Flash Memory Backup Control for Vehicle ECU Restart Delays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic control apparatuses face delays in restarting due to prolonged data writing in flash memory, leading to potential data abnormalities and adverse effects on memory chips when forcibly terminated, which can cause vehicle start delays and incorrect diagnostics.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to continue or interrupt the writing process of backup data into a rewritable nonvolatile memory during self-shutoff, allowing for immediate resumption of the steady process upon power restoration, ensuring data integrity and reducing restart delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the writing of backup data in flash memory is completed before restarting the electronic control apparatus, then data integrity is ensured, but the restarting time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by initiating the backup data writing process during the self-shutoff period before the next startup is required. This allows the writing operation to begin in advance, so that when startup is needed, the system can either complete or abort the writing based on timing, rather than being forced to wait for completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the restart timing based on the writing process status. If the writing is substantially completed before the predetermined time elapses, the system restarts immediately. If not completed, the system aborts the writing and restarts anyway, making the restart time dynamic rather than fixed based on writing completion.
2Loss of time
If the writing process is forcibly terminated to enable immediate restart, then restarting time is reduced, but data abnormalities and memory chip damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by monitoring whether the backup data writing is substantially completed before the predetermined time period expires. Based on this feedback, the system decides whether to continue the writing process or to abort it and proceed with restart, thereby avoiding arbitrary forced termination and potential data corruption.
Solution Approach 2:
By setting a predetermined time period that is shorter than the maximum writing time but longer than the substantial completion time, the system creates a buffer period that allows writing to complete naturally in most cases, reducing the need for forced termination while still meeting restart requirements.
3Reliability
If the writing of backup data is completed before restart, then data integrity is ensured, but vehicle start may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the backup writing operation in advance during the self-shutoff period, so that by the time vehicle startup is required, the writing has already been initiated and may be substantially complete, eliminating the need to wait for writing completion before starting the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically determines whether to wait for writing completion or to abort and restart based on the elapsed time and writing progress, optimizing the balance between data integrity and vehicle start speed for each specific situation.
Data Source
AI summary
When a power switch is turned OFF, the execution of steady process is stopped, and backup data is written into a flash memory. If the power switch is turned ON during the writing of the backup data, the backup data writing execution is allowed to last for a predetermined time T1 after an instant when the power switch is turned ON, and if the writing of the backup data is not terminated at the time when the predetermined time T1 has elapsed, the writing of the backup data is interrupted so that the steady process is started for being executed.