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Method and apparatus for programming motor vehicle controls

  • US 5,521,588 A
  • Filed: 05/10/1994
  • Issued: 05/28/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. Arrangement for programming at least one control device which is retrofitted or replaced, in a motor vehicle having a plurality of local control devices which are coupled in communication with each other and with a central control device contained on one of said local control devices, by means of a data bus, said central control device having a non-volatile vehicle configuration memory with vehicle configuration data concerning control devices and equipment present on the vehicle, and a program for controlling distribution of vehicle configuration data by means of the data bus as well as entry of such data into the local control devices, and each of said local control devices having a bus function for receiving, selecting and storing vehicle configuration data transmitted to said local control devices via the data bus, at least by initialization of the control program, said arrangement comprising:

  • at least one of said local control devices having volatile memory means for receiving from said central control device vehicle configuration data comprising at least a control program and control parameters to enable said local control device to operate, said volatile memory means erasing its contents when it loses electric power;

    means for supplying continuous electric power to said at least one of said local control devices while it remains installed in the vehicle, including when the vehicle is stationary and when the engine is not running; and

    a separate resident control program contained in said at least one of said local control devices, which resident control program is operative in response to detection of a nonprogrammed state of said volatile memory of said at least one of said local control devices, in which nonprogrammed state said volatile memory contains no vehicle configuration data for said vehicle, and in response to detection of said nonprogrammed state said resident control program initializes the central control device to automatically transfer vehicle configuration data from its vehicle configuration memory, via said data bus, and can store said vehicle configuration data in said volatile memory.

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