Vehicle ECU Software Switching to Avoid Update Battery Drain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Software updates for vehicle ECUs require stopping the engine to prevent malfunctions, but this can lead to dead batteries, and existing solutions are inconvenient due to the need for external high-power batteries.

Innovation Solution

A software updating device with a controller that uses two storage units in the ECU to update software without stopping engine operation, allowing updates to occur when the vehicle is not producing driving force, thus preventing engine malfunctions and battery drain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the engine is stopped during software update processing, then engine malfunctions during update are prevented, but battery voltage drops and dead battery occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of engine malfunction during updateVSAvoidbattery voltage drop

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring and storing the second software in advance (before engine stoppage) in the second storage unit. This allows the actual software update to be executed quickly when the engine is stopped, reducing the duration of engine stoppage and minimizing battery voltage drop while still preventing engine malfunctions during the critical update moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the engine is stopped for a long time to update software, then complete software update is achieved, but dead battery occurs due to prolonged engine stoppage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware update completionVSAvoiddead battery

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If external high-power battery is connected to prevent dead battery, then battery voltage stability is improved, but device complexity and convenience are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery voltage stabilityVSAvoidexternal battery connection requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses its own dual storage units (first storage unit and second storage unit) to store and manage software independently. By performing preliminary software acquisition and storage in the second storage unit before engine stoppage, the system updates software using its own resources without requiring external high-power battery connections, thereby maintaining battery voltage stability and avoiding additional device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12106089B2Software updating device, software updating method, and software update processing program

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a software updating device for executing processing for updating software causing an equipment mounted on a vehicle to operate. The software updating device includes a controller that acquires the software, and controls the equipment by applying the software to the equipment. The controller includes a first storage unit that stores acquired first software and a second storage unit that stores acquired second software. In a state where no driving force is output by a power train of the vehicle, the controller executes processing for updating the software by changing software to be applied to the equipment from the first software to the second software.