SMART VEHICLE REFLASH WITH BATTERY SOC ESTIMATOR

• US 20150277890A1
• Filed: 04/01/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Throop, Medville Jay, Mueller, Paul A., Johnson, April D., Tillman, Brian D., Nagi, Charles H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,229,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/183 Provision of network file services by network file servers, e.g. by using NFS, CIFS network file access protocols H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Electronic modules in motor vehicles are reflashed without encountering errors due to insufficient electrical power becoming available during a reflashing. A server system stores a database of update files together with data corresponding to a respective current draw and a respective reflash time associated with the respective update files when applied in each respective vehicle. A vehicle sends pedigree information to the server system which then identifies relevant update files and corresponding current draw and reflash time data for the particular vehicle. The relevant update files and corresponding data are sent to the particular vehicle. A state of charge of a battery in the vehicle is determined. A depleted state of charge is estimated that would remain after applying a relevant update file. The update file is not applied if the estimated depleted state of charge is less than a predetermined state of charge.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

maintaining in a server system a database of update files for reflashing of respective electronic modules installed in respective vehicles within a vehicle fleet;

maintaining in the server system data corresponding to a respective current draw and a respective reflash time associated with the respective update files when applied in each respective vehicle;

sending pedigree information from a particular one of the respective vehicles to the server system;

identifying in the server system relevant update files and corresponding current draw and reflash time data for the particular vehicle in response to the pedigree information;

sending the relevant update files and corresponding data to the particular vehicle;

determining a state of charge of a battery in the particular vehicle;

estimating a depleted state of charge that would remain after applying a relevant update file; and

applying the update file if the depleted state of charge is greater than a predetermined state of charge and not applying the update file if the depleted state of charge is less than the predetermined state of charge.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

prioritizing a plurality of the relevant update files into a reflash schedule;

wherein the estimating step determines a respective depleted state of charge after each relevant update file in the schedule.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

reporting an actual reflash time to the server system after applying a respective update file.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

reporting an actual current draw to the server system after applying a respective update file.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the estimating step estimates the depleted state of charge in response to the corresponding current draw and reflash time data.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the estimating step estimates the depleted state of charge further in response to a current draw corresponding with other modules operating within the particular vehicle while a relevant update file is applied to the respective module.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

shedding loads that are unnecessary while a relevant update file is applied to the respective module.

8. A server system for updating electronic modules installed in respective vehicles in a vehicle fleet, comprising:

a database of update files for reflashing of respective electronic modules;

a database storing data defining a respective current draw and a respective reflash time associated with the respective update files when applied in each respective vehicle;

a controller configured to A) receive pedigree information from a particular one of the respective vehicles to the server system, B) identify relevant update files and corresponding current draw and reflash time data for the particular vehicle in response to the pedigree information, and C) send the relevant update files and corresponding data to the particular vehicle.

9. The server system of claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to receive a report of an actual current draw from the particular vehicle after applying a respective update file.

10. The server system of claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to receive a report of an actual reflash time from the particular vehicle after applying a respective update file.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a plurality of electronic modules operating with updatable instruction sets;

a master electronic module configured for wireless communication with a remote server system storing a database of update files for reflashing of respective ones of the plurality of electronic modules and storing data corresponding to a respective current draw and a respective reflash time associated with the respective update files when applied in the vehicle;

wherein the master electronic module is configured to determine a state of charge of a battery in the vehicle, estimate a depleted state of charge that would remain after applying a relevant update file, to apply the update file if the depleted state of charge is greater than a predetermined state of charge, and not apply the update file if the depleted state of charge is less than the predetermined state of charge.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the master electronic module is further configured to prioritize a plurality of the relevant update files into a reflash schedule, and wherein a respective depleted state of charge is estimated after each relevant update file in the schedule.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the master electronic module is further configured to report an actual reflash time to the server system after applying a respective update file.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the master electronic module is further configured to report an actual current draw to the server system after applying a respective update file.

15. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the master electronic module estimates the depleted state of charge in response to the corresponding current draw and reflash time data.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the master electronic module estimates the depleted state of charge further in response to a current draw corresponding with other modules operating within the vehicle while a relevant update file is applied to the respective module.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the master electronic module is further configured to shed loads that are unnecessary while a relevant update file is applied to the respective module.