Control unit having a deactivatable interface

• US 20060235588A1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Stahl, Rainer, Krimmer, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 7,705,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

A control unit having a microprocessor and at least one electronic memory for storing a program-controlled sequence control for a motor vehicle and a first electronic interface for transmitting the program code of the sequence control from an external data transmission device into the memory and also having a second electronic interface are provided. To prevent manipulation of the contents of the memory, the first electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated after its initial use.

Claims

1. Control unit comprising:

a microprocessor;

at least one electronic memory for storing a program-controlled sequence control for a motor vehicle;

a first electronic interface for transmitting a program code of the sequence control from an external data transmission device to the memory; and

a second electronic interface;

wherein the first electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated.

2. Control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit forms part of an electronic immobilizer.

3. Control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed so that safety-critical data can be read out only via the first electronic interface before being deactivated.

4. Control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic memory is accessed via the second electronic interface only by using a code that authorizes the access.

5. Control unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein read or write access to the electronic memory is made possible via the second electronic interface.

6. Control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first electronic interface is provided with electric terminals and the electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated by at least partial physical removal by milling off, removing by laser, vaporizing, gluing or mechanically breaking off a part of the first electronic interface along an intended breaking line of the circuit board of the control unit.

7. Control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first electronic interface is provided with an interrupt device which has interruptible electric connections, and the electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated by activating the interrupt device by applying an excess voltage that causes an interrupt.

8. Control unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit is designed so that safety-critical data can be read out only via the first electronic interface before being deactivated.

9. Control unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electronic memory is accessed via the second electronic interface only by using a code that authorizes the access.

10. Control unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electronic memory is accessed via the second electronic interface only by using a code that authorizes the access.

11. Control unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first electronic interface is provided with electric terminals and the electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated by at least partial physical removal by milling off, removing by laser, vaporizing, gluing or mechanically breaking off a part of the first electronic interface along an intended breaking line of the circuit board of the control unit.

12. Control unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first electronic interface is provided with electric terminals and the electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated by at least partial physical removal by milling off, removing by laser, vaporizing, gluing or mechanically breaking off a part of the first electronic interface along an intended breaking line of the circuit board of the control unit.

13. Control unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first electronic interface is provided with electric terminals and the electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated by at least partial physical removal by milling off, removing by laser, vaporizing, gluing or mechanically breaking off a part of the first electronic interface along an intended breaking line of the circuit board of the control unit.

14. Control unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first electronic interface is provided with electric terminals and the electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated by at least partial physical removal, in particular by milling them off, removing by laser, vaporizing, gluing or mechanically breaking off a part of the first electronic interface along an intended breaking line of the circuit board of the control unit.

15. Control unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first electronic interface is provided with an interrupt device which has interruptible electric connections, and the electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated by activating the interrupt device by applying an excess voltage that causes an interrupt.

16. Control unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first electronic interface is provided with an interrupt device which has interruptible electric connections, and the electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated by activating the interrupt device by applying an excess voltage that causes an interrupt.

17. Control unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first electronic interface is provided with an interrupt device which has interruptible electric connections, and the electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated by activating the interrupt device by applying an excess voltage that causes an interrupt.

18. Electronic immobilizer of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a control unit, comprising;

a microprocessor;

at least one electronic memory for storing a program-controlled sequence control for a motor vehicle;

a first electronic interface for transmitting a program code of the sequence control from an external data transmission device to the memory; and

a second electronic interface;

wherein the first electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated.

19. Method for irreversible deactivation of a first electronic interface of a control unit having a microprocessor and an electronic memory for storing a program-controlled sequence control and a second electronic interface, the method comprising the acts of:

inputting a program code forming the sequence control into the electronic memory via the first electronic interface; and

irreversibly deactivating the first electronic interface after inputting the program code.

20. Method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first electronic interface is provided with electric contacts which are deactivated by milling off, removing with a laser, vaporizing or applying adhesive, or the first electronic interface is provided with an interrupt device which has electric connections that can be interrupted by excess voltage and the electronic interface is irreversibly deactivated due to excess voltage.