Chipped engine control unit system having copy protected and selectable multiple control programs

• US 20040117106A1
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTK Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: RTK Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Dudel, Frank, Simmons, Mitchell W., Williams, Todd G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,047,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/115
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/11 After-sales modification devices designed to be used to modify an engine afterwards
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2416 Interpolation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2435 characterised by the writing medium, e.g. bar code
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2487 Methods for rewriting
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/26 using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1514 with means for optimising the use of registers or of memories, e.g. interpolation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for preventing a control program written in a first engine control unit (ECU) from running in a second ECU, comprising obtaining an ID number from the first ECU; encrypting the ID number; writing the encrypted ID number into a flash memory of the first ECU; encrypting the ID number again and writing the encrypted ID number into an EEPROM of the first ECU; and requiring the control program to match the encrypted ID number placed in the flash memory and the EEPROM before running the program, and if the match fails, terminating the control program from running further.

Claims

1. A method for preventing a control program written in a first engine control unit (ECU) from running in a second ECU, comprising:

a) obtaining an ID number from the first ECU;

b) encrypting the ID number;

c) writing the encrypted ID number into a flash memory of the first ECU;

d) encrypting the ID number again;

e) writing the encrypted ID number in step d) into an EEPROM of the first ECU; and

f) requiring the control program to match the encrypted ID number placed in the flash memory and the EEPROM before running the program, and if the match fails, terminating the control program from running further.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the ID number is obtained from the first ECU EEPROM.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the ID number is a manufacturer'"'"'s immobilizer code.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said obtaining the ID number comprises generating an ID number.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein:

a) the first ECU includes an original control program; and

b) the encrypted ID number of step b) is written into a flash memory area unused by the original control program.

6. A method as in claim 7, wherein the encrypted ID number of step d) is written into an EEPROM area unused by the original control program.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein said requiring step comprises:

a) obtaining the ID number from the ECU in which the control program is written;

b) encrypting the ID number;

c) matching the encrypted ID number with data in a predetermined area of the ECU EEPROM, and if the match fails, the control program is not allowed to run further; and

d) encrypting the ID number again and matching the encrypted ID number with data in a predetermined area of the ECU flash memory, and if the match fails, the control program is not allowed to run further.

8. A method for providing a user a range of performance levels based on first and second performance lookup tables written into an engine control unit (ECU), comprising:

a) providing first and second performance lookup tables in the ECU;

b) assigning first and second constants corresponding to the first and second performance lookup tables, respectively;

c) providing a range of variables disposed numerically between the first and second constants for selection by the user; and

d) generating a third performance lookup table corresponding to the variable chosen by the user by linear interpolation between the first and second performance lookup tables.

9. A method as claim 8, wherein said first and second performance lookup tables are 2-dimensional lookup tables.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein said first performance lookup table is a stock specified engine load (SEL) lookup table and said second performance lookup table is a chipped SEL lookup table.

11. A method as in claim 8, wherein said first performance lookup table is a stock 3-dimensional lookup table and said second performance lookup table is a chipped 3-dimensional lookup table.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein said linear interpolation comprises:

a) multiplying the stock 3-dimensional lookup table by (1-variable);

b) multiplying the chipped 3-dimensional lookup table by the variable; and

c) adding the results of a) and b), where the variable is 0.0 for the stock 3-dimensional lookup table to 1.0 for the chipped 3-dimensional lookup table.

13. A method as in claim 11, wherein said stock and chipped 3-dimensional lookup tables are ignition advance lookup tables.

14. A method as in claim 8, wherein the variable is selected through an external device connected to a communications port of the ECU.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the variable is transferred to the ECU EEPROM.

16. A method as in claim 14, and further comprising providing feedback to the user that the variable has been accepted by the ECU.

17. A method as in claim 14, and further comprising the step of keying the device to the ECU.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein said keying includes recording an ID number from the ECU into memory in the device.

19. A chipped engine control unit (ECU) system, comprising:

a) chipped ECU;

b) an external device communicating with said chipped ECU through a communications port of said ECU;

c) said chipped ECU including a stock performance lookup table and a chipped performance lookup table; and

d) said external device to allow a user to choose another performance lookup table generated by linear interpolation between said first and second performance lookup tables such that the user can select to operate said ECU at said stock performance lookup table or said chipped performance lookup table, or in between said stock and chipped performance lookup tables.

20. A system as in claim 19, wherein said chipped ECU includes a timer set for a predetermined period of time to allow the user to evaluate said chipped ECU.

21. A system as in claim 20, wherein said chipped ECU is programmed to revert to said stock performance lookup table when said predetermined period runs out.

22. A system as in claim 19, wherein said stock and chipped performance lookup tables are 2-dimensional.

23. A system as in claim 19, wherein said stock and chipped performance lookup tables are 3-dimensional.

24. A system as in claim 19, wherein said chipped ECU is programmed to run said performance lookup table only if an ID number of said ECU matches with data located in predetermined locations in the ECU flash memory and EEPROM.

25. A system as in claim 24, wherein:

a) said chipped ECU includes an original control program; and

b) said predetermined locations are areas unused by said original ECU control program.

26. A system as in claim 19, wherein said external device includes a switch to select to operate said ECU at said stock performance lookup table or said chipped performance lookup table, or in between said stock and chipped performance lookup tables.

27. A system as in claim 19, wherein said external device includes a audible signal to inform the user that the selection has been accepted by said ECU.

28. A system as in claim 19, wherein said external device is programmed to turn on or off an anti-theft mode in said chipped ECU.

29. A system as in claim 19, wherein said chipped ECU is programmed to prevent unauthorized reflashing of said chipped ECU.

30. A chipped engine control unit (ECU) system, comprising:

a) chipped ECU;

b) said chipped ECU including a stock performance lookup table and a chipped performance lookup table; and

c) said chipped ECU is programmed to run said performance lookup table only if an ID number of said ECU matches with data located in predetermined locations in the ECU flash memory and EEPROM.

31. A system as in claim 30, wherein:

a) said chipped ECU includes an original control program; and

b) said predetermined locations are areas unused by said original ECU control program.

32. A chipped engine control unit (ECU) system, comprising:

a) chipped ECU;

b) said chipped ECU including a stock performance lookup table and a chipped performance lookup table; and

c) said chipped ECU includes a timer set for a predetermined period of time to allow the user to evaluate said chipped ECU.

33. A system as in claim 32, wherein said chipped ECU is programmed to revert to said stock performance lookup table when said predetermined period runs out.