Method and apparatus for generating calibration information for an electronic engine control module

• US 5,426,585 A
• Filed: 05/28/1992
• Issued: 06/20/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Electronics Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Roberts, Michele S., Weaver, Ralph M., Grube, Ernest F., Faulkner, Vernon M., Pash, Phillip E., White, Gregory R., Stepper, Mark R., Lannan, Ronald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARK, COLLIN
• Application Number:
  US07/890,652
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 364/431.03, 364/431.04, 364/431.12, 364/424.03, 364/424.04, 395/500, 395/600
• US Class Current: 702/85
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2425 Particular ways of programming the data

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating calibration information in which a subfile type is defined for each of a plurality of categories of data including (1) engine control data, (2) engine family data, (3) vehicle interface data, (4) software sequencing data, (5) electronic configuration data, and (6) memory configuration data. A separate subfile is created in memory for each of a plurality of individual sets of data in each of the data categories. Each subfile is automatically provided with line checksums, a cyclic redundancy code, date information, a subfile type identifier, and a subfile authorization level, and data entries are automatically verified base on rules stored in memory in a rules file, each of the subfile types having an associated rules file, and each of the rules files defining criteria for individual data items and for interrelationships between data items in its associated subfile type. A compatibility file is created in memory to identify subfiles of one type which are compatible with a subfile of another type. Each subfile and the compatibility file are distributed individually via an electronic communication link to multiple service computers programmed to determine compatibility among selected subfiles based on information stored in the compatibility file and to assemble compatible subfiles into a calibration file for a particular engine control module.

Claims

1. A method of generating calibration information for an electronic engine control module, comprising the steps:

defining a subfile type for each of a plurality of categories of data including (1) engine control data, (2) engine family data, (3) vehicle interface data, (4) software sequencing data, (5) electronic configuration data, and (6) memory configuration data;

creating a separate subfile in memory for each of a plurality of individual sets of data in each of said data categories, said creating step including

automatically providing each subfile with line checksums, a cyclic redundancy code, date information, a subfile type identifier, and a subfile authorization level; and

automatically verifying data entries based on rules stored in memory in a rules file, each of said subfile types having an associated rules file, each of said rules files defining criteria for individual data items and for interrelationships between data items in its associated subfile type;

creating a compatibility file in memory identifying subfiles of one type which are compatible with a subfile of another type;

distributing each subfile and said compatibility file individually via an electronic communication link to a plurality of service computers programmed to determine compatibility among selected subfiles based on information stored in said compatibility file and to assemble compatible subfiles into a calibration file for a particular engine control module; and

generating calibration information for said particular engine control module from said calibration file.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps:

providing said engine control module with a ROM containing multiple stored routines and an EEPROM divided into a ROM-independent area and a ROM-dependent area, said ROM-independent area containing an index table and a sequence table, said ROM-dependent area containing a routine list and a patch area for a substitute for one of said stored routines, said index table containing pointers to locations in said ROM-independent area and in said ROM-dependent area, said sequence table containing pointers to locations in said routine list, and said routine list containing pointers to locations in said ROM; and

loading said calibration information selectively into said ROM-independent and ROM-dependent areas of said EEPROM in said engine control module.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said loading step includes supplying a security handshake that changes for each of a plurality of secure messages.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said loading step further includes initially installing a footprint into a nonvolatile memory in said engine control module, processing header records, and verifying the calibration file data in said engine control module with that in the service computer used for said loading step, said processing of header records including storing a calibration part number into an electronic data plate in said nonvolatile memory.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said loading step further includes preliminarily verifying the presence of either a predetermined test pattern of a footprint from a prior loading operation in memory in said engine control module.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step:

loading said calibration information into said engine control module;

said loading step including supplying a security handshake that changes for each of a plurality of secure messages.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step:

loading said calibration information into said engine control module, said loading step including initially installing a footprint into a nonvolatile memory in said engine control module, processing header records, and verifying the calibration file data in said engine control module with that in the service computer used for said loading step, said processing of header records including storing a calibration part number into an electronic data plate in said nonvolatile memory.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step:

loading said calibration information into said engine control module, said loading step including preliminarily verifying the presence of either a predetermined test pattern or a footprint from a prior loading operation in memory in said engine control module.

9. A method of generating calibration information for an electronic engine control module, comprising the steps:

defining a subfile type for each of a plurality of categories of engine calibration data;

creating a separate subfile in memory for each of a plurality of individual sets of data in each of said engine calibration data categories, said creating step including automatically verifying data entries based on rules stored in memory in a rules file, each of said subfile types having an associated rules file, each of said rules files defining criteria for individual data items and for interrelationships between data items in its associated subfile type;

creating a compatibility file in memory identifying subfiles of one type which are compatible with a subfile of another type;

distributing each subfile and said compatibility file individually via an electronic communication link to a plurality of service computers programmed to determine compatibility among selected subfiles based on information stored in said compatibility file and to assemble compatible subfiles into a calibration file for a particular engine control module;

providing said engine control module with a ROM containing multiple stored routines and an EEPROM divided into a ROM-independent area and a ROM-dependent area, said ROM-independent area containing an index table and a sequence table, said ROM-dependent area containing a routine list and a patch area for a substitute for one of said stored routines, said index table containing pointers to locations in said ROM-independent area and in said ROM-dependent area, said sequence table containing pointers to locations in said routine list, and said routine list containing pointers to locations in said ROM;

generating calibration information for said particular engine control module from said calibration file; and

loading said calibration information selectively into said ROM-independent and ROM-dependent areas of said EEPROM in said engine control module.

10. A method of generating calibration information for an electronic engine control module, comprising the steps:

defining a subfile type for each of a plurality of categories of engine calibration data;

creating a separate subfile in memory for each of a plurality of individual sets of data in each of said engine calibration data categories, said creating step including automatically verifying data entries based on rules stored in memory in a rules file, each of said subfile types having an associated rules file, each of said rules files defining criteria for individual data items and for interrelationships between data items in its associated subfile type;

creating a compatibility file in memory identifying subfiles of one type which are compatible with a subfile of another type;

distributing each subfile and said compatibility file individually via an electronic communication link to a plurality of service computers programmed to determine compatibility among selected subfiles based on information stored in said compatibility file and to assemble compatible subfiles into a calibration file for a particular engine control module;

generating calibration information for said particular engine control module from said calibration file; and

loading said calibration information into said engine control module, said loading step including supplying a security handshake that changes for each of a plurality of secure messages.

11. A method of calibrating an electronic engine control module, comprising the steps:

providing a first computer with a separate subline for each of a plurality of individual sets of data in each of a plurality of engine calibration data categories;

providing said first computer with a compatibility file identifying subfiles of one type which are compatible with a subfile of another type;

assembling a calibration file in said first computer from compatible subfiles based on information stored in said compatibility file;

attaching calibration loading instructions to said calibration file in said first computer;

transferring said calibration file with attached calibration loading instructions to a service/recalibration tool at a remote location; and

calibrating said electronic engine control module through said service/calibration tool, said calibrating step including loading data from said calibration file in said service/recalibration tool into said electronic engine control module under control of said service/recalibration tool following said calibration loading instructions attached to said calibration file.

12. A system for generating calibration information for an electronic engine control module, comprising:

means for defining a subfile type for each of a plurality of categories of data including (1) engine control data, (2) engine family data, (3) vehicle interface data, (4) software sequencing data, (5) electronic configuration data, and (6) memory configuration data;

means for creating a separate subfile in memory for each of a plurality of individual sets of data in each of said data categories, said creating means including

means for automatically providing each subfile with line checksums, a cyclic redundancy code, date information, a subfile type identifier, and a subfile authorization level; and

means for automatically verifying data entries based on rules stored in memory in a rules file, each of said subfile types having an associated rules file, each of said rules files defining criteria for individual data items and for interrelationships between data items in its associated subfile type;

means for creating a compatibility file in memory identifying subfiles of one type which are compatible with a subfile of another type;

means for distributing each subfile and said compatibility file individually via an electronic communication link to a plurality of service computers programmed to determine compatibility among selected subfiles based on information stored in said compatibility file and to assemble compatible subfiles into a calibration file for a particular engine control module;

engine control module memory including a ROM containing multiple stored routines and an EEPROM divided into a ROM-independent area and a ROM-dependent area, said ROM-independent area containing an index table and a sequence table, said ROM-dependent area containing a routine list and a patch area for a substitute for one of said stored routines, said index table containing pointers to locations in said ROM-independent area and in said ROM-dependent area, said sequence table containing pointers to locations in said routine list, and said routine list containing pointers to locations in said ROM; and

service/recalibration tool means for generating calibration information for a particular engine control module from said calibration file a loading said calibration information selectively into said ROM-independent and ROM-dependent areas of said EEPROM in said engine control module, said service/recalibration tool means including means for supplying a security handshake that changes for each of a plurality of secure messages, means for initially installing a footprint into said EEPROM, means for processing header records, and means for verifying the calibration file data in said EEPROM with that in said service/recalibration tool means, said processing means including means for storing a calibration part number into an electronic data plate in said EEPROM, said service/recalibration tool means further including means for preliminarily verifying the presence of either a predetermined test pattern or a footprint from a prior loading operation in said EEPROM.

13. A system for generating calibration information for an electronic engine control module, comprising:

means for defining a subfile type for each of a plurality of categories of data including (1) engine control data, (2) engine family data, (3) vehicle interface data, (4) software sequencing data, (5) electronic configuration data, and (6) memory configuration data;

means for creating a separate subfile in memory for each of a plurality of individual sets of data in each of said data categories, said creating means including

means for automatically providing each subfile with line checksums, a cyclic redundancy code, date information, a subfile type identifier, and a subfile authorization level; and

means for automatically verifying data entries based on rules stored in memory in a rules file, each of said subfile types having an associated rules file, each of said rules files defining criteria for individual data items and for interrelationships between data items in its associated subfile type;

means for creating a compatibility file in memory identifying subfiles of one type which are compatible with a subfile of another type;

means for distributing each subfile and said compatibility file individually via an electronic communication link to a plurality of service computers programmed to determine compatibility among selected subfiles based on information stored in said compatibility file and to assemble compatible subfiles into a calibration file for a particular engine control module; and

means for generating calibration information for said particular engine control module from said calibration file.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for programming an engine control module having a ROM containing multiple stored routines and an EEPROM divided into a ROM-independent area and a ROM-dependent area, said ROM-independent area containing an index table and a sequence table, said ROM-dependent area containing a routine list and a patch area for a substitute for one of said stored routines, said index table containing pointers to locations in said ROM-independent area and in said ROM-dependent area, said sequence table containing pointers to locations in said routine list, and said routine list containing pointers to locations in said ROM, said programming means including means for loading said calibration information selectively into said ROM-independent and ROM-dependent areas of said EEPROM in said engine control module.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said loading means includes means for supplying a security handshake that changes for each of a plurality of secure messages.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said loading means further includes means for initially installing a footprint into a nonvolatile memory in said engine control module, processing header records, and verifying the calibration file data in said engine control module with that in the service computer used for said loading means, said means for processing of header records including storing a calibration part number into an electronic data plate in said nonvolatile memory.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said loading means further includes means for preliminarily verifying the presence of either a predetermined test pattern or a footprint from a prior loading operation in memory in said engine control module.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for loading said calibration information into said engine control module, said loading means including means for supplying a security handshake that changes for each of a plurality of secure messages.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for loading said calibration information into said engine control module, said loading means including means for initially installing a footprint into a nonvolatile memory in said engine control module, processing header records, and verifying the calibration file data in said engine control module with that in the service computer used for said loading means, said means for processing of header records including storing a calibration part number into an electronic data plate in said nonvolatile memory.

20. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for loading said calibration information into said engine control module, said loading means including means for preliminarily verifying the presence of either a predetermined test pattern or a footprint from a prior loading operation in memory in said engine control module.

21. A system for generating calibration information for an electronic engine control module, comprising:

means for defining a subfile type for each of a plurality of categories of engine calibration data;

means for creating a separate subfile in memory for each of a plurality of individual sets of data in each of said engine calibration data categories, said creating means including means for automatically verifying data entries based on rules stored in memory in a rules file, each of said subfile types having an associated rules file, each of said rules files defining criteria for individual data items and for interrelationships between data items in its associated subfile type;

means for creating a compatibility file in memory identifying subfiles of one type which are compatible with a subfile of another type;

means for distributing each subfile and said compatibility file individually via an electronic communication link to a plurality of service computers programmed to determine compatibility among selected subfiles based on information stored in said compatibility file and to assemble compatible subfiles into a calibration file for a particular engine control module;

means for generating calibration information for said particular engine control module from said calibration file; and

means for programming an engine control module having a ROM containing multiple stored routines and an EEPROM divided into a ROM-independent area and a ROM-dependent area, said ROM-independent area containing an index table and a sequence table, said RC,M-dependent area containing a routine list and a patch area for a substitute for one of said stored routines, said index table containing pointers to locations in said ROM-independent area and in said ROM-dependent area, said sequence table containing pointers to locations in said routine list, and said routine list containing pointers to locations in said ROM, said programming means including means for loading said calibration information selectively into said ROM-independent and ROM-dependent areas of said EEPROM in said engine control module.

22. A system for generating calibration information for an electronic engine control module, comprising:

means for defining a subfile type for each of a plurality of categories of engine calibration data;

means for creating a separate subfile in memory for each of a plurality of individual sets of data in each of said engine calibration data categories, said creating means including means for automatically verifying data entries based on rules stored in memory in a rules file, each of said subfile types having an associated rules file, each of said rules files defining criteria for individual data items and for interrelationships between data items in its associated subfile type;

means for creating a compatibility file in memory identifying subfiles of one type which are compatible with a subfile of another type;

means for distributing each subfile and said compatibility file individually via an electronic communication link to a plurality of service computers programmed to determine compatibility among selected subfiles based on information stored in said compatibility file and to assemble compatible subfiles into a calibration file for a particular engine control module;

means for generating calibration information for said particular engine control module from said calibration file; and

means for loading said calibration information into said engine control module, said loading means including means for supplying a security handshake that changes for each of a plurality of secure messages.

23. A system for calibrating an electronic engine control module, comprising:

a first computer, said first computer including means for receiving a separate subfile for each of plurality of individual a separate subfile for each of a plurality of engine calibration data categories, means for receiving a compatibility file identifying subfiles of one type which are compatible with a subfile of another type, means for assembling a calibration file from compatible subfiles based on information stored in said compatibility file, and means for attaching calibration loading instructions to said calibration file; and

a service/recalibration tool located remote from said first computer, said service/recalibration tool including means for receiving said calibration file with attached calibration loading instructions from said first computer, and means for calibrating said electronic engine control module, said calibrating means including means for loading data from said calibration file in said service/recalibration tool into said electronic engine control module following said calibration loading instructions attached to said calibration file.