Onboard ECU Inspection Program Gating for Reliable Operation Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing onboard ECUs lack an efficient inspection program for operation checks, leading to potential issues in the wiper drive apparatus and other vehicle systems.
Innovation Solution
An onboard ECU with a storage unit that stores both a control program and an inspection program, along with validity information, allowing the control unit to selectively execute either program based on the validity status, ensuring efficient use of the inspection program and preventing unintended execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an inspection program is added to the onboard ECU for operation checks, then the ability to perform operation checks is improved, but the device complexity increases due to storing multiple programs and validity information
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection program is merged with the control program in the same storage unit, and both are managed through a unified validity information mechanism. This combining approach allows the ECU to handle both programs without requiring separate storage structures, thereby improving operation check capability while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage unit is designed to universally store both control programs and inspection programs, along with their validity information. This multi-functional storage structure allows the same hardware resource to serve multiple purposes: normal vehicle operation and inspection operations, avoiding the need for dedicated separate storage for inspection functions.
2Ease of operation
If the inspection program is always executable, then the operation check functionality is improved, but the system reliability deteriorates due to potential unintended execution
Solution Approach 1:
Validity information is pre-stored in the storage unit to indicate whether the inspection program should be executable. Before allowing inspection program execution, the system checks this pre-established validity flag. This preliminary action ensures that inspection programs are only run when appropriate, maintaining both ease of operation for legitimate inspections and system reliability by preventing unintended execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously references the validity information stored in the storage unit to determine whether to execute the inspection program. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system only executes inspection programs when the validity condition is met, balancing operational ease with system reliability by preventing execution when invalid.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an onboard ECU for controlling an onboard apparatus installed in a vehicle, including a storage unit that stores a control program for controlling the onboard apparatus and an inspection program for performing an operation check of the onboard apparatus or the onboard ECU, and a control unit that executes the control program or the inspection program, the storage unit storing validity information indicating whether the inspection program is valid or invalid being, and the control unit referring to the validity information stored in the storage unit, executing the inspection program if the inspection program is valid, and executing the control program if the inspection program is invalid.