Memory writing device for an electronic device

• US 6,957,296 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2002
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ishida, Takashi, Kawase, Yoshihiro, Kida, Yoshiaki, Terada, Yukari
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Denise
• Application Number:
  US10/062,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 711/103, 711/147, 711/154, 710 60- 61, 710/106, 710/11, 709/233, 709/248, 709/213, 709/216, 713/400, 713/500, 713/600, 713 1- 2, 713/100, 701/33, 701/35, 701/24, 701/26
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2487 Methods for rewriting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• 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: G11C 16/102 External programming circuits, e.g. EPROM programmers; In-circuit programming or reprogramming; EPROM emulators

Abstract

To provide a memory-writing device which can simply and reliably write desired data to a nonvolatile memory of an electronic device, connection is made with an ECU to perform write processing to write write data from the memory-writing device to a flash ROM by copying a write-control program from the external portion to a RAM and executing the write-control program, and by sequentially sending the foregoing write-control program and write data to this ECU together with sending, at a predetermined timing, write-control information required for the ECU to execute the write-control program, the write-control program and the write-control information are stored in a freely attachable and removable first ROM and the write-control information stored in the first ROM is read and sent to the ECU at a memory-rewriting device.

Claims

1. A control unit comprising:

a volatile memory;

a nonvolatile memory storing a control program and control data therein;

a processor including a rewrite control program receiver and a communication speed changer;

the rewrite control program receiver receiving a rewrite control program sent from an external device, the rewrite control program including a conimunication speed change section, including a communication speed change instruction, and a rewrite instruction section, and for storing the rewrite control program in the volatile memory; and

the communication speed changer, responsive to the communication speed change instruction received by the rewrite control program receiver, changing a data communication speed of data communication with the external device, which is used to send the rewrite instruction section from the external device.

2. The control unit of claim 1, wherein:

the communication speed change section further includes a send speed instruction;

the communication speed changer is for, prior to changing the data communication speed, receiving the send speed instruction and sending a signal indicative of a current communication speed to the external device responsive to the send speed instruction.

3. The control unit of claim 1, wherein:

the communication speed change instruction is provided preceding the rewrite instruction section in the rewrite control program sent from the external device.

4. The control unit of claim 1, wherein the processor is for controlling a vehicle by using the control data stored in the non-volatile memory and for executing rewriting of the control data with new control data sent from the external device;

wherein the processor is programmed to send a baud rate signal to the external device when the external device is detachably connected for control data rewriting, the baud rate signal being indicative of a predetermined baud rate of data communication supported by the control unit; and

wherein the processor is programmed to receive the new control data from the external device at the predetermined baud rate and rewrite the vehicle control data stored in the non-volatile memory with the new control data.

5. The control unit of claim 4,

wherein the processor is further programmed to rewrite the vehicle control data of the non-volatile memory based on the rewrite control program stored in the volatile memory;

and

wherein the vehicle control data and the new control data include a vehicle control program which the processor executes for controlling the vehicle.

6. A control unit for a vehicle having a vehicle control device, the control unit comprising:

a first memory storing therein at least one of a device control program and data for controlling the vehicle control device, the first memory being a nonvolatile type;

a second memory provided in addition to the first memory, the second memory being a volatile type; and

a processor for controlling the vehicle control device by using the at least one of a device control program and data stored in the first memory;

wherein the processor is constructed to store in the second memory a rewrite control program sent from an external device for executing rewriting of the first memory upon determination of a rewrite mode based on information sent from the external device, and to rewrite first memory with at least one of a new device control program and data sent from the external device based on execution of the rewrite control program stored in the second memory; and

wherein the processor is further constructed to change a speed of communication with the external device to a new communication speed upon the determination of the rewrite mode and before storing the rewrite control program in the second memory and before beginning execution of the rewrite control program.

7. The control unit of claim 6, wherein the processor is further constructed to change the speed of communication with the external device to the new communication speed before the rewrite control program is sent from the external device and before storing the rewrite control program in the second memory.

8. A control unit for a vehicle having a vehicle control device, the control unit comprising:

a first memory storing therein at least one of a device control program and data for controlling the vehicle control device, the first memory being a nonvolatile type;

a second memory provided in addition to the first memory, the second memory being a volatile type; and

a processor for controlling the vehicle control device by using the at least one of device control program or data stored in the first memory;

wherein the processor is constructed to store in a second memory a rewrite control program sent from an external device for executing rewriting of the first memory upon detennination of a rewrite mode based on information sent from the external device, and to rewrite the first memory with at least one of a new device control program and data sent from the external device based on execution of the rewrite control program stored in the second memory; and

wherein the processor is further constructed to change a speed of communication with the external device to a new communication speed upon the determination of the rewrite mode and before receiving the rewrite control program from the external device and before beginning execution of the rewrite control program.

9. The control unit of claim 8, wherein the processor is further constructed to change the speed of communication with the external device to the new communication speed before the at least one of a new device control program and data is sent from the external device and before receiving the rewrite control program from the external device.

10. A control unit for a vehicle having a vehicle control device, the control unit comprising:

a first memory storing therein at least one of a device control program and data for controlling the vehicle control device, the first memory being a nonvolatile type;

a second memory provided in addition to the first memory the second memory being a volatile type; and

a processor for controlling the vehicle control device by using the at least one of a device control program and data stored in the first memory;

wherein the processor is constructed to store in the second memory a rewrite control program sent from an external device for executing rewriting of the first memory upon determination of a rewrite mode based on information sent from the external device, and to rewrite first memory with at least one of a new device control program and data sent from the external device based on execution of the rewrite control program stored in the second memory; and

wherein the processor is further constructed to change a speed of communication with the external device to a new communication speed after the determination of the rewrite mode and before storing the rewrite control program in the second memory and before beginning execution of the rewrite control program.

11. The control unit of claim 10, wherein the processor is further constructed to change the speed of communication with the external device to the new conimunication speed before the rewrite control program is sent from the external device and before storing the rewrite control program in the second memory.

12. A control unit for a vehicle having a vehicle control device, the control unit comprising:

a first memory storing therein at least one of a device control program and data for controlling the vehicle control device, the first memory being a nonvolatile type;

a second memory provided in addition to the first memory, the second memory being a volatile type; and

a processor for controlling the vehicle control device by using the at least one of device control program or data stored in the first memory;

wherein the processor is constructed to store in a second memory a rewrite control program sent from an external device for executing rewriting of the first memory after determination of a rewrite mode based on information sent from the external device, and to rewrite the first memory with at least one of a new device control program and data sent from the external device based on execution of the rewrite control program stored in the second memory; and

wherein the processor is further constructed to change a speed of communication with the external device to a new communication speed after the determination of the rewrite mode and before receiving the rewrite control program from the external device and before beginning execution of the rewrite control program.

13. The control unit of claim 12, wherein the processor is further constructed to change the speed of communication with the external device to the new conununication speed before the at least one of a new device control program and data is sent from the external device and before receiving the rewrite control program from the external device.