Data-refresh apparatus

• US 9,983,809 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2014
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Mizutani, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaudry, Mujtaba M
• Application Number:
  US15/032,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20160253113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1044 with specific ECC/EDC distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/106 Correcting systematically all correctable errors, i.e. scrubbing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0632 by initialisation or re-initialisation of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]

Abstract

A data-refresh apparatus performs a refresh control on a storage device being included in an onboard apparatus and including a NAND-type flash memory. The refresh control detects an error of all data and corrects a detected error. The data-refresh apparatus comprises a first refresh portion; and a second refresh portion that performs the refresh control when the onboard apparatus is installed to a vehicle and the vehicle subsequently becomes a predetermined service state. The storage device is written with data and subsequently soldered to a circuit board in manufacturing of the onboard apparatus. The second refresh portion includes a travel determination portion that determines whether the vehicle remains a travel state. The second refresh portion performs the refresh control while assuming that the vehicle becomes the predetermined service state, when the travel determination portion determines that the vehicle remains the travel state.

Claims

1. A data-refresh apparatus that performs a refresh control on a storage device being included in an onboard apparatus and including a NAND-type flash memory, the refresh control detecting an error of all data stored in the flash memory and correcting a detected error, the data-refresh apparatus comprising:

a first refresh portion that performs the refresh control when a predetermined period elapses; and

a second refresh portion that performs the refresh control when the onboard apparatus is installed to a vehicle and the vehicle subsequently becomes a predetermined service state,

wherein;

the storage device is written with data and subsequently soldered to a circuit board in manufacturing of the onboard apparatus;

the second refresh portion includes a travel determination portion that determines whether the vehicle remains a travel state; and

the second refresh portion performs the refresh control while assuming that the vehicle becomes the predetermined service state, when the travel determination portion determines that the vehicle remains the travel state.

2. The data-refresh apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the second refresh portion starts the refresh control when the onboard apparatus is installed to the vehicle and the vehicle subsequently becomes the predetermined service state; and

when the refresh control starts and when an error detection and correction of the detected error is not completed on the all data within a period while power is supplied to the onboard apparatus,

the error detection of remaining data of the all data and the correction of the detected error are performed when the power is supplied to the onboard apparatus next time.

3. The data-refresh apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the onboard apparatus is provided by an in-vehicle navigation system; and

the travel determination portion determines whether the vehicle remains the travel state, based on a position of the vehicle calculated by the in-vehicle navigation system.

4. The data-refresh apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the travel determination portion determines whether the vehicle remains the travel state, based on a vehicle speed signal inputted to the onboard apparatus and indicates that the vehicle remains the travel state.