On-target rapid control prototyping

• US 8,943,467 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Esfahan, Hamid M., Kumar, Satish, Boehner, Shane M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): BORROMEO, JUANITO C
• Application Number:
  US12/555,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20100192122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/107
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23389 Modular program, each process has corresponding program module
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/35 model driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/41 Compilation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

An on-target rapid control prototyping (RCP) system includes a host control module that generates a first RCP model based on selected function blocks in a block library. A target language compiler converts the first RCP model into source code. A cross-compiler coverts the source code into object code. A download module performs an on-target download of the object code from a host that includes the host control module to a production control module of a production system that is separate from the host.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an interface configured to connect to a production control module of an end product without a computer connected between the interface and the production control module;

a host control module that generates a first RCP model based on selected function blocks in a block library;

a target language compiler that converts the first RCP model into source code;

a cross-compiler that coverts the source code into object code for the end product, wherein the object code is executable by the production control module in the end product; and

a download module that performs an on-target download of the object code directly from the device to the production control module without downloading the object code from the device to a computer, separate from the production control module, for integration of the object code with other code, wherein the production control module is separate from the device, wherein the download module stores the object code in a memory of the end product such that the object code is stored as a portion of an application code, wherein the object code is stored in the memory subsequent to the application code being stored in the memory, and wherein the application code includes production ready code executed via the production control module.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a prototype monitor that communicates with the production control module and monitors states of a production system of the end product based on execution of the object code by the production control module,

wherein the host control module controls operation of the production control module based on the states.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface,

wherein the host control module displays a block window on the graphical user interface for the selection and connection of the function blocks.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the host control module generates the first RCP model based on a system target file and target language compiler options; and

the target language compiler options comprise at least one of a variable value setting option and a template selector option.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a linker that converts function identifiers in the source code to function addresses associated with functions stored in a target memory of a production system of the end product, wherein the linker converts the function identifiers during cross-compiling of the source code.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the host control module includes a real-time workshop module that generates a math model based on the selected function blocks.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising an attribute selector that selects attributes for one of the selected function blocks, wherein:

the attributes comprise an address and a data type of data stored in memory of a production system of the end product; and

code associated with the one of the function blocks is generated based on the selected attributes.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a configuration module that selects the production control module from a list of production control modules stored in memory of the device,

wherein the target language compiler and the cross-compiler generate the source code and the object code based on the selected production control module.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a task schedule generator that generates a task schedule for N RCP models including the first RCP model, where N is an integer, and

wherein the target language compiler and the cross-compiler generate the source code and the object code based on the task schedule.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising the production control module that communicates with the host control module.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the production control module receives the object code directly from the host control module.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the host comprises a prototype monitor that communicates with a status output module of the production control module,

wherein the prototype monitor monitors states of a production system of the end product based on execution of the object code by the production control module and output of the status output module, and

wherein the host control module generates a second RCP model based on the states.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein:

the download module directly downloads object code for the second RCP model from the device to the production control module; and

the second RCP model is a modified version of the first RCP model and includes a different structure than the first RCP model.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the host control module is configured to control operation of the production control module and a vehicle system by changing values of variables while the production control module is executing the object code, wherein the variables are stored in the memory and accessed by the production control module during execution of the object code; and

the vehicle system includes at least one of an engine system, a transmission system, and an exhaust system.

13. A production system comprising:

a production control module implemented in an end product;

a memory that stores (i) an application code, and (ii) an on-target rapid control prototyping (RCP) process code for the end product downloaded directly from a host device to the production control module without prior downloading of the on-target RCP process code to a computer, separate from the host device and the production control module, for integration of the on-target RCP process code with other code, wherein the on-target RCP process code is stored as a portion of the application code, wherein the on-target RCP process code is stored in the memory subsequent to the application code being stored in the memory, and wherein the application code includes production ready code executed via the production control module;

an application control module that executes the application code;

a RCP control module that executes the on-target RCP process code in the production control module; and

a target control module that communicates with the application control module and the RCP control module and controls operation of the production system based on the execution of the application code and the on-target RCP process code.

14. The production system of claim 13, further comprising a task scheduler that schedules execution of on-target RCP processes including execution of the on-target RCP process code.

15. The production system of claim 13, further comprising a status output module that monitors states of actuators and sensors of the production system and generates a status signal that is transmitted to the host device.

16. The production system of claim 13, wherein the production system comprises at least one of an engine, a transmission, an exhaust system, and a vehicle electronic control system, and

wherein the target control module controls operation of the at least one of the engine, the transmission, the exhaust system, and the vehicle electronic control system based the execution of the on-target RCP process code.

19. The production system of claim 13, wherein the memory, the application control module, the RCP control module, and the target control module are implemented in the production control module.

17. A production system comprising:

a production control module implemented in an end product;

a memory that stores (i) an application code, and (ii) an on-target rapid control prototyping (RCP) process code for the end product downloaded directly from a host device to the production control module without prior downloading of the on-target RCP process code to a computer, separate from the host device and the production control module, for integration of the on-target RCP process code with other code, wherein the on-target RCP process code is stored as a portion of the application code, wherein the on-target RCP process code is stored in the memory subsequent to the application code being stored in the memory, and wherein the application code includes production ready code executed via the production control module;

an application control module that executes the application code;

a RCP control module that executes the on-target RCP process code in the production control module; and

a target control module that communicates with the application control module and the RCP control module and controls operation of the production system based on the execution of the application code and the on-target RCP process code,

wherein

the application code comprises code to initiate an on-target RCP process code,

the on-target RCP process code comprises a model call command to execute a subroutine,

the subroutine refers to an address of a first prototype algorithm,

the memory stores a jump table, prototype algorithms of on-target RCP processes, and functions of the application code, wherein the prototype algorithms include the first prototype algorithm,

the jump table includes addresses of the prototype algorithms,

each of the prototype algorithms refers to corresponding ones of the functions of the application code,

the on-target RCP process code comprises a second model call command to execute a second subroutine,

the second subroutine refers to a second address of a second prototype algorithm, and

the prototype algorithms include the second prototype algorithm.

21. The production system of claim 17, wherein the production control module is configured to execute tasks of the on-target RCP process code sequentially with tasks of the application code.