Service) diagnostic upgrades through the CAN protocol, providing users with more flexible upgrade options. Compared with traditional solutions that rely solely on CAN for upgrades, this application significantly simplifies the entire upgrade process and does not require a dedicated host computer and CAN device. Users only need to store the upgrade file in a USB flash drive and complete the upgrade through the USB interface. This method greatly improves the convenience of operation and the flexibility of upgrades, allowing users to update and maintain MCU firmware more conveniently. Overall, this solution effectively improves the upgrade efficiency and user experience of the vehicle system.
[0029] In the second aspect, the present application also proposes an on-board instrument upgrade circuit integrating CAN and USB dual interfaces, characterized in that the on-board instrument upgrade circuit includes: the on-board instrument upgrade system and the circuit protection board described in the first aspect, and the on-board instrument upgrade system is integrated on the circuit protection board.
[0030] In summary, this application proposes an on-board instrument upgrade system and circuit integrating CAN and USB dual interfaces. The on-board instrument upgrade system is integrated into the on-board instrument and specifically includes: a microcontroller processor module, a central processing module, a CAN transceiver, and a USB adapter board; a communication connection is established between the microcontroller processor module and the central processing module; the microcontroller processor module is connected to the CAN transceiver; and the central processing module is connected to the USB adapter board. The microcontroller processing module also includes an upgrade flag storage unit. This system can automatically determine whether the upgrade request comes from the CAN or USB interface and execute the corresponding flash upgrade operation.
[0031] Compared with the prior art, this application has at least the following beneficial effects:
[0032] This system implements dual upgrade paths via USB and CAN bus, providing more flexible and reliable upgrade options for the MCU system. Software upgrades can be performed using different interfaces based on user needs, enabling both silent upgrades and the ability to quickly process large upgrade packages. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of an on-board instrument upgrade system with integrated CAN and USB dual interfaces shown in an embodiment of the present application.
[0034] Figure 2 This is a flow chart of a method for upgrading an on-board instrument with integrated CAN and USB dual interfaces, as shown in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only
[0036] The embodiments of this application are part of the embodiments, not all of them. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work should fall within the scope of protection of this application.
[0037] The following are detailed descriptions of each.
[0038] The terms "first", "second", "third" and "third" in the specification, claims and drawings of this application are used interchangeably.
[0039] "four" and the like are used to distinguish different objects rather than to describe a specific order. In addition, the term "comprise" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a system including a series of modules and devices is not limited to the listed modules and devices, but may optionally include modules and devices that are not listed, or may optionally include other modules and devices that are inherent to these systems.
[0040] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.
[0041] Example 1:
[0042] As attached Figure 1 As shown, the present application provides an on-board instrument upgrade system integrating CAN and USB dual interfaces. The on-board instrument upgrade system is integrated on the on-board instrument and specifically includes:
[0043] Microcontroller module, central processing unit, CAN transceiver and USB adapter board.
[0044] A communication connection is provided between the microcontroller module and the central processing module.
[0045] The microcontroller module is connected to the CAN transceiver.
[0046] The central processing module is connected to the USB adapter board.
[0047] The micro-control processing module further includes an upgrade flag storage unit.
[0048] This application realizes dual upgrade paths of USB and CAN bus through the redundant design of dual interfaces, thereby providing a more flexible and reliable upgrade option for the MCU system.
[0049] In an embodiment of the present invention, optionally, the microcontroller module and the central processing module are communicatively connected via a UART communication protocol.
[0050] The microcontroller, the core of the system, is primarily responsible for managing instrument upgrades. A built-in upgrade flag storage unit helps the system determine whether the upgrade request originates from the CAN or USB interface. It also manages the instrument's power supply and handles vehicle CAN communications. It parses CAN bus messages, forwards alarm signals, and performs network management-related message functions.
[0051] Microcontrollers are commonly used in embedded systems, integrating functions such as the CPU, memory (RAM and ROM), timers, and input and output ports on a single chip, thereby reducing the need for external components.
[0052] As a preferred embodiment, a microcontroller of the STMicroelectronics STM32 series is used. The microcontroller is based on ARM Cortex-M and supports a variety of in-vehicle applications, such as in-vehicle entertainment and control systems.
[0053] In an embodiment of the present utility model, optionally, the central processing module has a built-in EMMC memory.
[0054] The central processing unit drives the USB adapter board, receiving and transmitting upgrade files from a USB flash drive. Through serial communication, it interacts with the vehicle's speakers and central control display according to predefined protocols, enabling alarm and image display functions. Furthermore, this component includes built-in EMMC memory for storing images and other display content on the central control display.
[0055] The central processing unit is a system-on-chip (SoC), an integrated circuit that integrates multiple functional modules on a single chip. It typically includes a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a memory controller, input / output interfaces, and other functional modules. SoCs are widely used in mobile devices, embedded systems, and various smart products.
[0056] As a preferred embodiment, a system-on-chip (SoC) of the Renesas R-Car series is used. The SoC is used for in-vehicle infotainment and advanced driver assistance systems.
[0057] The eMMC (embedded MultiMediaCard) is a flash memory solution for storing data and is widely used in mobile devices, tablet computers, embedded systems and other consumer electronic products.
[0058] In an embodiment of the present invention, optionally, the USB adapter board is also connected to a USB flash drive.
[0059] The USB adapter board connects to the USB port on the car's instrument cluster, expanding the SoC's USB functionality and providing additional interface support. The upgrade system in this solution uses the SoC's USB port to efficiently read data from a USB flash drive and then securely transmits the data to the target device via a serial port connected to the MCU.
[0060] In an embodiment of the present invention, optionally, the USB flash drive contains a firmware upgrade file required by the microcontroller processor.
[0061] The USB flash drive is used as a storage medium to store the firmware upgrade files required by the microcontroller processor, making it easier to perform system upgrades and maintenance.
[0062] In an embodiment of the present utility model, optionally, the CAN transceiver is further connected to a CAN diagnostic instrument.
[0063] The CAN transceiver receives, parses, and sends messages on the CAN bus, ensuring smooth vehicle network communication. The upgrade system in this solution achieves efficient communication through the MCU's CAN interface, transmitting upgrade data packets through this interface to ensure fast and reliable data exchange.
[0064] A CAN diagnostic instrument is a device used in vehicles and other devices that use the CAN (Controller Area Network) bus. It is mainly used to monitor, diagnose and analyze the status of automotive electronic systems. It usually consists of a hardware interface, a software system and a display screen.
[0065] In the embodiment of the present invention, the CAN diagnostic instrument can help to quickly upgrade the vehicle instrument.
[0066] In an embodiment of the present utility model, optionally, the vehicle instrument upgrade system further includes a power supply module, and the power supply module supplies power to other modules in the vehicle instrument upgrade system.
[0067] The power module provides stable power to the entire device, ensuring that the system can operate normally under various working conditions.
[0068] This application utilizes the vehicle's existing display module and USB port to provide a convenient MCU firmware upgrade solution. Users simply insert a USB flash drive into the vehicle's USB port to easily upgrade the firmware. Throughout the upgrade process, progress information will be displayed in real time on the vehicle's screen, providing intuitive feedback and ensuring that users can clearly understand the status and progress of the upgrade.
[0069] As a preferred embodiment, Figure 2 The above is a method for upgrading an on-board instrument with integrated CAN and USB dual interfaces according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method specifically includes:
[0070] S1: Initialize CAN / USB.
[0071] S2: Get the upgrade request.
[0072] S3: Determine the upgrade type.
[0073] S4: If the upgrade type is CAN, start the UDS service; if the upgrade type is USB, start the USB service.
[0074] S5: Enter the upgrade process.
[0075] S6: Enter the app.
[0076] The step S3 is to determine the upgrade type through the upgrade flag storage unit in the microcontroller processing module.
[0077] When the upgrade data comes from the CAN diagnostic instrument, a CAN flag will be generated and stored in the upgrade flag storage unit; when the upgrade data comes from a USB flash drive, a USB flag will be generated and stored in the upgrade flag storage unit.
[0078] This solution cleverly leverages the existing USB interface in the system-on-chip (SoC) to enable MCU firmware upgrades, eliminating the need for complex hardware interface design. This design not only simplifies the upgrade process but also creates an efficient and versatile MCU upgrade solution with excellent adaptability.
[0079] In addition, this application also supports UDS (Unified Diagnostic Service) diagnostic upgrades through the CAN protocol, providing users with more flexible upgrade options. Compared with traditional solutions that rely solely on CAN for upgrades, this application significantly simplifies the entire upgrade process and does not require a dedicated host computer and CAN device. Users only need to store the upgrade file in a USB flash drive and complete the upgrade through the USB interface. This method greatly improves the convenience of operation and the flexibility of upgrades, allowing users to update and maintain MCU firmware more conveniently. Overall, this solution effectively improves the upgrade efficiency and user experience of the vehicle system.
[0080] Example 2:
[0081] The present application also proposes an on-board instrument upgrade circuit integrating CAN and USB dual interfaces, characterized in that the on-board instrument upgrade circuit includes: the on-board instrument upgrade system and the circuit protection board described in Example 1, and the on-board instrument upgrade system is integrated on the circuit protection board.
[0082] In summary, this application proposes an on-board instrument upgrade system and circuit integrating CAN and USB dual interfaces. The on-board instrument upgrade system is integrated into the on-board instrument and specifically includes: a microcontroller processor module, a central processing module, a CAN transceiver, and a USB adapter board; a communication connection is established between the microcontroller processor module and the central processing module; the microcontroller processor module is connected to the CAN transceiver; and the central processing module is connected to the USB adapter board. The microcontroller processing module also includes an upgrade flag storage unit. This system can automatically determine whether the upgrade request comes from the CAN or USB interface and execute the corresponding flash upgrade operation.
[0083] This system implements dual upgrade paths via USB and CAN bus, providing more flexible and reliable upgrade options for the MCU system. Software upgrades can be performed using different interfaces based on user needs, enabling both silent upgrades and the ability to quickly process large upgrade packages.
[0084] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it is understood that each box in the flow chart or block diagram can represent a part of a module, program segment or code, and the part of the module, program segment or code contains one or more executable instructions for realizing the specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the box can also occur in an order different from that marked in the accompanying drawings. For example, two consecutive boxes can actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they can sometimes be executed in the opposite order, which depends on the functions involved.
[0085] If the functions are implemented in the form of software function modules and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or the part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes a number of instructions for enabling an electronic device to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.
[0086] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the objectives, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of this application. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. In particular, it should be noted that any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of this application by those skilled in the art should be included within the scope of protection of this application.
Claims
1. A vehicle instrument upgrade system integrating CAN and USB dual interfaces, characterized in that: The vehicle instrument upgrade system is integrated on the vehicle instrument and specifically includes: Microcontroller module, central processing module, CAN transceiver and USB adapter board; A communication connection is provided between the microcontroller module and the central processing module; The microcontroller module is connected to the CAN transceiver; The central processing module is connected to the USB adapter board; Wherein, the microcontroller processor module also includes an upgrade flag storage unit.
2. The vehicle instrument upgrade system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microcontroller module is communicatively connected with the central processing module via a UART communication protocol.
3. The vehicle instrument upgrade system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The central processing module has a built-in EMMC memory.
4. The vehicle instrument upgrade system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The central processing module is also connected to the USB disk.
5. The vehicle instrument upgrade system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The CAN transceiver is also connected to a CAN diagnostic instrument.
6. The vehicle instrument upgrade system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vehicle instrument upgrade system further includes a power supply module, which supplies power to other modules in the vehicle instrument upgrade system.
7. The vehicle instrument upgrade system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The U disk contains the firmware upgrade files required by the microcontroller processor.
8. A vehicle instrument upgrade circuit integrating CAN and USB dual interfaces, characterized in that: The vehicle-mounted instrument upgrade circuit comprises: the vehicle-mounted instrument upgrade system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and a circuit protection board, wherein the vehicle-mounted instrument upgrade system is integrated on the circuit protection board.