Method for programming flash EEPROMS in microprocessor-equipped vehicle control electronics
First Claim
1. A method for programming an electrically erasable and programmable memory of a microprocessor of an electronic control unit, said electronic control unit being at least one of a controller and regulator associated with at least one electronic system of a road vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. generating at least one memory-map in a memory area defined in said electrically erasable and programmable memory, said memory area being at least one of (i) a program memory, (ii) a data memory and (iii) a combination program and data memory, b. generating a description data file, said description data file including an equipment description associated with electronic control unit types acceptable for receiving at least one preselected program, said description data file further including at least one hardware number corresponding to an equipment version associated with at least one of said electronic control unit types, c. generating from said memory-map and said description data file a programming data file, said programming data file including said equipment description and said at least one preselected program, d. reading said programming data file into a diagnostic device, e. transferring said programming data file from said diagnostic device to said electronic control unit, f. utilizing said electronic control unit, determining based on said equipment description if said electronic control unit corresponds to at least one of said electronic control unit types acceptable for receiving said at least one preselected program, and g. by said electronic control unit itself, programming said at least one preselected program into said electrically erasable and programmable memory of said electronic control unit in a manner specified by said programming data file when said electronic control unit corresponds to at least one of said electronic control unit types acceptable for receiving said at least one preselected program.
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Abstract
A method for safe programming of an electrically erasable and programmable memory (e.g., a flash EEPROM) in a control unit (e.g., a vehicle ECU) utilizing a programming data set that is read into the control unit and evaluated thereby. The programming data set contains, besides the memory-map to be programmed, an equipment description of the control units authorized for programming so that the control unit can perform an identity check to determine whether it itself belongs to the range of authorized control units. If the identity check indicates that it is authorized for programming, reprogramming is performed using a programming device provided in the control unit itself.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for programming an electrically erasable and programmable memory of a microprocessor of an electronic control unit, said electronic control unit being at least one of a controller and regulator associated with at least one electronic system of a road vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. generating at least one memory-map in a memory area defined in said electrically erasable and programmable memory, said memory area being at least one of (i) a program memory, (ii) a data memory and (iii) a combination program and data memory, b. generating a description data file, said description data file including an equipment description associated with electronic control unit types acceptable for receiving at least one preselected program, said description data file further including at least one hardware number corresponding to an equipment version associated with at least one of said electronic control unit types, c. generating from said memory-map and said description data file a programming data file, said programming data file including said equipment description and said at least one preselected program, d. reading said programming data file into a diagnostic device, e. transferring said programming data file from said diagnostic device to said electronic control unit, f. utilizing said electronic control unit, determining based on said equipment description if said electronic control unit corresponds to at least one of said electronic control unit types acceptable for receiving said at least one preselected program, and g. by said electronic control unit itself, programming said at least one preselected program into said electrically erasable and programmable memory of said electronic control unit in a manner specified by said programming data file when said electronic control unit corresponds to at least one of said electronic control unit types acceptable for receiving said at least one preselected program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification