CN215814136U

CN215814136U - ECU (electronic control Unit) flashing device

Info

Publication number: CN215814136U
Application number: CN202122091529.7U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 聂苗; 张顺军
Original assignee: Zhibo Automotive Technology Shanghai Co ltd
Current assignee: Zhibo Automotive Technology Shanghai Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-08-31
Filing date: 2021-08-31
Publication date: 2022-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 2031-08-31

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an ECU flash device capable of improving the efficiency of ECU flash and the utilization rate of a flash device. An ECU flashing device comprising a flasher and a channel selector comprising a plurality of flashing channels, wherein: the flash device is used for storing ECU program data needing to be updated, selecting a corresponding flash channel and controlling the ECU program data to be transmitted to the ECU connected with the selected flash channel through the selected flash channel; and the channel selector is used for controlling the communication of the selected flash channel.

Description

ECU (electronic control Unit) flashing device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of electronic technology, and in particular, to an ECU flashing device.

Background

In automobile production, factory inspection and after sale, software function upgrade, software bug fix, software version iteration and the like of an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may exist, and the flash operation of the ECU cannot be left.

The existing ECU flashing method is shown in FIG. 1, that is, a flash device is manually connected with an ECU for flashing, after the previous flash is completed, the current ECU is manually unplugged, then the next ECU is connected for continuing flashing, and the process of starting flashing needs to be repeated once every time one ECU is flashed until all ECUs are flashed completely. In addition, the time consumption of flashing one ECU needs several minutes, and if the flashing efficiency is required to be accelerated and the beat requirement is met, the number of the flashers can be increased.

The existing brushing method has the defects that the brushing device stops brushing in the processes of plugging and unplugging of a connecting wire and restarting brushing, so that the brushing device cannot continuously work, and the brushing efficiency and the utilization rate of the brushing device are reduced. And the utilization rate of the flash devices is further reduced due to the increase of the number of the flash devices.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an ECU flash device, which can improve the efficiency of ECU flash and the utilization rate of a flash device.

According to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an ECU flashing device including a flasher and a channel selector including a plurality of flashing channels, wherein: the flash device is used for storing ECU program data needing to be updated, selecting a corresponding flash channel and controlling the ECU program data to be transmitted to the ECU connected with the selected flash channel through the selected flash channel; and the channel selector is used for controlling the communication of the selected flash channel.

Optionally, the flash includes: a memory for storing the ECU program data; and the controller is used for reading the ECU program data from the memory, controlling an address bus to select a corresponding flash channel, and controlling the read ECU program data to be transmitted to the ECU connected with the selected flash channel through the selected flash channel.

Optionally, the channel selector comprises a multiplexer, a switch driver, and a switch matrix, the switch matrix constituting the plurality of flash channels, wherein: the multiplexer transmits a selected identification signal to the switch driver based on whether the flash channel is selected; and the switch driver generates a driving signal based on the selected identification signal, wherein the driving signal is used for driving the on-off of the switch corresponding to each brushing channel in the switch matrix.

Optionally, the switch matrix is comprised of a relay matrix.

Optionally, the ECU flashing device further includes a CAN bus, wherein the ECU program data is transmitted from the flash to the ECU connected to the selected flash channel through the CAN bus.

Optionally, the ECU flashing device further comprises a first indication module located on the channel selector and/or a second indication module located on the flasher, wherein: the first indication module is used for indicating the states of the plurality of the flash channels; the second indicating module is used for indicating the state of the flash device.

Optionally, the first indication module is composed of an indicator light, and for each of the flash channels, the status of the flash channel is indicated by a color combination of the indicator lights in two different colors.

Optionally, the ECU flashing device further includes a power supply, wherein the power supply is directly connected to the flasher, the flasher switches the power supply into the channel selector through a wire harness for supplying power, and the channel selector switches the power supply into the ECU through the wire harness for supplying power.

Optionally, the number of the flash channels is expanded according to the number of the ECUs that need to be flashed.

Optionally, the ECU flashing device further comprises connectors respectively located on the flasher and the channel selector, and the flasher, the channel selector and the ECU are electrically connected by a connector harness.

By adopting the technical scheme, the channel selector is connected between the flash device and the ECU to be flashed and comprises the plurality of flash channels, so that the single flash device can automatically and continuously flash more ECUs, the flash efficiency and the utilization rate of the single flash device are improved, the flash speed is accelerated, the ECU which needs to update software can meet the production rhythm and the consumption of a production line, and the production line is prevented from being stopped due to insufficient supplied materials. In addition, the ECU flashing device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can be conveniently expanded by increasing the number of the flashing channels.

Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the disclosure without limiting the disclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ECU flashing method according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an ECU flashing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is yet another schematic block diagram of an ECU flashing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present disclosure is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the present disclosure, are given by way of illustration and explanation only, not limitation.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an ECU flashing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2, the ECU flash device includes a flash 10 and a channel selector 20, the channel selector 20 including a plurality of flash channels 20₁～20_nWherein: the flash device 10 is used for storing ECU program data needing to be updated, selecting a corresponding flash channel, and controlling the ECU program data to be transmitted to the ECU connected with the selected flash channel through the selected flash channel; and a channel selector 20 for controlling the selected flash channel to be communicated.

The number of the flash channels is expanded according to the number of the ECUs which need to be flashed.

By adopting the above-described technical solution, since the channel selector 20 is connected between the flash unit 10 and the ECU to be flashed, and the channel selector 20 includes a plurality of flash channels 20₁～20_nTherefore, the single-unit brushwriter 10 can automatically and continuously brush more ECUs, the brushing efficiency and the utilization rate of the single-unit brushwriter 10 are improved, the brushing speed is accelerated, the ECU which needs to update software can meet the production rhythm and the consumption of a production line, and the production line is prevented from being damaged due to the fact that the production line is used for productionThe insufficient material supply leads to the wire stop. In addition, the ECU flashing device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can be conveniently expanded by increasing the number of the flashing channels.

FIG. 3 is yet another schematic block diagram of an ECU flashing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 3, the brusher 10 includes: a memory 101 for storing ECU program data; and the controller 102 is used for reading the ECU program data from the memory 101, controlling the address bus to select the corresponding flash channel, and controlling the read ECU program data to be transmitted to the ECU connected with the selected flash channel through the selected flash channel.

In addition, as shown in fig. 3, the ECU flashing device may further include a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, and then, the ECU program data is transmitted from the flash 10 to the ECU connected to the selected flash channel through the CAN bus. In this way, the ECU software flush function based on the CAN bus communication protocol CAN be integrated in the controller 102, thereby enabling a standard CAN communication flush procedure. The CAN network of the flash 10 is connected to the channel selector 20. The address bus CAN control the switching of a plurality of flash channels, and then the channel selector 20 CAN be controlled to connect the CAN bus on the flash device 10 to the CAN bus of the ECU requiring the flash.

With continued reference to fig. 3, the channel selector 20 includes a multiplexer 201, a switch driver 202, and a switch matrix 203, the switch matrix 203 constituting a plurality of flash channels.

The multiplexer 201 transmits a selected identification signal to the switch driver 202 based on whether the flash channel is selected; the switch driver 202 generates a drive signal for turning on and off the switches corresponding to the respective flash channels in the switch matrix 203 based on the selected identification signal.

The multiplexer 201 is an N-out-of-one switch, and the size of N can be set according to the number of ECUs that need to be flashed, so that the expandability of the ECU flashing device according to the embodiment of the disclosure is enhanced.

The switch matrix 203 may be comprised of a relay matrix. Of course, other types of switch matrices are possible.

By adopting the technical scheme, the selected signal of the address bus CAN be transmitted to the multiplexer 201 and then transmitted to the switch driver 202, and then the switch driver 202 generates a control signal for driving the on-off of the switch, so that the selected flash channel CAN be controlled to be connected, and the non-selected flash channel CAN be controlled to be switched off, that is, the on-off of the switch in the switch matrix 203 CAN be controlled by the multiplexer 201, so that the CAN bus of the flash device 10 and the CAN bus of a certain path of ECU CAN be connected or disconnected. During the period that the selected flash channel is connected, the CAN bus connected from the flash unit 10 CAN be connected to the CAN bus of the ECU designated to be flashed, and transmission of ECU program data CAN be realized.

With continued reference to fig. 3, the ECU flashing device may further include a first indication module 204 located on the channel selector 20 and/or a second indication module 103 located on the flasher 10, wherein: a first indication module 204, configured to indicate states of a plurality of flash channels; and a second indicating module 103 for indicating the status of the flash 10. The first indication module 204 and the second indication module 103 may each be controlled by the controller 102.

The first indication module 204 and the second indication module 103 may be indication lamps with different colors, or indication modules such as a display. For example, for each flash channel, its status may be indicated by a color combination of two different colored indicator lights. Table 1 shows an exemplary state definition for a flash channel. Exemplary states of the flash 10 may be, for example, a status indication (e.g., normal, failed, etc.) regarding the memory 101, a status indication regarding the power supply, etc. By means of the first indication module 204 and the second indication module 103, the flash status can be judged quickly.

TABLE 1 flash channel indicator light definition

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the flash device further includes a power supply 30, wherein the power supply 30 can be directly coupled to the flash 10 to provide power to the flash 10. In addition, the brushwriter 10 can supply power by connecting the power supply 30 to the channel selector 20 through the wiring harness, and the channel selector 20 can supply power by connecting the power supply 30 to the ECU through the wiring harness. Thus, the power supply of the brusher 10, the channel selector 20 and the ECU is realized.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the ECU swipe device further includes connectors on the swipe 10 and the channel selector 20, respectively, and the swipe 10, the channel selector 20, and the ECU are electrically connected by a connector harness. Thus, as long as the connectors for different types of ECUs are replaced, different types of ECUs can be adapted, so that different types of ECUs can be conveniently rewritten.

The following describes the workflow of the ECU flashing device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, software data to be updated is copied into the memory 101 of the flash 10, and the flash 10 and the channel selector 20 are connected by a connection line. The connecting lines comprise power lines, address buses, indicator lamp control lines, CAN buses and the like. Then, the ECU to be flashed is connected to the channel selector 20. After the parts are connected, the flash unit 10 is connected to a power supply to adjust the output voltage according to the operating voltage of the ECU. After the power of the flash device 10 is normally turned on, the automatic continuous flash operation is started.

After the system is powered on, the flash device 10 is initialized, and then whether the memory 101 is inserted is checked, if the memory 101 is not inserted, a red memory fault indicator lamp on the flash device 10 is turned on and blinks (the status display is only exemplary and can be customized according to actual conditions), otherwise, the next automatic continuous flash operation is performed.

The flash device 10 controls the address bus to select, for example, a first CAN bus channel of the channel selector 20, so that the CAN bus of the first ECU is connected to the CAN bus of the flash device 10, then the flash device 10 sends a handshake signal to the ECU, if a reply is received within a preset time (for example, 50 milliseconds), the ECU is connected smoothly, then a flash program is started, otherwise, a connection fault is determined, a corresponding display lamp is turned on, and the flash device 10 is switched to the next flash channel for flash.

After the handshake is successful, software versions are compared once, if the versions are consistent, the ECU channel is turned to the next ECU channel for flash, and if the versions are inconsistent, program refreshing is started to prevent repeated flash. In the process of flashing, the controller 102 in the flash device 10 reads the ECU program data from the memory 101, encapsulates the ECU program data into a communication protocol data frame, and sends the communication protocol data frame to the ECU through the CAN bus, and the ECU receives the data and then analyzes and flashes the program. In the program flashing process, if an error exists, the flashing is stopped, and a flashing fault indicator lamp is turned on. After the writing is successful, the writing channel is successful, the indicator lamp is lightened, and the ECU can be pulled down and connected with a new ECU.

After the last ECU is successfully flashed, the flash 10 re-controls the address bus signal to switch the CAN bus to the next ECU flash channel and then repeats the flashing steps described above. Repeating the steps, the ECU can be automatically and continuously flashed.

The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, however, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments, and various simple modifications may be made to the technical solution of the present disclosure within the technical idea of the present disclosure, and these simple modifications all belong to the protection scope of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that the various features described in the above embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner without departing from the scope of the invention. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, various possible combinations will not be separately described in this disclosure.

In addition, any combination of various embodiments of the present disclosure may be made, and the same should be considered as the disclosure of the present disclosure, as long as it does not depart from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An ECU flashing device comprising a flasher and a channel selector comprising a plurality of flashing channels, wherein:

the flash device is used for storing ECU program data needing to be updated, selecting a corresponding flash channel and controlling the ECU program data to be transmitted to the ECU connected with the selected flash channel through the selected flash channel;

and the channel selector is used for controlling the communication of the selected flash channel.

2. The ECU flashing device of claim 1, wherein the flasher comprises:

a memory for storing the ECU program data;

and the controller is used for reading the ECU program data from the memory, controlling an address bus to select a corresponding flash channel, and controlling the read ECU program data to be transmitted to the ECU connected with the selected flash channel through the selected flash channel.

3. The ECU flashing device of claim 1, wherein the channel selector comprises a multiplexer, a switch driver, and a switch matrix, the switch matrix constituting the plurality of flashing channels, wherein:

the multiplexer transmits a selected identification signal to the switch driver based on whether the flash channel is selected;

and the switch driver generates a driving signal based on the selected identification signal, wherein the driving signal is used for driving the on-off of the switch corresponding to each brushing channel in the switch matrix.

4. The ECU flash device of claim 3, wherein the switch matrix is comprised of a relay matrix.

5. The ECU flashing device of claim 1, further comprising a CAN bus, wherein the ECU program data is transmitted from the flasher to the ECU connected to the selected flash channel via the CAN bus.

6. The ECU flashing device of claim 1, further comprising a first indication module located on the channel selector and/or a second indication module located on the flasher, wherein:

the first indication module is used for indicating the states of the plurality of the flash channels;

the second indicating module is used for indicating the state of the flash device.

7. The ECU flash device of claim 6, wherein the first indication module is constituted by an indicator lamp, and the status of each of the flash channels is indicated by a color combination of the indicator lamps of two different colors.

8. The ECU flash device of claim 1, further comprising a power source, wherein the power source is directly connected to the flash, wherein the flash supplies power to the channel selector via a wiring harness, and wherein the channel selector supplies power to the ECU via the wiring harness.

9. The ECU flashing device of claim 1, wherein the number of the flashing channels is expanded according to the number of ECUs that need to be flashed.

10. The ECU brushing device according to claim 1, further comprising connectors on the brusher and the channel selector, respectively, the brusher, the channel selector, and the ECU being electrically connected by a connector harness.