In-Vehicle Network Memory Testing via Sector Address Increment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-vehicle networks (IVNs) in connected vehicles lack efficient power-on-self-test (POST) and built-in self-test (BIST) features, which are essential for ensuring component reliability, and conventional self-tests prolong vehicle startup times by testing entire memory blocks.
Innovation Solution
A software assistant is implemented to progressively perform POST and BIST on IVN components, specifically by retrieving and incrementing memory sector addresses for memory tests and performing loopback tests on idle ports, thereby minimizing startup time impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional self-tests are performed on entire memory blocks during vehicle startup, then component reliability is ensured, but vehicle startup time is significantly prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the memory testing process into multiple segments, testing only a portion of the memory block during each vehicle startup. The memory is partitioned into several testable segments, and the system progressively tests different segments across multiple startups, thereby reducing the time impact of each individual startup while ensuring complete coverage over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by storing test results and status information in non-volatile memory before vehicle shutdown. This allows the system to resume testing from the last completed segment without retesting already verified portions, optimizing the balance between reliability and startup time across multiple vehicle cycles.
2Reliability
If comprehensive POST and BIST features are implemented on IVN components, then safety standards compliance is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal testing framework that can adapt to different IVN components and memory configurations without requiring separate dedicated test systems for each component type. The software assistant provides multi-functional testing capabilities that work across various hardware platforms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety standard compliance.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a technique for performing component self-tests for an in-vehicle network of a vehicle is provided that illustratively comprises: retrieving, by a device in communication with an in-vehicle network (IVN) of a vehicle, a memory sector address of a memory of a component connected to the IVN when a first startup of the vehicle begins, the memory sector address stored in non-volatile memory; performing, by the device, a memory test on a first part of the memory starting at the memory sector address for a predetermined increment during the first startup of the vehicle; and replacing, by the device, the memory sector address with an incremented memory sector address in the non-volatile memory, the incremented memory sector address indicative of the memory sector address incremented by the predetermined increment.