ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FOR VEHICLE AND DATA COMMUNICATION METHOD

• US 20160011795A1
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: ABE, Yusuke, Yuasa, Koji, Arai, Toshihisa
• Granted Patent: US 9,836,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2487 Methods for rewriting
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/26 using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/263 the program execution being modifiable by physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1443 Transmit or communication errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0611 in relation to response time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0614 Improving the reliability of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0656 Data buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• 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: H04L 12/40169 Flexible bus arrangements arrangements for maintenance or administration involving management of faults; events, alarms H04L41/06; automatic restoration of network faults H04L41/0654
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40215 Controller Area Network CAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle

Abstract

An electronic control unit for a vehicle includes a nonvolatile memory that is capable of erasing and writing data electrically, and capable of receiving a program to be written into the nonvolatile memory in units of a predetermined size by means of communication using a communication buffer. The electronic control unit for the vehicle uses communication buffers, the number of which is greater than the number of communication buffers used in an in-vehicle communication environment, to receive the program.

Claims

1. An electronic control unit for a vehicle, connected to an external writing device that writes at least a control program for controlling the vehicle and a setting program of communication buffers, and comprising a first communication buffer used for communication with the external writing device and second communication buffers, each used for communication with a corresponding external device that controls the vehicle,

wherein the setting program of the communication buffers received from the external writing device assigns the second communication buffers as the first communication buffer, and the first communication buffer and the second communication buffers assigned as the first communication buffer are used to receive the control program and data from the external writing device.

2. The electronic control unit for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a size of the first communication buffer and a size of each second communication buffer are set based on a size of the control program and a size of the data, written into a nonvolatile memory that is capable of erasing and writing data electrically.

3. The electronic control unit for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the setting program of the communication buffers received from the external writing device is expanded and activated in a nonvolatile memory that temporarily stores data.

4. A data communication method for use in an electronic control unit for a vehicle, connected to an external writing device that writes at least a control program for controlling the vehicle and a setting program of communication buffers, and comprising a first communication buffer used for communication with the external writing device and second communication buffers, each used for communication with a corresponding external device that controls the vehicle,

the method comprising the steps of:

assigning the second communication buffers as the first communication buffer by the setting program of the communication buffers received from the external writing device; and

receiving the control program and data from the external writing device by using the first communication buffer and the second communication buffers assigned as the first communication buffer.

5. The data communication method according to claim 4, wherein a size of the first communication buffer and a size of each second communication buffer are set based on a size of the control program and a size of the data, written into a nonvolatile memory that is capable of erasing and writing data electrically.

6. The data communication method according to claim 4, wherein the electronic control unit for the vehicle expands and activates the setting program of the communication buffers received from the external writing device, in a nonvolatile memory that temporarily stores data.