Electronic control unit calibration
First Claim
1. A method of calibrating an electronic control unit (ECU), comprising the steps of:
- providing a control algorithm for controlling a microcontroller of an ECU, the microcontroller including a port for coupling the microcontroller to an external tool, the microcontroller executing a control algorithm which controls a subsystem coupled to the ECU;
loading a plurality of initial calibration tables into a first non-volatile memory bank;
loading the plurality of initial calibration tables into a second non-volatile memory bank;
receiving an indication from the external tool as to which of the calibration tables loaded in the second non-volatile memory bank are to be modified;
loading the indicated calibration tables into a volatile memory;
receiving a replacement calibration constant from the external tool, the replacement calibration constant replacing an existing calibration constant located within one of the calibration tables in the volatile memory;
executing the control algorithm utilizing the replacement calibration constant and the calibration tables in the volatile memory that are required for a particular calibration routine;
receiving an indication that the calibration tables currently in the volatile memory are to be loaded into the second non-volatile memory bank; and
executing the control algorithm utilizing the calibration tables in the first non-volatile memory bank until the calibration tables in the volatile memory are loaded into the second non-volatile memory bank.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic control unit (ECU) includes a microcontroller, a first non-volatile memory bank, a second non-volatile memory bank and a volatile memory. The microcontroller is coupled to an external tool and executes a control algorithm, which controls a subsystem coupled to the ECU. The first non-volatile memory bank is coupled to the microcontroller and initially stores a plurality of initial calibration tables. The second non-volatile memory bank and the volatile memory are also coupled to the microcontroller. The microcontroller executes code, which calibrates the ECU without interrupting the normal operation of the subsystem.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of calibrating an electronic control unit (ECU), comprising the steps of:
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providing a control algorithm for controlling a microcontroller of an ECU, the microcontroller including a port for coupling the microcontroller to an external tool, the microcontroller executing a control algorithm which controls a subsystem coupled to the ECU;
loading a plurality of initial calibration tables into a first non-volatile memory bank;
loading the plurality of initial calibration tables into a second non-volatile memory bank;
receiving an indication from the external tool as to which of the calibration tables loaded in the second non-volatile memory bank are to be modified;
loading the indicated calibration tables into a volatile memory;
receiving a replacement calibration constant from the external tool, the replacement calibration constant replacing an existing calibration constant located within one of the calibration tables in the volatile memory;
executing the control algorithm utilizing the replacement calibration constant and the calibration tables in the volatile memory that are required for a particular calibration routine;
receiving an indication that the calibration tables currently in the volatile memory are to be loaded into the second non-volatile memory bank; and
executing the control algorithm utilizing the calibration tables in the first non-volatile memory bank until the calibration tables in the volatile memory are loaded into the second non-volatile memory bank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electronic control unit (ECU), comprising:
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a microcontroller including a port for coupling the microcontroller to an external tool, the microcontroller executing a control algorithm which controls a subsystem coupled to the ECU;
a first non-volatile memory bank coupled to the microcontroller, the first non-volatile memory bank initially storing a plurality of initial calibration tables;
a second non-volatile memory bank coupled to the microcontroller;
a volatile memory coupled to the microcontroller; and
microcontroller executable code for causing the microcontroller to perform the steps of;
loading the plurality of initial calibration tables into the second non-volatile memory bank;
receiving an indication as to which of the calibration tables loaded in the second non-volatile memory bank are to be modified;
loading at least one of the calibration tables into the volatile memory according to the received indication;
receiving a replacement calibration constant to replace an existing calibration constant located within one of the calibration tables in the volatile memory;
executing the control algorithm utilizing the replacement calibration constant and the calibration tables in the volatile memory when required for a particular calibration routine;
receiving an indication that the calibration tables currently in the volatile memory are to be loaded into the second non-volatile memory bank; and
executing the control algorithm utilizing the calibration tables in the first non-volatile memory bank until the calibration tables in the volatile memory are loaded into the second non-volatile memory bank. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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15. A microcontroller, comprising:
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a port for coupling the microcontroller to an external tool, the microcontroller executing a control algorithm which controls a subsystem coupled to the microcontroller;
a first non-volatile memory bank coupled to the microcontroller, the first non-volatile memory bank initially storing a plurality of initial calibration tables;
a second non-volatile memory bank coupled to the microcontroller;
a volatile memory coupled to the microcontroller; and
microcontroller executable code for causing the microcontroller to perform the steps of;
loading the plurality of initial calibration tables into the second non-volatile memory bank;
receiving an indication as to which of the calibration tables loaded in the second non-volatile memory bank are to be modified;
loading at least one of the calibration tables into the volatile memory according to the received indication;
receiving a replacement calibration constant to replace an existing calibration constant located within one of the calibration tables in the volatile memory;
executing the control algorithm utilizing the replacement calibration constant and the calibration tables in the volatile memory when required for a particular calibration routine;
receiving an indication that the calibration tables currently in the volatile memory are to be loaded into the second non-volatile memory bank; and
executing the control algorithm utilizing the calibration tables in the first non-volatile memory bank until the calibration tables in the volatile memory are loaded into the second non-volatile memory bank.
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Specification