Mobile Body Control Using Dual-Bank ROM for Reliable Software Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile body control systems face issues with software updates leading to loss of unique information, resulting in improper operation and potential safety hazards, necessitating dealer intervention.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a dual bank ROM memory system where software is written in one bank and unique information is backed up in another, ensuring reliable operation by updating software in one bank and backing up unique information in the other during startup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If software is updated in the same memory component, then software can be updated to new versions, but unique information may be lost and operation reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware update capabilityVSAvoidunique information reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The memory component is divided into two separate banks (first bank and second bank). Software is stored in one bank while unique information is stored in the other bank. This segmentation allows software updates to occur in one bank without affecting the unique information stored in the other bank, thus maintaining operation reliability while enabling software updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If unique information is stored separately from software, then information reliability is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunique information reliabilityVSAvoidmemory structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the software storage and unique information storage into a single dual-bank memory component. Although the memory is divided into two banks for functional separation, both banks are integrated within the same memory component, reducing the need for separate physical memory devices and minimizing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If backup of unique information is performed continuously, then information reliability is improved, but processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunique information reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The unique information is pre-stored in the second bank of the memory component before software updates are performed. This preliminary action ensures that when software needs to be updated in the first bank, the unique information is already safely stored in the second bank, eliminating the need for continuous backup operations during updates and reducing processing load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250306893A1Mobile body control device, mobile body control method, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A mobile body control device includes memories which are formed of a rewritable dual bank ROM, software is written in one of two banks of each of the memories, and the software of a new version is written in an unoccupied bank to execute the update process of the software. When the software is not written in the other bank of the memory, the mobile body control device performs the process of writing unique information of a mobile body written in a further memory into the other bank of the memory.