ECU Boot Area Reprogramming Through Forced BSL Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing reprogramming methods for vehicle ECUs face challenges when entry into the Boot Strap Loader (BSL) area is impossible, preventing the reprogramming of the boot area, which is essential for updating and correcting defects.

Innovation Solution

A method that manipulates the boot area into an abnormal state to forcibly enter the BSL area, allowing reprogramming by comparing ROM identification information between the ECU and a diagnostic device, and deleting the boot area if necessary information matches, enabling reprogramming even when the boot area is not in a normal state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the boot area is in a normal state, then the ECU can operate normally, but reprogramming of the boot area becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenormal operationVSAvoidreprogramming capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification of the boot area's normal state before attempting reprogramming. By checking the integrity and validity of the boot area in advance, the system determines whether to proceed with reprogramming operations, thus preventing reprogramming when the boot area is already in a normal state while allowing it when abnormal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of attempting to reprogram the boot area directly in its normal state, the system inverts the approach by first verifying abnormality conditions. The reprogramming process is enabled only when the boot area fails normality checks, effectively using the absence of normal operation as the trigger for reprogramming capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If the boot area is manipulated into an abnormal state to enable BSL area entry, then reprogramming becomes possible, but normal ECU operation is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereprogramming capabilityVSAvoidnormal operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the abnormal state of the boot area as an intermediary condition to gain access to the BSL area. By temporarily creating or detecting an abnormal state, the system mediates between the need for reprogramming and the protection of normal operation, allowing BSL entry only when the boot area is verified to be abnormal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-verification of the boot area's state to determine whether reprogramming should be permitted. By autonomously checking its own boot area integrity, the ECU can decide whether to allow BSL area access and reprogramming operations without external intervention, thus managing the trade-off between normal operation and reprogramming capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20240211270A1Method of reprogramming a boot area

Publication Date: 2024.06.27 HYUNDAI AUTOEVER

AI summary

A method performed by an electronic control unit (ECU) includes: manipulating a boot area of an ECU so that the boot area is in an abnormal state; entering a boot strap loader (BSL) area of the ECU in response to detecting that the boot area is in an abnormal state upon resetting the ECU; determining whether to perform reprogramming of the boot area based on ROM identification information stored in the BSL area; and reprogramming the boot area when it is determined to perform the reprogramming.