Vehicle ECU Rewrite Control Using a Specific Update Mode
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle electronic control systems face inefficiencies in updating ECUs due to the need for multiple types of ECUs to accommodate various vehicle grades, leading to increased inventory costs and manufacturing delays, especially in factory and dealer settings.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle electronic control system that includes a vehicle master device capable of distributing update data and instructing ECUs to write this data in a specific mode, utilizing incomplete provisional software in non-volatile memory, which reduces the need for multiple ECU types by allowing updates under a specific mode that omits certain steps of the normal update process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of ECUs are used to accommodate various vehicle grades, then the system can support different vehicle configurations, but the inventory complexity and manufacturing delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal ECU design where a single ECU type can be programmed to support multiple vehicle grades through flexible configuration parameters. The ECU includes a configuration management module that loads different parameter sets based on the target vehicle grade, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated ECU types while maintaining adaptability across different vehicle configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic configuration loading where ECU parameters are not fixed at manufacturing but can be dynamically selected and loaded at runtime based on the vehicle grade identification. This allows the same ECU hardware to adapt its behavior and parameters dynamically, improving manufacturing efficiency while preserving versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of ECUs are used to accommodate various vehicle grades, then the system can support different vehicle configurations, but the inventory costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By designing a universal ECU that can serve multiple vehicle grades through configurable parameters, the system reduces the total quantity of different ECU types needed in inventory. Instead of maintaining separate stock for each vehicle grade, a single universal ECU type suffices, significantly reducing inventory complexity and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes software parameters rather than physical hardware configurations to accommodate different vehicle grades. Configuration parameters are stored in memory and can be switched without physical ECU replacement, allowing the same physical inventory to serve multiple purposes and reducing the need for diverse stock.
3Reliability
If a complete update process is followed for ECU updates, then the reliability of the update is ensured, but the update time and manufacturing delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation of update data before initiating the complete update process. Configuration parameters and update integrity are verified in advance, allowing the system to skip redundant verification steps during actual updates while maintaining reliability. This preliminary checking reduces update time without compromising update correctness.
Solution Approach 2:
The update process is optimized by skipping already-verified steps. Once update data integrity is confirmed through preliminary checks, the system can rush through the writing and activation phases without repeating verification, significantly reducing update time while maintaining reliability through the initial validation.
4Productivity
If the normal update process is simplified by omitting certain steps, then the update speed increases, but the reliability of the update may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Critical verification steps are performed preliminarily before the simplified update process. The system validates update data integrity, checks configuration compatibility, and verifies target ECU readiness in advance. This allows the main update process to be simplified and accelerated while reliability is preserved through the preliminary validation layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that monitor the simplified update process and can trigger additional verification steps if anomalies are detected. Configuration parameter validation and update status monitoring provide continuous feedback, ensuring that reliability is maintained even when the update process is streamlined for speed.
Data Source
AI summary
In a vehicle electronic control system, an electronic control device (ECU) is configured to rewrite a program by writing the update data received from the vehicle master device in a non-volatile memory. Incomplete provisional software is written in a write area of the non-volatile memory in the ECU. The vehicle master device includes: a specific mode determination unit that is configured to determine whether a specific mode for controlling a sequence of a program update is set; and a rewrite instruction unit that is configured to instruct the rewrite target ECU to write the update data under the specific mode when the specific mode determination unit determines that the specific mode is set.