Electronic Control Device Dual Storage Program Update
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic control devices for vehicles face discomfort during program updates via over-the-air (OTA) methods, as the updated program may differ from the original, leading to potential control discrepancies when switching between active and inactive storage areas.
Innovation Solution
The electronic control device employs two switchable storage areas in nonvolatile memory, where the program in the active area is copied to the inactive area upon update, ensuring both areas have the same program revision, minimizing discomfort during switching and maintaining consistent control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the program in the active storage area is updated by writing a different program in the inactive storage area and then switching between active and inactive states, then the program can be updated even when the vehicle is running, but the programs in the two storage areas become different, causing driver discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by copying the program from the active storage area to the inactive storage area before the update is completed. This ensures that when the switch between active and inactive storage areas occurs, both areas contain the same program, thereby preventing driver discomfort while still enabling updates during vehicle operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating an identical copy of the program in the inactive storage area before switching. This copying mechanism ensures that both storage areas contain identical programs at all times, eliminating the discomfort caused by program differences while maintaining the ability to update during vehicle operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two storage areas are allocated in nonvolatile memory for alternate use, then program updates can be performed without vehicle shutdown, but the complexity of the storage management system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the nonvolatile memory into two distinct storage areas (active and inactive) that can be independently managed and switched. This segmentation enables flexible update operations while maintaining a relatively simple management structure through clear separation of functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by making both storage areas capable of serving as either active or inactive areas through switching. This multi-functionality allows the system to perform updates, backups, and fail-safe operations using the same hardware structure, reducing overall system complexity despite the added flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic control device includes a nonvolatile memory having allocated two storage areas that are exclusively switchable between an active state and an inactive state, the two storage areas being set such that in a state in which a program is written in the storage area in the active state, a program is written for updating to the storage area in the inactive state in response to an instruction from an external device, followed by switching the storage area in the active state to the inactive state and switching the storage area in the inactive state to the active state. In the electronic control device, when the program written in the storage area in the active state differs from the program written in the storage area in the inactive state, the program written in the storage area switched to the active state is copied to the storage area in the inactive state.