Method for reprogramming a vehicle electronic control unit
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for enabling an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) to be reprogrammed comprising the steps of:
- obtaining an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) which comprises an enclosure, a printed circuit board enclosed by said enclosure, a plurality of vehicle setpoints, program instruction steps, and at least one vehicle wire harness connector;
modifying the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) enclosure to allow physical access to components on the printed circuit board;
placing a printed circuit programming device in electronic communication with at least one semiconductor component on said printed circuit board; and
causing the printed circuit programming device to permit software instructions to be uploaded such that they modify the program instruction steps to allow said vehicle setpoints to be updated from said wire harness connector.
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Abstract
The present invention is a system and method for reprogramming a vehicle engine or transmission control unit to receive and store setpoint data where the vehicle electronic control unit was not configured to receive and store aftermarket setpoint data prior to being reprogrammed. The method comprising the steps of modifying enclosure of the vehicle electronic control unit to allow access to a memory device by a reprogramming device, placing a reprogramming device in electrical connection to the memory device, reprogramming the memory device and modifying the enclosure a second time to render it weather proof.
3 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for enabling an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) to be reprogrammed comprising the steps of:
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obtaining an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) which comprises an enclosure, a printed circuit board enclosed by said enclosure, a plurality of vehicle setpoints, program instruction steps, and at least one vehicle wire harness connector; modifying the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) enclosure to allow physical access to components on the printed circuit board; placing a printed circuit programming device in electronic communication with at least one semiconductor component on said printed circuit board; and causing the printed circuit programming device to permit software instructions to be uploaded such that they modify the program instruction steps to allow said vehicle setpoints to be updated from said wire harness connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of programming a vehicle electronic control unit comprising the steps of:
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receiving the vehicle electronic control unit; receiving permission from an owner of the vehicle electronic control unit to program the vehicle electronic control unit; receiving vehicle specific data read from the vehicle electronic control unit; modifying an enclosure of the vehicle electronic control unit to provide access to a printed circuit board contained within the vehicle electronic control unit; connecting a read/write device to at least one electrical component located on the printed circuit board; determining if reprogramming of the vehicle electronic control unit is required in order to permit reprogramming using an On Board Diagnostic II (OBD-II) port in communication with the electronic control unit; reprogramming the vehicle electronic control unit using the read/write device; and modifying the previously modified enclosure to cause the enclosure to become at least as weathertight as the enclosure was prior to being previously modified. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of programming an electronic control unit for use in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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receiving the electronic control unit; receiving vehicle specific data read from the electronic control unit; modifying an enclosure surrounding the electronic control unit to expose a printed circuit board contained within the electronic control unit; attaching at least one connection of a read/write device to a component located on the printed circuit board; storing program instructions to the electronic control unit using the read/write device that, when executed by the electronic control unit, configure the electronic control unit to receive and store setpoint data provided by a diagnostic port in electronic communication with the electronic control unit; and modifying the previously modified enclosure to cause the enclosure to be at least as weathertight as it was when received. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification