Method and apparatus for determining the type of computing device of a device - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for identifying the type of computing device of a vehicle's equipment. [Solution] The computing device is configured to at least partially control at least one function of the device, access at least one register of a memory device of the device, and determine the type of the computing device based on the results of the access.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a corresponding device for determining the type of computing device of an appliance in a motor vehicle, for example an electromechanical appliance, in particular a control appliance for a motor vehicle, for example an electromechanical brake force booster. [Background technology]

[0002] Brake systems typically include an electromechanical brake force booster and a vehicle dynamics control system (electronic stability program, ESP). The brake force booster is used to reduce the brake force that the driver must apply to generate the required brake action. The brake force booster generates the brake action by hydraulic means, in this case by creating a pressure difference, or by electrical means. An exemplary brake force booster is known from US Pat. No. 5,399,363.

[0003] A brake booster may have an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that controls the functions of the brake booster. Different ASICs may be used for different brake boosters. These ASICs may differ according to the scope of functionality they provide. Thus, for example, an ASIC with a narrow scope of functionality may not be able to support highly automated functions in an electromechanical brake booster, whereas another type of ASIC may.

[0004] The information provided may be stored via a hardware configuration within the electromechanical brake force booster.

[0005] Furthermore, the electromechanical brake force boosters are capable of performing different functions based on the hardware configuration. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] European Patent No. 2379377 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The invention provides a method and a device for identifying the type of computing unit of a motor vehicle's equipment, comprising the features of the independent claims.

[0008] Preferred embodiments are the subject of the respective dependent claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to a first aspect, the invention therefore relates to a method for determining the type of a computing device of an appliance of a motor vehicle, the computing device being adapted to at least partially control at least one function of the appliance, accessing at least one register of a memory device of the appliance, and determining the type of the computing device on the basis of the result of this access.

[0010] According to a second aspect, the invention therefore relates to a device for verifying a type of a computing device of an appliance, the computing device being adapted to at least partially control at least one function of the appliance, the device comprising an interface, the interface being able to access at least one register of a memory device of the appliance, the device further comprising a verifying device, the verifying device verifying the type of the appliance on the basis of a result of the access. Effect of the Invention

[0011] The present invention allows for easy identification and testing of different types or variations of computing devices in vehicle equipment.

[0012] A "type" of computing device may, within the scope of the present invention, be, for example, a hardware variation of the computing device.

[0013] By checking the computing device type, it is possible to identify differences, including possible errors, between the saved computing device type and the actual installed computing device type.

[0014] Identifying the type of computing device is particularly advantageous for mixed platforms, where multiple different hardware configurations may be controlled by the same application software, and the identified type can be provided to the application software so that it can be properly configured for the hardware configuration of the computing device.

[0015] Furthermore, software variations can be made possible to support different types or hardware configurations of computing devices, thereby minimizing costs in software development, release and testing, which is again particularly advantageous for mixed platforms with different computing devices.

[0016] Reasons for using different types of computing devices may include cost reduction or development cycles during hardware development based on changing functional requirements, such as whether highly automated driving (HAD) is provided or not.

[0017] By means of defined access to registers of the device's memory, an early identification of the actual type of computing device can be performed already during initialization.

[0018] According to a preferred development of the method for determining the type of the computing device, the device is a control device provided in a motor vehicle. Particularly preferably, the control device is an electromechanical brake force booster.

[0019] According to a preferred development of the method for determining the type of the computing device, the computing device is an application specific integrated circuit, ASIC. Based on the detected ASIC hardware, the ASIC is initialized accordingly. Furthermore, functions can be switched on or off via the detected ASIC. Thus, for example, functions for autonomous driving in an electromechanical brake force booster can be adapted early. In this way, erroneous control of the brake system is prevented.

[0020] According to a preferred development of the method for identifying the type of the computing device, the memory device is a component of the computing device itself, for example the memory device may be part of an ASIC.

[0021] According to a preferred development of the method for identifying the type of the computing device, the access to the at least one register comprises a read access for reading an instrument code of the device, and identification of the type of the computing device is performed by means of the instrument code.

[0022] According to a preferred development of the method for identifying the type of the arithmetic device, the access to the at least one register comprises a read access to the at least one given register, and the identification of the type of the arithmetic device is performed using the presence or absence of a transmission error, the result of the access can thus be compared with an expected result in order to identify the type of the arithmetic device.

[0023] According to a preferred development of the method for determining the type of the arithmetic device, every type of arithmetic device has a unique register, and the arithmetic device is assigned the respective type if there is no transmission error in the unique register assigned to the type. Exemplarily, at least two different types of arithmetic devices can be manufactured, for example a first type of arithmetic device has a first register, which or the address of the first register does not exist in another type of arithmetic device. Correspondingly, a second and possibly further type of arithmetic device has a second or possibly further register, respectively, which does not exist in the respective other arithmetic device. Now, when trying to read information from its own or unique register, if the register does not exist, a transmission error will be indicated. If no transmission error is indicated, it can be deduced that the type of the arithmetic device is the type assigned to this register of the arithmetic device. Correspondingly, based on the response to the read access, the type of the arithmetic device can be determined in this way.

[0024] According to a preferred development of the method for checking the type of the arithmetic unit, the access to the at least one register comprises a read access.

[0025] According to a preferred development of the method for identifying the type of computing device, it is possible to authenticate or verify, based on the identified type of computing device, that an already pre-stored type of computing device is actually present, so that, for example, during repair, it is possible to prevent the installation of an incorrect type of computing device (or of a device with an incorrect type of computing device).

[0026] According to a preferred development of the method for determining the type of the computing device, the determined type of the computing device is stored in a memory device of the device. In particular, the type of the computing device may be stored in a memory device of the computing device itself.

[0027] According to a preferred development of the method for determining the type of the computing device, the determined type of the computing device is used to adapt and / or change software functions of the computing device. The software functions can be, for example, valve drives of an electromechanical brake force booster. The software functions can also include support or behavior for autonomous driving.

[0028] According to a preferred development of the method for determining the type of the computing device, a determination of the type of the computing device is carried out during the first run of the appliance, and the appliance is initialized on the basis of the determined type of the computing device of the appliance.

[0029] According to a preferred development of the method for determining the type of the computing device, the determination of the type of the computing device is carried out at a system start of the computing device. In particular, the method may be carried out every time the computing device or device of the motor vehicle is started anew.

[0030] According to a preferred development, the method for checking the type of the computing device is carried out during series operation.

[0031] According to a preferred development of the method for checking the type of computing device, when a change in the hardware configuration is detected in series operation, defined replacement reactions are carried out. For example, a warning may be output to the driver of the vehicle or to a service station. For example, if a device with an incorrect type of computing device is installed, this can be identified and an installation error can be reported. The device can then be replaced by a device with the correct type of computing device. Possible third-party interference can also be identified. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic block diagram of a computing device of an automobile equipment and a device for verifying the type of the computing device according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a memory device having registers for equipment of a motor vehicle. [Diagram 3]4 is a flow chart of a method for verifying the type of computing device of an automobile equipment according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] In all figures, the same or functionally identical elements and devices are labeled with the same reference numerals. The numbering of the method steps is used for ease of reference and generally does not imply a particular temporal order. In particular, several method steps may be performed simultaneously.

[0034] 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a device 1 for identifying the type of a computing device 21 of a motor vehicle device 2. In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to an electromechanical brake force booster as the motor vehicle device 2. The invention is, however, not limited to brake force boosters but is applicable to various, in particular electromechanical, components of a motor vehicle, such as control devices.

[0035] The computing device 21 controls the functions of the electromechanical brake force booster, for example the generation of brake pressure or the control of functions for autonomous driving, etc. The computing device 21 may be or may comprise an application specific integrated circuit, ASIC.

[0036] The device 1 may be the electronic control unit (ECU) of a motor vehicle, or it may be a special device which is coupled to the electromechanical brake booster 2 after assembly of the latter in order to check the correct installation.

[0037] The device 1 is provided with an interface 11 for accessing a memory 22 of the electromechanical brake force booster 2. The memory 22 may be separate from the computing device 21, but may also be part of the computing device 21.

[0038] The storage device 22 has a large number of registers, which are different for the various types of device 2. A "register" may in this case be understood as a storage area on the storage device 22 which the computing device 21 can access. Access is in this case particularly preferably independent of a data bus or an address bus and can thus be performed very quickly. The invention is not limited to a certain number or size of registers.

[0039] The arithmetic unit 21 can access the registers of the memory device 22 via an address decoder. A certain register may exist in a given type of arithmetic unit 21, which does not exist in another type of arithmetic unit 21. Selection of this register via the corresponding address would then lead to transmission errors.

[0040] The device 1 further comprises a verification device 12, which verifies the type of the arithmetic device 21 based on the result of the access. For example, if a certain register that only exists in a certain type of arithmetic device 21 can be selected, the verification device 12 can verify that the type of the arithmetic device 21 is exactly this type of arithmetic device 21.

[0041] To ascertain the type of the arithmetic unit 21, each individual register can be selected one after the other until no more transmission errors occur and the type of the arithmetic unit 21 can therefore be determined. The order in which the registers are to be selected can in this case be given a fixed order.

[0042] Additionally or alternatively, the identification device 12 may determine the type of computing device 21 by reading another register that contains an equipment code.

[0043] Access to the storage device 22 via the interface 11 may be direct. However, access to the storage device 22 via the interface 11 may also be indirect. Thus, according to one embodiment, the interface 11 is connected to an interface of the computing device 22 and can drive the computing device 22 via this interface to access the corresponding registers in the storage device 22. This makes direct access of the device 1 to the storage device 22 unnecessary.

[0044] After verification, information about the type of computing device may be stored in storage device 22 and / or in a storage device (not shown) of device 1 .

[0045] Additionally, verification device 12 may be adapted to drive computing device 21 to adapt and / or change functionality of computing device 21 based on the verified type of computing device 21. Thus, computing device 21 may be configured for autonomous driving if the type of computing device 21 allows for autonomous driving.

[0046] The type of the computing device 21 of the device 2 can be checked when the device 2 is first started. The type of the computing device 21 can also be checked every time the vehicle is started.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a memory device 22 with registers R1 to Rn of an equipment 2 of a motor vehicle.

[0048] In the first register R1, information about the device code of the device 2 or the computing device 21 can be filed. Further registers R2 to Rn may be provided. However, for example, one second register R2 may only be present for a specific type of computing device 21, while this register is not selectable for another type of computing device 21, resulting in transmission or access errors.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method for identifying the type of computing device of a motor vehicle device, in particular the device 2 mentioned above.

[0050] In a first method step S1, the device 2 is started up for the first time.

[0051] In a second method step S2, the verification device 12 accesses at least one register R1 to Rn of the memory device 22 of the device 2 via the interface 11. This access may be a read access, for example a read access for reading the device code of the device 2 from the register R1 to Rn of the memory device 22. Additionally or alternatively, the access may be a read access to at least one register R1 to Rn. Every type of computing device 21 may then have its own registers that are not present or accessible in another computing device 21.

[0052] In a third method step S3, the type of the computing device 21 is determined based on the result of the access. For example, the type of the computing device 21 can be determined based on the read device code. Additionally or alternatively, the type of the computing device 21 can be determined based on the presence or absence of a transmission error during a read access to at least one of the registers R1 to Rn.

[0053] In method step S4, optionally the determined type of the computing device 21 is stored in the storage device 22 of the device.

[0054] In method step S5, further optionally, based on the determined type of computing device 21, at least one software function of computing device 21 may be adapted and / or changed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1 device 2 equipment 11 Interface 12 Verification device 21 Arithmetic unit 22 Storage device R1 First register R2 Second register R3 Register R4 Register Rn Register S1 First method step S2 Second method step S3 Third method step S4 Method Steps S5 Method Steps

Claims

1. A method for identifying the type of a computing device (21) of a vehicle device (2), comprising: the computing device (21) is configured to at least partially control at least one function of the device (2); A step (S2) of accessing at least one register (R1 to Rn) of a memory device (22) of said device (2); A step (S3) of confirming the type of the computing device (21) based on the result of the access; Including, The access to at least one of the registers (R1 to Rn) includes a read access to at least one given register (R1 to Rn), and the confirmation of the type of the arithmetic unit (21) is performed using the presence or absence of a transmission error; Every type of arithmetic unit (21) has a unique register (R1 to Rn), and if there is no transmission error in the unique register (R1 to Rn) assigned to the type, the arithmetic unit (21) is assigned to the respective type. How to check the type of computing device in a vehicle's equipment.

2. A method for identifying the type of a computing device (21) of a device (2) in a motor vehicle, comprising: the computing device (21) is configured to at least partially control at least one function of the device (2); A step (S2) of accessing at least one register (R1 to Rn) of a memory device (22) of said device (2); A step (S3) of confirming the type of the computing device (21) based on the result of the access; Including, The type confirmed by the computing device (21) is stored in a storage device (22) of the device (2) (S4); How to check the type of computing device in a vehicle's equipment.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device (2) is an electromechanical brake force booster.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device (21) is an application specific integrated circuit, ASIC.

5. A method described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the access to at least one of the registers (R1 to Rn) includes a read access to read an equipment code of the equipment (2), and the confirmation of the type of the computing device (21) is performed using the equipment code.

6. A method as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising adapting and / or changing (S5) software functions of the computing device (21) using the confirmed type of the computing device (21).

7. A method described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the confirmation of the type of the calculation device (21) of the equipment (2) is performed during a first operation (S1) of the equipment (2), and the equipment (2) is initialized based on the type confirmed by the calculation device (21).

8. A device (1) for verifying the type of a computing device (21) of a device (2), comprising: the computing device (21) is configured to at least partially control at least one function of the device (2); an interface (11) configured to access at least one register (R1-Rn) of a memory device (22) of said device (2); a verification device (12) configured to verify the type of the computing device (21) based on the result of the access; Equipped with The access to at least one of the registers (R1 to Rn) includes a read access to at least one given register (R1 to Rn), and the confirmation of the type of the arithmetic unit (21) is performed using the presence or absence of a transmission error; Every type of arithmetic unit (21) has a unique register (R1 to Rn), and if there is no transmission error in the unique register (R1 to Rn) assigned to the type, the arithmetic unit (21) is assigned to the respective type. A device that identifies the type of computing device in the device.

9. A device (1) for verifying the type of a computing device (21) of a device (2), comprising: the computing device (21) is configured to at least partially control at least one function of the device (2); an interface (11) configured to access at least one register (R1-Rn) of a memory device (22) of said device (2); a verification device (12) configured to verify the type of the computing device (21) based on the result of the access; Equipped with storing the type confirmed by the computing device (21) in a storage device (22) of the device (2); A device that identifies the type of computing device in the device.

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