Memory writing device for an electronic device

• US 20060053235A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ishida, Takashi, Kawase, Yoshihiro, Kida, Yoshiaki, Terada, Yukari
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/16
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2487 Methods for rewriting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/102 External programming circuits, e.g. EPROM programmers; In-circuit programming or reprogramming; EPROM emulators

Abstract

To provide a memory-writing device which can simply and reliably write desired data to a nonvolatile memory of an electronic device, connection is made with an ECU to perform write processing to write write data from the memory-writing device to a flash ROM by copying a write-control program from the external portion to a RAM and executing the write-control program, and by sequentially sending the foregoing write-control program and write data to this ECU together with sending, at a predetermined timing, write-control information required for the ECU to execute the write-control program, the write-control program and the write-control information are stored in a freely attachable and removable first ROM and the write-control information stored in the first ROM is read and sent to the ECU at a memory-rewriting device to cause the write processing to be performed in the ECU. According to this device, an ECU of differing specifications can be supported merely by exchanging the first ROM.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A control unit for a vehicle which rewrites vehicle control data through communication with a rewriting device, the control unit comprising:

a non-volatile memory for storing the vehicle control data therein; and

a processor for controlling a vehicle by using the control data stored in the non-volatile memory and for executing rewriting of the control data with new control data sent from the rewriting device;

wherein the processor is programmed to send a baud rate signal to the rewriting device when the rewriting device is detachably connected for control data rewriting, the baud rate signal being indicative of a predetermined baud rate of data communication supported by the control unit; and

wherein the processor is programmed to receive the new control data from the rewriting device at the predetermined baud rate and rewrites the vehicle control data stored in the non-volatile memory with the new control data.

23. The control unit for a vehicle of claim 22, further comprising:

a volatile memory;

wherein the processor is further programmed to receive a rewrite control program from the rewriting device at the predetermined baud rate and store the rewrite control program in the volatile memory;

wherein the processor is further programmed to rewrite the vehicle control data of the non-volatile memory based on the rewrite control program stored in the volatile memory; and

wherein the vehicle control data and the new control data include a vehicle control program which the processor executes for controlling the vehicle.

24. A rewriting device for a control unit which rewrites vehicle control data, the rewriting device comprising:

a memory storing new control data therein; and

a processor for controlling communication with the control unit;

wherein the processor is programmed to send a baud rate request signal to the control unit when detachably connected to the control unit, the baud rate request signal being for requesting information of a predetermined baud rate of data communication supported by the control unit;

wherein the processor is programmed to set a baud rate in compliance with the predetermined baud rate replied from the control unit in response to the baud rate request signal; and

wherein the processor is programmed to send the new control data stored in the memory to the control unit at the predetermined baud rate.

25. The rewriting device of claim 24, wherein:

the memory stores a rewrite control program which controls rewriting operation of the vehicle control data;

the vehicle control data and the new control data include a vehicle control program; and

the processor is programmed to send both the rewrite control program and the vehicle control program at the predetermined baud rate.

26. The rewriting device of claim 25, wherein the rewrite control program includes baud rate information therein indicative of a baud rate at which the rewrite control program is sent.

27. A method of communication between a control unit and an external device comprising:

sending, from an external device to a control unit, a request signal that requests information of a baud rate of data communication supported by the control unit;

sending, from the control unit to the external device, a reply signal indicative of the baud rate supported by the control unit in response to the request signal;

changing a baud rate of data communication of the external device in compliance with the baud rate indicated by the reply signal;

sending, from the external device to the control unit, a rewrite control program at a baud rate indicated by the reply signal;

storing the rewrite control program in a volatile memory of the control unit; and

executing the rewrite control program by the control unit to rewrite data stored in a non-volatile memory of the control unit with a new one sent from the external device.

28. The method of communication as in claim 27, wherein the data rewritten in the non-volatile memory is a control program that is executed by the control unit for controlling vehicle operations.

29. A method for rewriting at least one of a control program and a data stored to a first nonvolatile memory in an electric device by executing a write-control program, the method comprising the steps of:

determining whether a rewrite mode is or not;

changing a baud-rate when the rewrite mode is determined;

receiving the write-control program sent at the changed baud-rate from an external device; and

rewriting at least one of the control program and the control data by executing the received write-control program.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the write-control program is sent to a second memory in the electric device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the second memory is volatile.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the write-control program is executed in the second memory.