Vehicle ECU Software Update Control for False Warning Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During software updates in vehicle-mounted electronic control units (ECUs), temporary resets cause communication disruptions, leading to false abnormality assessments, fault code recordings, and unnecessary warnings to drivers.
Innovation Solution
A software updating device and method that prohibits warning output and fault code recording during software update processes, ensuring that only legitimate abnormalities trigger warnings after the update is complete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hardware reset is performed during software update process, then software update can be executed, but communication with other onboard equipment is temporarily cut causing false abnormality detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by setting a flag indicating that a software update is in progress before the actual update occurs. This flag is used in advance to prevent false abnormality detection during the update process, allowing the system to distinguish between intentional communication interruptions and actual faults.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism (update status flag) that mediates between the software update process and the abnormality detection system. This intermediary allows the abnormality detection function to recognize when communication cuts are intentional parts of the update process rather than actual failures.
2Reliability
If fault code is recorded during communication disruption, then abnormality monitoring is maintained, but unnecessary fault codes are generated during normal update processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system sets an update-in-progress flag before the software update begins, preparing the abnormality monitoring system in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when communication disruptions occur during the update, the monitoring system recognizes the context and avoids recording false fault codes.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to prevent communication cuts during updates, the invention inverts the approach by allowing the updates to proceed normally but changing how abnormalities are evaluated. The system inverts the normal abnormality detection logic to account for the known update context, preventing false fault code generation while maintaining monitoring.
3Reliability
If warning is issued during update process, then driver is notified of potential issues, but driver receives false warnings causing undue concern
Solution Approach 1:
The system preliminarily sets an update status indicator before the software update begins. This indicator is used by the warning output mechanism to determine whether to issue warnings, ensuring that drivers are not notified of normal update-related communication interruptions as critical issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the update status and using this information to modulate warning output. The system provides feedback to the warning mechanism about the current operational context, allowing it to suppress warnings during updates while maintaining normal warning functionality when updates are not in progress.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
There is provided a software updating device that executes a process for updating software by which vehicle-mounted equipment is operated. The software updating device is provided with a controller that acquires software and applies the aforementioned software to the equipment, thereby controlling the equipment. The controller: acquires updating software and applies the aforementioned software to the equipment, thereby executing the software update process; and causes a warning device to output a warning when an abnormality relating to the equipment occurs. The controller also prohibits outputting of the warning by the warning device while the software update process is being executed.