ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FOR VEHICLE

• US 20090271051A1
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Umesaka, Takeo, Suganuma, Takeshi, Teramura, Mikio
• Granted Patent: US 8,078,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

An electronic control unit (ECU) for a vehicle is disclosed. The subject ECU stores: vehicle ID; and first cross-check information different from the vehicle ID. The subject ECU acquires second cross-check information different from the vehicle ID. The second cross-check information is stored in an external ECU that is mounted in a same vehicle as the subject ECU is mounted. The subject ECU determines whether the first cross-check information matches the second cross-check information. Upon receiving an instruction for changing the vehicle ID, the subject ECU prohibits a change the vehicle ID if the first cross-check information matches the second cross-check information, and the subject ECU changes the vehicle ID if the first cross-check information does not match the second cross-check information.

Claims

1. An electronic control unit for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle identification information storing part that stores therein vehicle identification information, which is unique on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis,

a first cross-check information storing part that stores therein first cross-check information, which is unique on the vehicle-by-vehicle basis and different from the vehicle identification information;

a second cross-check information acquisition section that acquires second cross-check information, which is unique on the vehicle-by-vehicle basis, different from the vehicle identification information and stored in an external electronic control unit that is mounted in a same vehicle as the subject electronic control unit is mounted in;

a cross-check information determination section that determines whether the first cross-check information matches the second cross-check information; and

a stored information management section that manages a change of the vehicle identification information stored in the vehicle identification information storing part upon receiving an instruction for changing the vehicle identification information, such that;

the stored information management section prohibits the change of the vehicle identification information when the cross-check information determination section determines that the first cross-check information matches the second cross-check information; and

the stored information management section changes the vehicle identification information when the cross-check information determination section determines that the first cross-check information does not match the second cross-check information.

2. The electronic control unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a malfunction information storing part that stores therein emission system malfunction information,

wherein;

the stored information management section erases the emission system malfunction information from the malfunction information storing part when the stored information management section changes the vehicle identification information; and

the stored information management section prohibits an erasure of the emission system malfunction information from the malfunction information storing part when the stored information management section prohibits the change of the vehicle identification information.

3. The electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the stored information management section prohibits a change of the first cross-check information stored in the first cross-check information storing part when the cross-check information determination section determines that the first cross-check information matches the second cross-check information.

4. The electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the first cross-check information and the second cross-check information includes immobilizer identification information, which is unique on the vehicle-by-vehicle basis.

5. The electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the stored information management section acquires the instruction for changing the vehicle identification information from an external apparatus by communicating with the external apparatus;

when the stored information management section receives the instruction for changing the vehicle identification information, the cross-check information determination section makes a determination of whether the first cross-check information matches the second cross-check information while not communicating with the external apparatus; and

the stored information management section manages the change of the vehicle identification information based on a result of the determination made by the cross-check information determination section while not communicating with the external apparatus.

6. The electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the stored information management section acquires the instruction for changing the vehicle identification information from an external apparatus by communicating with the external apparatus;

when the stored information management section receives the instruction for changing the vehicle identification information, the cross-check information determination section makes a determination of whether the first cross-check information matches the second cross-check information while communicating with the external apparatus; and

the stored information management section manages the change of the vehicle identification information based on a result of the determination made by the cross-check information determination section while communicating with the external apparatus.

7. An electronic control unit for a vehicle, comprising:

a first vehicle identification information storing part that stores therein first vehicle identification information, which is unique on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis;

a second vehicle identification information acquisition section that acquires second vehicle identification information, which is unique on the vehicle-by-vehicle basis and stored in an external electronic control unit that is mounted in a same vehicle as the subject electronic control unit is mounted in;

a vehicle identification information determination section that determines whether the first vehicle identification information matches the second vehicle identification information; and

a stored information management section that manages a change of the first vehicle identification information stored in the first vehicle identification information storing part upon receiving an instruction for changing the first vehicle identification information, such that;

the stored information management section prohibits the change of the first vehicle identification information when the vehicle identification information determination section determines that the first vehicle identification information matches the second vehicle identification information; and

the stored information management section changes the first vehicle identification information when the vehicle identification information determination section determines that the first vehicle identification information does not match the second vehicle identification information.