Vehicle ECU Shared EEPROM Storage Over CAN for Reliable Data Writes

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing electronic control systems in vehicles face issues with data storage reliability due to separate hardware resources for each control unit, leading to potential read/write errors in EEPROM, which can invalidate critical data and affect vehicle safety and user experience.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where electronic control units share hardware resources, including EEPROM, through a CAN bus communication mechanism that allows multi-point storage and remote writing/reading of data, reducing the probability of errors and improving data reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If each control unit has separate hardware resources for storage, then each control unit can independently store its data, but the probability of read/write errors in EEPROM increases and data reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage reliabilityVSAvoidseparate hardware resources for each control unit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges separate EEPROM storage resources of multiple control units into a shared storage pool. The first control unit can write data to the second control unit's EEPROM when the latter is unavailable, combining previously isolated storage resources into a unified system-wide resource that improves reliability while reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes EEPROM storage resources universal by enabling any control unit to utilize any other control unit's EEPROM for data storage. This multi-functionality allows the storage system to adapt to the availability of different control units, improving data reliability without requiring dedicated separate storage for each control unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If multiple control units share hardware resources through CAN bus, then resource usage rate increases and cost decreases, but communication overhead and potential data conflicts increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource usage rateVSAvoidcommunication mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a message queue mechanism as an intermediary between control units sharing EEPROM resources. The first control unit publishes storage requests to a message queue, and the second control unit subscribes to process these requests. This intermediary structure enables efficient resource sharing through CAN bus while managing communication overhead and preventing data conflicts through standardized message-based interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If data is stored locally in each control unit's EEPROM, then storage speed is fast, but the probability of storage failure increases due to storage cell deactivation or read/write verification failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage success rateVSAvoiddata validation and restorage time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where control units monitor the availability and health of their own EEPROM storage cells. When a storage cell is deactivated or read/write verification fails, the control unit receives feedback about the failure and automatically redirects storage operations to alternative control units through the message queue, improving storage success rate while minimizing time loss through automated failover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3454153B1Data storage method for electronic control system of vehicle, and electronic control system
Publication Date: 2022.10.12 BEIJING ELECTRIC VEHICLE
  • EP3454153B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3454153B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3454153B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

Disclosed are a data storage method for an electronic control system of a vehicle, and an electronic control system. The method comprises: a first electronic control unit writing a first variable, and sending a storage request packet to other electronic control units, so that other electronic control units determine whether the first variable is allowed to be stored, and send a first response packet to the first electronic control unit (S101); when the first electronic control unit determines that the first variable is allowed to be stored by one or more electronic control units according to the first response packet, sending a data frame to the one or more electronic control units, so that the one or more electronic control units write data and a node number in the data frame and feed same back to the first electronic control unit, wherein the data in the data frame comprises a variable number and a variable value of the first variable (S102); and the first electronic control unit writing, according to feedback, a corresponding node number and variable number of the first variable into the first electronic control unit (S103). The method can realize the sharing of hardware resources, improving the resource utilization rate of an electronic control system, and improves the reliability of variable storage.