Upgrading system and device for vehicle-mounted refrigerator
By using a vehicle-mounted refrigerator upgrade system to perform point-to-point upgrades via hardware switches and filtering modules, the security and compatibility issues of OTA upgrades are resolved, enabling a flexible, safe, and stable upgrade process while reducing costs and complexity.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MIND ELECTRONICS APPLIANCE CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies for OTA upgrades of vehicle-mounted refrigerators have poor security, high compatibility and cost, and a cumbersome OTA upgrade process.
A vehicle refrigerator upgrade system is provided, which performs point-to-point upgrades by changing the conduction state of the switch module and using an external upgrade plug-in. The system combines hardware switches and filtering modules to ensure the flexibility, safety and stability of the upgrade.
It enables flexible, safe, and stable software upgrades for vehicle refrigerators, reduces operating costs, ensures compatibility with older vehicle models, simplifies the upgrade process, and improves the user experience.
Smart Images

Figure CN224203677U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of upgrade technology, and more specifically, to an upgrade system and device for a vehicle refrigerator. Background Technology
[0002] Currently, some vehicles are equipped with in-vehicle refrigerators to improve the comfort of drivers and passengers. To ensure these in-vehicle refrigerators are compatible with intelligent development, their functions typically need to be updated in real time.
[0003] The relevant technology usually uses Over-the-Air (OTA) technology to upgrade the network of the vehicle refrigerator. However, OTA upgrades have poor security and compatibility, and are also costly. Utility Model Content
[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides an upgrade system and device for vehicle-mounted refrigerators, aiming to resolve the problems of poor security and compatibility, as well as high costs, when performing network upgrades on vehicle-mounted refrigerators via OTA in related technologies.
[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides an upgrade system, including a communication module, a control module, and a switch module; the communication module is connected to a vehicle refrigerator; the control module is connected to the communication module and an external upgrade plug-in; the switch module is connected to the control module; wherein, the control module is used to receive upgrade information from the external upgrade plug-in, and when the switch module is in a first conducting state, the control module is used to initiate the software upgrade process of the vehicle refrigerator based on the upgrade information from the external upgrade plug-in.
[0006] In the aforementioned technical solution, when an upgrade of the vehicle refrigerator is required, the upgrade system can initiate the software upgrade process based on the upgrade information by changing the conduction state of the switch module, and perform a point-to-point upgrade of the vehicle refrigerator's software, offering high upgrade flexibility. Furthermore, the upgrade system provided in this application operates locally, eliminating the need for OTA upgrades, thus avoiding the attack risks that may occur when upgrading via the network using OTA, and improving security. It also eliminates the cumbersome OTA filing process and reliance on manufacturer-provided OTA upgrade services, simplifying the upgrade process and reducing operating costs and additional upgrade service fees. Simultaneously, for older vehicle models that do not support OTA upgrades, the upgrade system provided in this application can also perform point-to-point upgrades, thereby meeting the upgrade compatibility requirements of older models and demonstrating high compatibility.
[0007] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some possible implementations, the upgrade system also includes a display module; the display module is connected to the control module, and when the switch module is in the first conducting state, the control module is also used to control the display module to display the upgrade progress of the vehicle refrigerator.
[0008] In the above technical solution, the display module can display the upgrade progress of the vehicle refrigerator in real time, so that users can know the upgrade progress of the vehicle refrigerator in real time based on the display module, resulting in a better user experience.
[0009] In combination with the first aspect and the above implementation methods, in some possible implementation methods, the switch module includes a first hardware switch; the first end of the first hardware switch is connected to the first end of the control module, the second end of the first hardware switch is grounded, and when the first hardware switch is triggered, the switch module is in a first conducting state.
[0010] In the above technical solution, triggering the first hardware switch changes the conduction state of the switch module, enabling the control module to perform a software upgrade on the vehicle refrigerator based on upgrade information. This means that the vehicle refrigerator can be quickly upgraded via the hardware switch, without complex communication settings, and offers high flexibility. Secondly, the first hardware switch can directly control the on / off state of the circuit or changes in the signal path; compared to software control, hardware operation is generally more stable and reliable. Furthermore, the hardware switch is unaffected by electromagnetic interference or software errors, thus exhibiting higher operational stability and reliability.
[0011] In combination with the first aspect and the above implementation methods, in some possible implementation methods, the switch module further includes a second hardware switch; the first end of the second hardware switch is connected to the second end of the control module, the second end of the second hardware switch is grounded, when the second hardware switch is triggered, the switch module is in a second conduction state, and the control module is also used to control the display module to display the upgraded version information of the vehicle refrigerator.
[0012] In the above technical solution, triggering the second hardware switch changes the conduction state of the switch module, enabling the control module to control the display module to show the upgraded version information of the vehicle refrigerator. This allows users to know the refrigerator's version information in real time, resulting in a superior user experience. The second hardware switch can directly control the circuit's on / off state or signal path changes; compared to software control, hardware operation is generally more stable and reliable. Furthermore, the hardware switch is unaffected by electromagnetic interference or software errors, thus offering higher operational stability and reliability.
[0013] In combination with the first aspect and the above implementation methods, in some possible implementation methods, the switch module also includes a third hardware switch; the first end of the third hardware switch is connected to the third end of the control module, the second end of the third hardware switch is grounded, and when the third hardware switch is triggered, the switch module is in the third conduction state, and the control module switches from the preparation mode to the upgrade mode.
[0014] In the above technical solution, the operator can trigger a third hardware switch to switch the upgrade system from preparation mode to upgrade mode, while simultaneously acquiring the status information of the vehicle refrigerator. When the vehicle refrigerator's status indicates it is ready for upgrade, the second hardware switch is used to upgrade the refrigerator. This avoids the problem of accidental activation of the upgrade system and vehicle refrigerator before they enter upgrade mode, thus ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the upgrade trigger. Secondly, the third hardware switch allows for rapid triggering of the upgrade mode without complex communication settings, offering high flexibility.
[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect and the above implementation methods, in some possible implementation methods, the upgrade system further includes a first filter module, a second filter module, and a first step-down chip; the first terminal of the first filter module is connected to the battery, and the second terminal of the first filter module is grounded; the first terminal of the second filter module is connected to the third terminal of the first filter module, and the second terminal of the second filter module is grounded; the first pin of the first step-down chip is connected to the third terminal of the second filter module, and the second pin of the first step-down chip is connected to the communication module, the control module, and the switch module; the first step-down chip is used to reduce the battery voltage to a first supply voltage to power the communication module, the control module, and the switch module.
[0016] In the above technical solution, the battery voltage output by the battery is input to the first filtering module. The first filtering module can initially remove most of the low-frequency and high-frequency interference before outputting it to the second filtering module. The second filtering module further optimizes the signal quality and reduces unnecessary energy loss. Thus, the battery voltage output by the battery, after being filtered by the first and second filtering modules, is output to the first step-down chip. The first and second filtering modules can filter out these noises in stages and more thoroughly, ensuring that the voltage input to the first step-down chip is purer and smoother. Secondly, the first step-down chip reduces the filtered 12V battery voltage to 3.3V and outputs it to the communication module, control module, and switching module, ensuring the reliability of the power supply from the battery to the communication module, control module, and switching module via the first step-down chip.
[0017] In combination with the first aspect and the above implementation methods, in some possible implementation methods, the upgrade system also includes a second buck chip; the first pin of the second buck chip is connected to the third terminal of the second filter module, the second pin of the second buck chip is configured to be connected to an external upgrade plug-in, and the second buck chip is used to reduce the battery voltage to a second power supply voltage to power the external upgrade plug-in.
[0018] In the above technical solution, the second step-down chip reduces the filtered 12V battery voltage to 5V for use by the external connector connected to USB, so as to ensure the reliability of the power supply from the battery to the external connector via the second step-down chip, thereby ensuring the reliability of the control module receiving upgrade information from the external connector.
[0019] In combination with the first aspect and the above implementation methods, in some possible implementation methods, the communication module includes a communication chip, a first inductor, and a protection unit; the first pin, the second pin, and the third pin of the communication chip are respectively connected to the control module; one end of the first inductor is connected to the fourth pin of the communication chip; one end of the protection unit is connected to the other end of the first inductor and the vehicle refrigerator, and the other end of the protection unit is grounded.
[0020] In the above technical solution, the first inductor is used for filtering and impedance matching. The first inductor helps stabilize the current and reduce electromagnetic interference, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the signal output from the communication chip to the vehicle refrigerator. The protection unit protects the communication module from electrostatic discharge damage. Thus, the communication chip can convert the commands issued by the control module into LIN protocol format and send them to the vehicle refrigerator to initiate the software upgrade process.
[0021] In combination with the first aspect and the above implementation methods, in some possible implementation methods, the control module is a microcontroller, the first pin, the second pin and the third pin of the microcontroller are respectively connected to the first pin, the second pin and the third pin of the communication chip, and the fourth pin, the fifth pin and the sixth pin of the microcontroller are respectively connected to the switch module.
[0022] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide an upgrade device, including a battery, a circuit board, a housing, and a display screen; the circuit board integrates an upgrade system as described in any of the optional embodiments of the first aspect, and the upgrade system is connected to the battery; the housing is embedded on the circuit board; the display screen is electrically connected to the upgrade system and embedded on the housing. Attached Figure Description
[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the module structure of an upgrade system provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit structure of an upgrade system provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the module structure of another upgrade system provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the display structure of a display screen provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0027] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another display structure provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0028] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the module structure of another upgrade system provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0029] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit structure of a first filtering module and a second filtering module provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0030] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit structure of a first step-down chip provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0031] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the module structure of another upgrade system provided in the embodiments of this application;
[0032] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit structure of a second step-down chip provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0033] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit structure of a communication module provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0034] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit structure of a control module provided in an embodiment of this application.
[0035] The following are the labeling elements in the figure:
[0036] 1. Upgrade system; 11. Communication module; 111. Protection unit; 12. Control module; 13. Switch module; 14. Display module; 15. First filter module; 16. Second filter module; 2. Battery; 3. Vehicle refrigerator;
[0037] K2, First hardware switch; K3, Second hardware switch; K1, Third hardware switch; U1, First step-down chip; U2, Second step-down chip; U3, Communication chip; C1, First capacitor; C2, Second capacitor; C3, Third capacitor; C4, Fourth capacitor; C5, Fifth capacitor; C6, Sixth capacitor; C7, Seventh capacitor; C8, Eighth capacitor; C9, Ninth capacitor; C10, Tenth capacitor; C11, Eleventh capacitor; C12, Twelfth capacitor; C13, Thirteenth capacitor; C14 Fourteenth capacitor; C15, fifteenth capacitor; C16, sixteenth capacitor; D1, first diode; D2, second diode; L1, first inductor; L2, second inductor; R1, first resistor; R2, second resistor; R3, third resistor; R4, fourth resistor; R5, fifth resistor; R6, sixth resistor; R7, seventh resistor; R8, eighth resistor; R9, ninth resistor; R10, tenth resistor; R11, eleventh resistor; R12, twelfth resistor; VBAT, battery voltage. Detailed Implementation
[0038] The technical solutions in this application will be clearly and thoroughly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, " / " means "or," for example, A / B can mean A or B. "And / or" in the text is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" refers to two or more than two.
[0039] Hereinafter, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as implying or suggesting relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.
[0040] With the increasing integration of electronic devices in vehicles, some vehicles are now equipped with in-vehicle refrigerators to improve the comfort of drivers and passengers. These refrigerators connect to the vehicle's main control unit (MCU) via the vehicle's bus system to receive commands from it. As smart technology becomes more widespread, in-vehicle refrigerators also need to evolve towards intelligence. To continuously improve their intelligence level, the functions of in-vehicle refrigerators typically require real-time updates.
[0041] Over-the-air (OTA) updates are commonly used to upgrade the electronic control unit (ECU) of in-vehicle refrigerators to maintain their functionality and resolve after-sales issues. However, OTA upgrades are vulnerable to cyberattacks, posing security risks and resulting in poor security. Secondly, some older vehicle models equipped with in-vehicle refrigerators may have networks that do not support OTA upgrades due to initial project planning, leading to compatibility issues and poor compatibility. Furthermore, before implementing an OTA upgrade, automakers need to complete a series of filing procedures, including filing of enterprise management capabilities, vehicle model and function specifications, and specific upgrade activities. These filing processes require automakers to submit relevant supporting documents and filing information, and await review and approval from relevant departments. The length of the filing process depends on the adequacy of the automaker's preparation, the completeness of the submitted materials, and the efficiency of the relevant departments' review. In addition, within five working days after the upgrade is completed, automakers must submit an implementation report. Thus, the filing process is cumbersome and time-consuming, resulting in a long upgrade cycle and high operating and time costs for automakers.
[0042] Therefore, this application provides an upgrade system and device for a vehicle refrigerator. This upgrade system can initiate the software upgrade process of the vehicle refrigerator based on upgrade information from an external upgrade plug-in by changing the conduction state of a switch module, enabling point-to-point upgrades and offering high flexibility. Furthermore, the upgrade system provided by this application operates locally, eliminating the need for OTA upgrades, thus improving security, simplifying the upgrade process, and reducing operating costs and additional upgrade service fees. Simultaneously, it can meet the upgrade requirements of older vehicle models, exhibiting high compatibility.
[0043] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, provides an exemplary description of the vehicle refrigerator upgrade system and device provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0044] This application provides an upgrade device, including a battery, a circuit board, a housing, and a display screen. An upgrade system is integrated on the circuit board. The battery is connected to the upgrade system and the display screen. The housing is embedded on the circuit board, and the display screen is electrically connected to the upgrade system and embedded on the housing.
[0045] The battery powers the upgrade system and display screen. Optionally, a 12V portable battery can be used, which provides reliable power to the upgrade device without requiring an inverter or PC on the vehicle, simplifying the upgrade process. Furthermore, the 12V portable battery occupies less space, making it more suitable for vehicle-wide testing and offering greater convenience.
[0046] The upgrade system connects to the vehicle refrigerator. Specifically, when an upgrade is needed, the upgrade system connects to the vehicle refrigerator's LIN interface via a LIN cable. The upgrade system can flexibly switch the vehicle refrigerator's mode to upgrade mode via the LIN cable to facilitate subsequent software upgrades. Furthermore, after the upgrade system switches the vehicle refrigerator to upgrade mode, the display screen will show corresponding upgrade status prompts for the operator to check.
[0047] In one example, such as Figure 1 As shown, the upgrade system 1 includes a communication module 11, a control module 12, and a switch module 13. The communication module 11 is connected to the vehicle refrigerator 3, the control module 12 is connected to the communication module 11 and the external upgrade plug-in, and the switch module 13 is connected to the control module 12. The battery 2 is connected to the communication module 11, the control module 12, and the switch module 13 to supply power to them, thereby ensuring the operational reliability of the communication module 11, the control module 12, and the switch module 13.
[0048] It is worth noting that the upgrade device has a pre-installed interface on its casing, through which an external upgrade plug-in connects to the control module 12. The external upgrade plug-in is a USB flash drive containing the upgrade package file. When the upgrade system 1 needs to upgrade the vehicle refrigerator 3, the USB flash drive containing the corresponding upgrade package file is inserted into the pre-installed interface of the upgrade device to connect the USB flash drive to the control module 12. After the external upgrade plug-in containing the corresponding upgrade package file is inserted into the pre-installed interface of the upgrade device, the control module 12 connects to the external upgrade plug-in and receives the upgrade information from the corresponding external upgrade plug-in. When the switch module 13 is in the first conducting state, the control module 12 can initiate the software upgrade process of the vehicle refrigerator 3 based on the upgrade information from the external upgrade plug-in. That is, the control module 12 can control the vehicle refrigerator 3 to upgrade accordingly via the communication module 11 based on the received upgrade information, thereby updating the functions of the vehicle refrigerator 3 in real time and improving the intelligence level of the vehicle refrigerator 3 based on the upgrade information.
[0049] Thus, when an upgrade to the vehicle refrigerator 3 is required, by changing the conduction state of the switch module 13, the upgrade system 1 can initiate the software upgrade process of the vehicle refrigerator 3 based on the upgrade information and perform a point-to-point upgrade of the vehicle refrigerator 3's software, offering high upgrade flexibility. Furthermore, the upgrade system 1 provided in this application operates locally, eliminating the need for OTA upgrades and avoiding the attack risks that may occur when upgrading via the network using OTA, thereby improving security. It also eliminates the cumbersome OTA filing process and the need to rely on OTA upgrade services provided by the manufacturer, simplifying the upgrade process and reducing operating costs and additional upgrade service fees. Simultaneously, for some older vehicle models that do not support OTA upgrades, the upgrade system 1 provided in this application can also perform point-to-point upgrades, thus meeting the compatibility upgrade needs of older models and offering high compatibility.
[0050] It is worth noting that when it is necessary to upgrade the vehicle refrigerator 3, you only need to connect the upgrade device to the corresponding vehicle refrigerator 1. There is no need to remove the vehicle refrigerator 3, so that the upgrade device can upgrade the vehicle refrigerator software without disassembling the vehicle.
[0051] In one example, such as Figure 2 As shown, the switch module 13 includes a first hardware switch K2. The first terminal of the first hardware switch K2 is connected to the first terminal of the control module 12, and the second terminal of the first hardware switch K2 is grounded. When the first hardware switch K2 is triggered, the switch module 13 is in a first conducting state.
[0052] Initially, the first hardware switch K2 is in the off state. When an upgrade to the vehicle refrigerator 3 is needed, the first hardware switch K2 is triggered, and when triggered, it becomes in the on state, causing the switch module 13 to be in the first on state. At this time, the control module 12 receives the signal that the first hardware switch K2 is on and performs a software upgrade to the vehicle refrigerator 3 based on the upgrade information. Thus, by triggering the first hardware switch K2, the on state of the switch module 13 can be changed accordingly, allowing the control module 12 to perform a software upgrade to the vehicle refrigerator 3 based on the upgrade information. This means that the vehicle refrigerator 3 can be quickly upgraded via a hardware switch without complex communication settings, offering high flexibility. Furthermore, the first hardware switch K2 can directly control the on / off state of the circuit or changes in the signal path; compared to software control, hardware operation is generally more stable and reliable. Moreover, the hardware switch is unaffected by electromagnetic interference (EMI) or software errors, resulting in higher operational stability and reliability.
[0053] Optionally, the first hardware switch K2 can be a push-button switch, rotary switch, DIP switch, electromagnetic switch, or single-pole multi-throw switch, etc. When the first hardware switch K2 is a push-button switch, the operator can turn it on by pressing the corresponding push-button switch. When the first hardware switch K2 is a rotary switch, the operator can turn it on by turning the rotary switch to the corresponding position. When the first hardware switch K2 is a DIP switch, the operator can turn it on by moving the DIP switch to the corresponding position. The first hardware switch K2 can also be other switches capable of achieving the above functions; this application does not impose specific limitations on this.
[0054] In one example, such as Figure 2 As shown, the switch module 13 also includes a sixth capacitor C6 and a first resistor R1. The first plate of the sixth capacitor C6 is connected to the first terminal of the first hardware switch K2, the first terminal of the control module 12, and one end of the first resistor R1. The second plate of the sixth capacitor C6 is grounded, and the other end of the first resistor R1 is connected to the power supply voltage.
[0055] In this example, the sixth capacitor C6 smooths out the spike current or voltage glitches generated when the first hardware switch K2 switches, eliminating transient interference caused by the switching action and thus protecting the control module 12 and other sensitive components. Secondly, the first hardware switch K2 may generate mechanical jitter when switching states, leading to unstable output signals (such as multiple triggers). By setting a resistor and capacitor between the first hardware switch K2 and the control module 12, an RC low-pass filter can be formed to filter out these jitter signals, ensuring that the control module 12 receives a clean and stable signal, thereby guaranteeing the reliability of the upgrade performed by the control module 12 on the vehicle refrigerator 3 based on the received signal.
[0056] To allow users to track their upgrade progress in real time, in one example, such as Figure 3 As shown, the upgrade system 1 also includes a display module 14. The display module 14 is connected to the control module 12. When the switch module 13 is in the first conducting state, the control module 12 is also used to control the display module 14 to display the upgrade progress of the vehicle refrigerator 3. It is worth noting that the display module 14 is connected to the display screen, and the control module 12 is used to control the display module 14 to display the upgrade progress of the vehicle refrigerator 3, that is, to control the display screen to display the upgrade progress of the vehicle refrigerator 3.
[0057] In this example, the display screen connected to display module 14 can indicate the percentage of upgrade progress. For example, initially, the display screen shows an upgrade progress of 0%, and as time passes, the displayed upgrade progress gradually increases to 20%, 40%, and finally 100%. When the upgrade is complete, the display screen will show... Figure 4 The displayed message indicates that the upgrade is complete, and "Update: 100%" means that the upgrade progress has reached 100%.
[0058] In this way, the display module 14 can display the upgrade progress of the vehicle refrigerator 3 in real time, so that users can know the upgrade progress of the vehicle refrigerator 3 in real time based on the display module 14, resulting in a better user experience.
[0059] To find out the upgraded version information of the car refrigerator 3, in one example, such as Figure 2 As shown, the switch module 13 also includes a second hardware switch K3. The first end of the second hardware switch K3 is connected to the second end of the control module 12, and the second end of the second hardware switch K3 is grounded. When the second hardware switch K3 is triggered, the switch module 13 is in a second conducting state. The control module 12 is also used to control the display module 14 to display the upgraded version information of the vehicle refrigerator 3.
[0060] Initially, the second hardware switch K3 is in the off state. When it is necessary to display the upgraded version information of the vehicle refrigerator 3, the second hardware switch K3 is triggered, and when the second hardware switch K3 is triggered, it is in the on state. After the second hardware switch K3 is triggered, the switch module 13 is in the second on state. The control module 12 receives the signal that the switch module 13 is in the second on state and controls the display module 14 to display the upgraded version information of the vehicle refrigerator 3. For example, as shown... Figure 4 As shown, "SW_Ver: 1.2.13" indicates that the version information of the vehicle refrigerator 3 is 1.2.13 at this time.
[0061] Thus, by triggering the second hardware switch K3, the conduction state of the switch module 13 can be changed accordingly, enabling the control module 12 to control the display module 14 to display the upgraded version information of the vehicle refrigerator 3. This allows users to know the version information of the vehicle refrigerator 3 in real time based on the display module 14, resulting in a better user experience. The second hardware switch K3 can directly control the on / off state of the circuit or the change of the signal path. Compared with software control, hardware operation is generally more stable and reliable. Moreover, the hardware switch is not affected by electromagnetic interference or software errors, thus its operational stability and reliability are higher.
[0062] It is worth noting that by triggering the second hardware switch K3, the control module 12 can not only control the display module 14 to display the upgraded version information of the vehicle refrigerator 3, but also control the display module 14 to display the current version information of the vehicle refrigerator 3. That is, through the upgrade device provided in this application, not only can the upgraded version information of the vehicle refrigerator 3 be displayed on the screen, but also the current version information of the vehicle refrigerator 3 can be displayed on the screen, so that users can know the version information of the vehicle refrigerator 3 in real time through the display screen, thus expanding the practicality of the upgrade device.
[0063] Optionally, the second hardware switch K3 can be a push-button switch, rotary switch, DIP switch, electromagnetic switch, or single-pole multi-throw switch, or other switches that can achieve the above functions. This application does not impose specific restrictions on this.
[0064] In one example, such as Figure 2 As shown, the switch module 13 also includes a seventh capacitor C7 and a second resistor R2. The first plate of the seventh capacitor C7 is connected to the first terminal of the second hardware switch K3, the second terminal of the control module 12, and one end of the second resistor R2. The second plate of the seventh capacitor C7 is grounded, and the other end of the second resistor R2 is connected to the power supply voltage.
[0065] In this example, the seventh capacitor C7 smooths out the spike current or voltage glitches generated when the second hardware switch K3 switches, eliminating transient interference caused by the switching action and thus protecting the control module 12 and other sensitive components. Secondly, the second hardware switch K3 may generate mechanical jitter when switching states, leading to unstable output signals. By placing a resistor and capacitor between the second hardware switch K3 and the control module 12, an RC low-pass filter can be formed to filter out these jitter signals, ensuring that the control module 12 receives a clean and stable signal, thereby guaranteeing the reliability of the upgrade performed by the control module 12 on the vehicle refrigerator 3 based on the received signal.
[0066] To avoid accidental triggering, in one example, such as Figure 2 As shown, the switch module 13 also includes a third hardware switch K1. The first end of the third hardware switch K1 is connected to the third end of the control module 12, and the second end of the third hardware switch K1 is grounded. When the third hardware switch K1 is triggered, the switch module 13 is in the third conduction state, and the control module 12 switches from the preparation mode to the upgrade mode. That is, the third hardware switch K1 is a mode switching switch.
[0067] Initially, the first hardware switch K2, the second hardware switch K3, and the third hardware switch K1 are all in the off state. When an upgrade to the vehicle refrigerator 3 is required, the operator must first trigger the third hardware switch K1. When the third hardware switch K1 is triggered, it is in the on state. At this time, the first hardware switches K2 and K3 are not triggered and remain in the off state. After the third hardware switch K1 is triggered, the switch module 13 is in the third on state. That is, at this time, the control module 12 receives a status signal indicating that the switch module 13 is in the third on state. At this time, the control module 12 switches from the preparation mode to the upgrade mode. Simultaneously, the control module 12 acquires the status information of the vehicle refrigerator 3. When the status information of the vehicle refrigerator 3 indicates that it can be upgraded, the operator then presses the first hardware switch K2 to upgrade the vehicle refrigerator 3 based on the upgrade information.
[0068] In this example, the operator can switch the upgrade system 1 from the preparation mode to the upgrade mode by triggering the third hardware switch K1. Simultaneously, the operator obtains the status information of the vehicle refrigerator 3. When the status information of the vehicle refrigerator 3 indicates that it is ready for upgrade, the upgrade is performed via the second hardware switch K3. This avoids the problem of accidental triggering of the upgrade system 1 and vehicle refrigerator 3 before they have entered upgrade mode, thus ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the upgrade trigger. Furthermore, the third hardware switch K1 enables rapid triggering of the upgrade mode without complex communication settings, offering high flexibility.
[0069] Optionally, the third hardware switch K1 can be a push-button switch, rotary switch, DIP switch, electromagnetic switch, or single-pole multi-throw switch.
[0070] It is worth noting that when the upgrade system 1 switches the vehicle refrigerator 3 to upgrade mode, the display screen can also show the corresponding upgrade status prompts for the operator to view. For example, assume that the first hardware switch K2, the second hardware switch K3, and the third hardware switch K1 are push-button hardware switches.
[0071] In this example, when the vehicle refrigerator 3 needs to be upgraded by the upgrade system 1, firstly, the communication module 11 is connected to the LIN interface of the vehicle refrigerator 3 using a LIN cable, and then the upgrade system 1 is connected to the battery 2 via a power cable. The external connector containing the corresponding upgrade package file is inserted into the reserved interface of the upgrade device to connect the USB flash drive to the control module 12. After the upgrade device is powered on, the display screen will show... Figure 5The displayed information shows that "Ready to update" indicates the car refrigerator 3 is ready for an upgrade, "K2: Update" indicates the first hardware switch K2 is the upgrade button, and "K1: Change_Mode" indicates the third hardware switch K1 is the mode switching switch. "SW_Ver: 1.2.13" indicates that the car refrigerator 3 is currently version 1.2.13. When the display shows... Figure 5 The displayed information indicates that the vehicle refrigerator 3 can be upgraded via upgrade system 1. The user initiates the upgrade operation by triggering the first hardware switch K2. Afterward, the display screen will show the upgrade progress until it displays the following information: Figure 4 The displayed information indicates that the upgrade is now complete. Users can trigger the second hardware switch K3 to display the upgraded version information of the vehicle refrigerator 3.
[0072] It is worth noting that the upgrade device provided in this application is also equipped with a flash chip. After the upgrade device is powered on, it will start to initialize its functions, automatically read the upgrade package file of the external connector, and write the read upgrade package file into the flash chip of the tool. At the same time, it will perform upgrade package validity verification. Then it will wait for the upgrade button (first hardware switch K2) command. When the upgrade button is triggered, the upgrade will start automatically. When the upgrade is completed, the display screen will give the result prompt information.
[0073] In one example, such as Figure 2 As shown, the switch module 13 also includes an eighth capacitor C8 and a third resistor R3. The first plate of the eighth capacitor C8 is connected to the first terminal of the third hardware switch K1, the third terminal of the control module 12, and one end of the third resistor R3. The second plate of the eighth capacitor C8 is grounded, and the other end of the third resistor R3 is connected to the power supply voltage.
[0074] In this example, the eighth capacitor C8 can smooth out the spike current or voltage glitches generated when the third hardware switch K1 switches, thereby eliminating transient interference caused by the switching action and protecting the control module 12 and other sensitive components. Secondly, the third hardware switch K1 may generate mechanical jitter when switching states, resulting in unstable output signals. By setting a resistor and a capacitor between the third hardware switch K1 and the control module 12, an RC low-pass filter can be formed to filter out these jitter signals, ensuring that the control module 12 receives a clean and stable signal.
[0075] In order for battery 2 to reliably power communication module 11, control module 12, and switch module 13, in one example, such as Figure 6As shown, the upgrade system 1 also includes a first filter module 15, a second filter module 16, and a first step-down chip U1; the first end of the first filter module 15 is connected to the battery 2, and the second end of the first filter module 15 is grounded; the first end of the second filter module 16 is connected to the third end of the first filter module 15, and the second end of the second filter module 16 is grounded; the first pin of the first step-down chip U1 is connected to the third end of the second filter module 16, and the second pin of the first step-down chip U1 is connected to the communication module 11, the control module 12, and the switch module 13. The first step-down chip U1 is used to reduce the voltage of the battery 2 to a first supply voltage to supply power to the communication module 11, the control module 12, and the switch module 13.
[0076] The battery voltage output by battery 2 may contain ripple and high-frequency noise, which may affect the normal operation of the first step-down chip U1. Therefore, this application includes a first filter module 15 and a second filter module 16. The 12V battery voltage output by battery 2 is input to the first filter module 15, which can initially remove most of the low-frequency and high-frequency interference before outputting it to the second filter module 16. The second filter module 16 further optimizes the signal quality and reduces unnecessary energy loss. Thus, the battery voltage output by battery 2 is filtered by the first filter module 15 and the second filter module 16 before being output to the first step-down chip U1. The first filter module 15 and the second filter module 16 can filter out these noises in stages and more thoroughly, ensuring that the voltage input to the first step-down chip U1 is purer and smoother.
[0077] The first step-down chip U1 reduces the filtered 12V battery voltage to 3.3V and outputs it to the communication module 11, control module 12, and switch module 13 to ensure the reliability of the power supply from battery 2 to the communication module 11, control module 12, and switch module 13 via the first step-down chip U1.
[0078] In one example, such as Figure 7 As shown, the first filter module 15 includes a first capacitor C1, a second capacitor C2, a first diode, and a third capacitor C3. The first plate of the first capacitor C1, the first plate of the second capacitor C2, and the positive terminal of the first diode are connected to the battery 2. The negative terminal of the first diode is connected to the first plate of the third capacitor C3 and the first terminal of the second filter module. The second plates of the first capacitor C1, the second plate of the second capacitor C2, and the second plate of the third capacitor C3 are grounded.
[0079] In this example, the battery voltage VBAT is filtered by the first capacitor C1 and the second capacitor C2 and then output to the first diode D1. The first diode D1 can prevent current from flowing from the first step-down chip U1 to the battery 2, avoiding reverse current flow caused by the battery voltage VBAT being lower than the output voltage or other abnormal conditions, thereby protecting the battery 2 and the circuit from damage and improving the operational reliability of the battery 2 and the circuit.
[0080] In one example, such as Figure 7 As shown, the second filter module includes a fourth capacitor C4, a second inductor L2, and a fifth capacitor C5. The first plate of the fourth capacitor C4 and one end of the second inductor L2 are connected to the negative terminal of the first diode. The other end of the second inductor L2 is connected to the first plate of the fifth capacitor C5, the first pin of the first step-down chip U1, and the first pin of the second step-down chip U2. The second plates of the fourth capacitor C4 and the fifth capacitor C5 are grounded.
[0081] In this example, the voltage output from the first filter module 15 is filtered by the fourth capacitor C4 and then output to the second inductor L2. The second inductor L2 has energy storage characteristics; when the first step-down chip U1 is working, it can store energy from the battery 2 and release it when needed, thereby smoothing the output current and reducing voltage fluctuations. Furthermore, the second inductor L2, together with the fourth capacitor C4 and the fifth capacitor C5, can form an LC filter to further filter out high-frequency noise and ripple, ensuring a more stable and pure voltage output to the first step-down chip U1. When the second filter module 16 is equipped with the second inductor L2, the first diode D1 can also provide a freewheeling path when the first step-down chip U1 is turned off or malfunctions, preventing damage to the first step-down chip U1 due to the back electromotive force of the second inductor L2.
[0082] Optionally, the first step-down chip U1 can be selected as follows: Figure 8 The low dropout regulator (LDO) chip shown has five pins. The EN pin of the LDO chip is connected to a 12V battery voltage via the fourth resistor R4, and the VIN pin is also connected to a 12V battery voltage and grounded via the ninth capacitor C9. The two GND pins of the LDO chip are grounded. The OUT pin of the LDO chip is connected to the communication module 11, the control module 12, and the switch module 13. At this time, the voltage output by the OUT pin is 3.3V, which is the first supply voltage, and the OUT pin is grounded via the tenth capacitor C10. The first step-down chip U1 can be any LDO chip capable of implementing the above functions; this application does not impose specific restrictions on this.
[0083] Since external connectors typically use a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface to connect to upgrade devices, 3.3V is not compatible with external connectors. Therefore, in one example, such as Figure 9 As shown, the upgrade system 1 also includes a second step-down chip U2. The first pin of the second step-down chip U2 is connected to the third terminal of the second filter module 16, and the second pin of the second step-down chip U2 is configured to be connected to an external upgrade plug-in. The second step-down chip U1 is used to reduce the voltage of the battery 2 to a second supply voltage to power the external upgrade plug-in.
[0084] In this example, the second step-down chip U2 reduces the filtered 12V battery voltage to 5V for use by the external connector connected to USB, ensuring the reliability of the power supply from battery 2 to the external connector via the second step-down chip U2, thereby ensuring the reliability of the control module 12 receiving the external connector.
[0085] Optionally, the second step-down chip U2 can be selected as follows: Figure 10 The LDO chip shown has six pins. The ON / OFF pin is connected to a 12V battery voltage via resistor R5, and the Vin pin is also connected to a 12V battery voltage and grounded via capacitor C11. The two Vss pins are grounded, and the Vout pin outputs 5V, which is the second supply voltage. The Vout pin is also grounded via capacitor C12. The second step-down chip U2 can be any LDO chip capable of performing the above functions; this application does not impose specific restrictions on this.
[0086] The communication module 11 is primarily responsible for transmitting control commands and status information between the control module 12 and the vehicle-mounted refrigerator 3. Since the vehicle-mounted refrigerator 3 uses a LIN interface, the communication module 11 converts the commands issued by the control module 12 into LIN protocol format and sends them to the vehicle-mounted refrigerator 3, and also receives status feedback from the refrigerator. In one example, such as... Figure 11 As shown, the communication module 11 includes a communication chip U3, a first inductor L1, and a protection unit 111. The first pin of the communication chip U3 (as shown) Figure 11 As shown in the RSD), the second pin (as shown in the diagram) Figure 11 As shown in SLIP_N) and the third pin (as shown in the image) Figure 11 The TXD pins shown are connected to the control module 12, and one end of the first inductor L1 is connected to the fourth pin of the communication chip U3 (as shown). Figure 11 As shown in the diagram, the protection unit 111 is connected to the other end of the first inductor L1 and the vehicle refrigerator 3, and the other end of the protection unit 111 is grounded.
[0087] The first inductor L1 is used for filtering and impedance matching. It helps stabilize the current and reduce electromagnetic interference, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the signal output from the communication chip U3 to the vehicle refrigerator 3. The protection unit 111 protects the communication module 11 from electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage.
[0088] Optionally, the protection unit 111 is an ESD device.
[0089] The communication chip U3 uses a LIN bus controller chip to handle the LIN communication protocol. Through the communication chip U3, commands issued by the control module 12 can be converted into LIN protocol format and sent to the vehicle refrigerator 3 to trigger or switch the upgrade mode of the vehicle refrigerator 3 accordingly. For example, the communication chip U3 can be a TJA1021T chip with LIN master node function. The communication chip U3 is configured with... Figure 11 The pins shown are RXD (receive data), TXD (transmit data), VBAT (battery voltage), SLIP_N (slide enable), WAKE_N (wake up), and LIN (LIN signal line).
[0090] The RXD, SLIP_N, WAKE_N, and TXD pins are connected to resistors R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, and R11. Resistors R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, and R11 are used for current limiting, biasing, and signal conditioning. The WAKE_N pin is also grounded via capacitor C13. The battery voltage is filtered by capacitors C14 and C15 before being output to the VBAT pin of the communication chip U3. The LIN pin is also grounded via capacitor C16.
[0091] In one example, such as Figure 11 As shown, the communication module 11 also includes a second diode D2 and a twelfth resistor R12. The positive terminal of the second diode D2 is connected to the battery 2, one end of the twelfth resistor R12 is connected to the negative terminal of the second diode D2, and the other end of the twelfth resistor R12 is connected to the other end of the first inductor L1 and one end of the protection unit 111.
[0092] In this example, the second diode D2 is used to protect the circuit from reverse voltage, and the twelfth resistor R12 is used to limit the current and stabilize the circuit to improve the reliability of the LIN pin, thereby ensuring the reliability of the communication chip U3.
[0093] To ensure the reliability of the communication module 11, multiple test points are provided in the communication module 11. The test points are used to monitor the voltage or current of key nodes in the circuit of the communication module 11. For example, test points can be set between the RXD pin and the seventh resistor R7, between the eighth resistor R8 and the eleventh resistor R11, between the WAKE_N pin and the ninth resistor R9, etc. Test points can also be set at other points. The specific settings can be made according to actual needs. This application does not impose specific restrictions on this.
[0094] Optional, such as Figure 12 As shown, control module 12 is a microcontroller unit (MCU), and the first pin of the microcontroller (e.g.) Figure 12 As shown in pin 43), the second pin (as shown in pin 43) Figure 12 As shown in pin 41) and the third pin (as shown in pin 41) and the third pin Figure 12 Pin 42 (as shown) is connected to the first, second, and third pins of the communication chip U3, respectively. The fourth pin of the microcontroller (as shown) Figure 12 As shown in pin 9), the fifth pin (as shown in pin 5) Figure 12 As shown in pin 10) and pin 6 (as shown in pin 6) Figure 12 Pin 11 (as shown) is connected to switch module 13, that is, the fourth, fifth, and sixth pins of the microcontroller are connected to the first hardware switch K2, the second hardware switch K3, and the third hardware switch K1, respectively. The microcontroller also includes other functional pins. Since the microcontroller uses a conventional MCU, its corresponding other functional pins can also be referenced conventionally, and will not be described further. The microcontroller offers high control reliability and low cost.
[0095] In summary, when an upgrade to the vehicle refrigerator 3 is required, the upgrade system 1 can initiate the software upgrade process for the vehicle refrigerator 3 based on the upgrade information by changing the conduction state of the switch module 13, and perform a point-to-point software upgrade, offering high flexibility. Furthermore, the upgrade system 1 provided in this application operates locally, eliminating the need for OTA upgrades and avoiding the attack risks that may occur during OTA upgrades over the network, thus improving security. It also eliminates the cumbersome OTA filing process and reliance on manufacturer-provided OTA upgrade services, simplifying the upgrade process and reducing operating costs and additional upgrade service fees. Simultaneously, the upgrade system 1 provided in this application can also perform point-to-point upgrades for older vehicle models that do not support OTA upgrades, thereby meeting the compatibility upgrade requirements of older models and demonstrating high compatibility.
[0096] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, only the division of the above functional modules is used as an example. In actual applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.
[0097] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of modules or units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another device, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.
[0098] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. An upgrade system for a vehicle-mounted refrigerator, characterized in that, The upgrade system includes: A communication module, which is connected to the vehicle-mounted refrigerator; A control module, which is connected to the communication module and an external upgrade plugin; and, A switch module, which is connected to the control module; The control module is used to receive upgrade information from the external upgrade plug-in. When the switch module is in the first conducting state, the control module is used to start the software upgrade process of the vehicle refrigerator based on the upgrade information from the external upgrade plug-in.
2. The upgrade system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upgrade system also includes: The display module is connected to the control module. When the switch module is in the first conducting state, the control module is also used to control the display module to display the upgrade progress of the vehicle refrigerator.
3. The upgrade system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The switching module includes: A first hardware switch, the first end of which is connected to the first end of the control module, and the second end of which is grounded. When the first hardware switch is triggered, the switch module is in the first conducting state.
4. The upgrade system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The switching module also includes: The second hardware switch has its first end connected to the second end of the control module and its second end grounded. When the second hardware switch is triggered, the switch module is in a second conduction state. The control module is also used to control the display module to display the upgraded version information of the vehicle refrigerator.
5. The upgrade system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The switching module also includes: The third hardware switch has its first end connected to the third end of the control module and its second end grounded. When the third hardware switch is triggered, the switch module is in the third conduction state, and the control module switches from the preparation mode to the upgrade mode.
6. The upgrade system according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The upgrade system also includes: The first filter module has a first terminal connected to the battery and a second terminal grounded. A second filtering module, wherein the first terminal of the second filtering module is connected to the third terminal of the first filtering module, and the second terminal of the second filtering module is grounded; and, The first step-down chip has a first pin connected to the third terminal of the second filter module, and a second pin connected to the communication module, the control module, and the switch module. The first step-down chip is used to reduce the battery voltage to a first supply voltage to supply power to the communication module, the control module, and the switch module.
7. The upgrade system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The upgrade system also includes: The second step-down chip has its first pin connected to the third terminal of the second filter module, and its second pin configured to connect to the external upgrade plug-in. The second step-down chip is used to reduce the battery voltage to a second power supply voltage to power the external upgrade plug-in.
8. The upgrade system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The communication module includes: A communication chip, wherein the first pin, the second pin, and the third pin of the communication chip are respectively connected to the control module; A first inductor, one end of which is connected to the fourth pin of the communication chip; and, A protection unit, one end of which is connected to the other end of the first inductor and the vehicle refrigerator, and the other end of which is grounded.
9. The upgrade system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The control module is a microcontroller. The first, second, and third pins of the microcontroller are connected to the first, second, and third pins of the communication chip, respectively. The fourth, fifth, and sixth pins of the microcontroller are connected to the switch module, respectively.
10. An upgrading device, characterized in that, include: Battery; A circuit board, wherein the circuit board integrates an upgrade system as described in any one of claims 1-9, the upgrade system being connected to the battery; A housing, the housing being embedded and covering the circuit board; and, The display screen is electrically connected to the upgrade system and is embedded in the housing.