Electronic control unit for vehicle and data communication method

• US 9,164,696 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2014
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chappell, Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US14/219,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20140208008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 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, comprising:

a nonvolatile memory that is capable of erasing and writing data electrically, and

a communication circuit which includes a plurality of communication buffers normally preassigned for communication with respective external devices, which external devices are external to the electronic control unit when the electronic control unit is not set in an application program writing communication environment,

wherein the external devices include a writing tool which is connected to the electronic control unit and which, when the electronic control unit is set in the application program writing communication environment, transmits a program to be written into the nonvolatile memory,

wherein when the electronic control unit is not set in the application program writing communication environment, and communicates with an external device other than the writing tool among the external devices, the electronic control unit is configured to communicate using a communication buffer normally preassigned for communication with the external device other than the writing tool, from among the plurality of communication buffers,

wherein when the electronic control unit, when set in the application program writing communication environment, communicates with the writing tool, the electronic control unit is configured to communicate using a plurality of the communication buffers simultaneously, including a communication buffer normally preassigned for communication with the writing tool and also using at least one communication buffer which is normally preassigned for communication with at least one external device other than the writing tool when the electronic control unit is not set in the application program writing communication environment,

wherein the plurality of communication buffers have a same size, and

wherein the electronic control unit, when set in the application program writing communication environment, receives the program by simultaneously communicating via a greater number of communication buffers than a number of communication buffers used when the electronic control unit is not set in the application program writing communication environment.

2. The electronic control unit for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the size of the communication buffers used to receive the program is set based on a predetermined size or a size of the program written into the memory.

3. The electronic control unit for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the communication buffers used to receive the program include a communication buffer unused by external devices other than the writing tool, when the electronic control unit is set in the application program writing communication environment.

4. A data communication method for use in communication of an electronic control unit with external devices for a vehicle,

wherein the electronic control unit is provided with a nonvolatile memory that is capable of erasing and writing data electrically, and a communication circuit which includes a plurality of communication buffers normally preassigned for communication with the external devices, respectively, which external devices are external to the electronic control unit when the electronic control unit is not set in an application program writing communication environment,

wherein the external devices include a writing tool which is connected to the electronic control unit and which, when the electronic control unit is set in the application program writing communication environment, transmits a program to be written into the nonvolatile memory,

wherein the method comprises:

using, when the electronic control unit is not set in the application programming environment and communicates with an external device other than the writing tool among the external devices, a communication buffer normally preassigned for communication with the external device other than the writing tool, from among the plurality of communication buffers, and

using, when the electronic control unit is set in the application program writing communication environment and communicates with the writing tool, a plurality of the communication buffers simultaneously, including a communication buffer normally preassigned for communication with the writing tool and also using at least one communication buffer which is normally preassigned for communication with at least one external device other than the writing tool when the electronic control unit is not set in the application program writing communication environment,

wherein the plurality of communication buffers have a same size, and

wherein the electronic control unit, when set in the application program writing communication environment, receives the program by simultaneously communicating via a greater number of communication buffers than a number of communication buffers used when the electronic control unit is not set in the application program writing communication environment.

5. The data communication method according to claim 4, wherein the size of the communication buffers used to receive the program is set based on a predetermined size or a size of the program written into the memory.

6. The data communication method according to claim 4, wherein the communication buffers used to receive the program include a communication buffer unused by external devices other than the writing tool, when the electronic control unit is set in the application program writing communication environment.