Method and apparatus for matching vehicle ECU programming to current vehicle operating conditions
First Claim
1. A method of changing the ECU programming of a vehicle ECU responsible for setting maximum vehicle speed in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) enabling a driver of the vehicle to communicate with a remote representative tasked with approving such ECU speed programming changes;
(b) conveying from the remote representative to the vehicle approval to implement the ECU speed programming for a different maximum vehicle speed; and
(c) in response to receiving approval at the vehicle, automatically reprogramming the ECU in the vehicle using new ECU speed programming to implement the different maximum vehicle speed setting.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are techniques for implementing vehicle ECU reprogramming, so the ECU programming, which plays a large role in vehicle performance characteristics, is tailored to current operational requirements, which may be different than the operational characteristics selected by the manufacturer when initially programming the vehicle ECU (or ECUs) with specific instruction sets, such as fuel maps. In one embodiment, a controller monitors the current operational characteristics of the vehicle, determines the current ECU programming, and determines if a different programming set would better suited to the current operating conditions. In the event that the current programming set should be replaced, the controller implements the ECU reprogramming. In a related embodiment, users are enabled to specify the ECU programming to change, such as changing speed limiter settings.
33 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of changing the ECU programming of a vehicle ECU responsible for setting maximum vehicle speed in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) enabling a driver of the vehicle to communicate with a remote representative tasked with approving such ECU speed programming changes; (b) conveying from the remote representative to the vehicle approval to implement the ECU speed programming for a different maximum vehicle speed; and (c) in response to receiving approval at the vehicle, automatically reprogramming the ECU in the vehicle using new ECU speed programming to implement the different maximum vehicle speed setting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle including a reprogrammable ECU responsible for setting maximum vehicle speed in a vehicle, vehicle comprising:
(a) the reprogrammable ECU responsible for setting maximum vehicle speed in a vehicle, the reprogrammable ECU implementing the functions of; (i) determining if an approval for reprogramming has been received at the vehicle from a remote source, and if so; and (ii) automatically reprogramming the reprogrammable ECU with an approved new maximum speed setting as defined in the approval received at the vehicle from a remote source. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of matching the programming of a vehicle controller that controls at least one performance characteristic of a vehicle to current vehicle operational requirements, the comprising the steps of:
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(a) enabling a user to define current vehicle operational requirements; (b) using a processor to analyze the vehicle controller programming, in light of the vehicle operational requirements and input data, in real-time to determine if different programming would lead to improved performance, and (c) if the analysis so indicates, automatically requesting approval to change the programming of the vehicle controller; and (d) if the approval is granted, automatically changing the programming of the vehicle controller to improve the performance of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having machine instructions stored thereon for remotely monitoring vehicle performance data, and determining if different ECU programming would result in improved performance, the machine instructions, when implemented by a processor, carrying out the functions of:
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(a) analyzing the vehicle operational data received from the vehicle in real-time to determine if different programming would lead to improved performance; (b) if the analysis so indicates, automatically requesting approval to change the programming of the vehicle controller; (c) automatically determining if an approval is received, and if so; (d) automatically wirelessly conveying instructions to the vehicle to implement changing the programming of the vehicle controller to improve the performance of the vehicle when such reprogramming would result in improved performance.
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Specification