Chipped engine control unit system having copy protected and selectable multiple control programs

• US 7,047,128 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTK Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Frank Dudel, RTK Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Simmons, Mitchell W., Williams, Todd G., Dudel, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Argenbright, Tony M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Johnny H.
• Application Number:
  US10/317,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 701/115, 700/90, 711/100, 711/103, 711/163
• US Class Current: 701/115
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/11 After-sales modification devices designed to be used to modify an engine afterwards
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2416 Interpolation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2435 characterised by the writing medium, e.g. bar code
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2487 Methods for rewriting
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/26 using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1514 with means for optimising the use of registers or of memories, e.g. interpolation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for preventing a control program written in a first engine control unit (ECU) from running in a second ECU, comprising obtaining an ID number from the first ECU; encrypting the ID number; writing the encrypted ID number into a flash memory of the first ECU; encrypting the ID number again and writing the encrypted ID number into an EEPROM of the first ECU; and requiring the control program to match the encrypted ID number placed in the flash memory and the EEPROM before running the program, and if the match fails, terminating the control program from running further.

Claims

1. A chipped engine control unit (ECU) system, comprising:

a) chipped ECU;

b) said chipped ECU including a stock performance lookup table relating to an engine performance parameter and a chipped performance lookup table relating to said engine performance parameter; and

c) said chipped ECU includes a timer set for a predetermined period of time to allow the user to evaluate said chipped ECU.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said chipped ECU is programmed to revert to said stock performance lookup table when said predetermined period runs out.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said chipped ECU includes a communication port; and

b) said chipped ECU is programmed through said communication port.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said chipped ECU includes a memory chip; and

b) said chipped ECU is programmed by replacing said memory chip with another memory chip containing a new program.

5. A chipped engine control unit (ECU) system, comprising:

a) chipped ECU;

b) said chipped ECU including a stock performance lookup table and a chipped performance lookup table; and

c) said chipped ECU is programmed to run said performance lookup table only if an ID number of said chipped ECU matches with data located in at least one predetermined memory location in said chipped ECU.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein:

a) said chipped ECU includes an original control program stored in a flash memory; and

b) said at least one predetermined memory location is in said flash memory unused by said original ECU control program.

7. A system as in claim 5, wherein:

a) said chipped ECU includes a communication port; and

b) said chipped ECU is programmed through said communication port.

8. A system as in claim 5, wherein:

a) said chipped ECU includes a memory chip; and

b) said chipped ECU is programmed by replacing said memory chip with another memory chip containing a new program.

9. A chipped engine control unit (ECU) system, comprising:

a) chipped ECU;

b) an external device communicating with said chipped ECU;

c) said chipped ECU including a stock performance lookup table relating to an engine performance parameter and a chipped performance lookup table relating to said engine performance parameter; and

d) said external device is configured to allow a user to choose said stock performance lookup table, or said chipped performance lookup table, or another performance lookup table generated by linear interpolation between said stock and chipped performance lookup tables such that the user can select to operate said ECU at said stock performance lookup table, or said chipped performance lookup table, or in between said stock and chipped performance lookup tables.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein said chipped ECU includes a timer set for a predetermined period of time to allow the user to evaluate said chipped ECU.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein said chipped ECU is programmed to revert to said stock performance lookup table when said predetermined period runs out.

12. A system as in claim 9, wherein said stock and chipped performance lookup tables are 2-dimensional.

13. A system as in claim 9, wherein said stock and chipped performance lookup tables are 3-dimensional.

14. A system as in claim 9, wherein said chipped ECU is programmed to run said performance lookup table only if an ID number of said ECU matches with data located in predetermined locations in the ECU flash memory and EEPROM.

15. A system as in claim 14, wherein:

a) said chipped ECU includes an original control program; and

b) said predetermined locations are areas unused by said original ECU control program.

16. A system as in claim 9, wherein said external device is connected to a communications port of said ECU and includes a switch to select to operate said ECU at said stock performance lookup table, or said chipped performance lookup table, or in between said stock and chipped performance lookup tables.

17. A system as in claim 16, wherein said external device includes an audible signal to inform the user that the selection has been accepted by said ECU.

18. A system as in claim 9, wherein said external device is programmed to turn on or off an anti-theft mode in said chipped ECU.

19. A system as in claim 9, wherein said chipped ECU is programmed to prevent unauthorized reflashing of said chipped ECU.

20. A system as in claim 9, wherein said chipped ECU is programmed through said external device.

21. A system as in claim 9, wherein said chipped ECU is programmed through said communication port.

22. A system as in claim 9, wherein:

a) said chipped ECU includes a memory chip; and

b) said chipped ECU is programmed by replacing said memory chip with another memory chip containing a new program.