FR3081242A1 - CONFIGURATION OF A COMPUTER DURING ITS MOUNTING ON BOARD A MOTOR VEHICLE. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention proposes a method of setting up a computer for a motor vehicle implemented during the mounting of the computer in a vehicle made in the vehicle assembly plant. A computer having at least one memory with a preloaded memory zone with a plurality of data models respectively associated with different vehicles which are all capable of being equipped with said computer is mounted (41) in the vehicle. Then couples (42) to the vehicle that is assembled a computer configuration tool for accessing the computer memory. We then inform (43) the type of vehicle that is assembled. Finally, all or part of the data model data other than the data model corresponding to the vehicle that is assembled is deleted (44) from the computer memory, based on the type of vehicle as indicated.

Description

CONFIGURATION OF A COMPUTER WHEN MOUNTED ON BOARD OF A MOTOR VEHICLE.

Technical area

The present invention relates generally to the configuration of computers on board motor vehicles, and more particularly to the configuration of a computer when it is mounted on board a motor vehicle.

Technological background

Motor vehicles are integrating a growing number of electronic computers to manage more and more operational functions. At least some of these functions require the use of a data set specific to a given vehicle model, or even to a particular version of a given vehicle model. This is the case, for example, with data relating to engine control, such as fuel injection control maps, for example.

In order to allow mass production of the computers, which alone makes it possible to satisfy the cost objectives, not only the hardware ("hardware" in English) but also the software ("software", in English), are generally common to several vehicle models and / or versions. Thus, the computer is loaded with the same application software, and in general a set of parameters common to all the models and / or versions of the vehicle which are concerned, at the silicon smelter. After manufacture, the computer is sent to a vehicle assembly plant, to be installed on the specific vehicle for which it is intended.

However, for each vehicle, and even for each copy of a vehicle of a given type, there is generally a configuration (also called calibration) of the application software which is adapted to the engine, to the bodywork and to the different options or different equipment, depending on the specific version of the specific vehicle considered. In the automotive technical field, a “calibration” designates both the set of parameters which personalize a computer for a specific use (therefore in particular for the model and the specific version of a given vehicle), and the operation consisting in configuring a standard computer to personalize it, for example by loading it with parameters specific to this use insofar as it does not integrate them natively.

Such a calibration operation is implemented during assembly of the vehicle in the factory, and more particularly during the integration of the computer into the vehicle. This calibration corresponds to the loading or activation of a set of parameters such as coefficients, maps, data models, etc. which are necessary to properly operate the application software for a given model and / or version of the vehicle.

However, the time available to perform this data loading in the factory is limited, taking into account the speed of the vehicle assembly lines. This is why, some data are too large to be the subject of such a loading in a memory of the computer at the level of the assembly line of the vehicle. It can be, for example, the 3D model of the vehicle which is used for the implementation of a parking assistance device (also called parking assistance, or "Park Assist", in English). This data should therefore be preloaded in the computer as it is delivered to the car manufacturer.

To avoid having to nevertheless manufacture an on-board computer specific to each type and version of vehicle, provision is made to store a series of such models in the computer memory. The calibration carried out on the vehicle assembly line then boils down to loading into the computer a parameter which indicates in which model and / or in which version of the vehicle the computer is mounted. On the basis of this parameter, the computer can then, in operational operation, execute the application software using the data model which is suitable for the vehicle in question. Thus by storing at least two data models in the computer, it is possible to adapt the computer to at least two types or versions of vehicles. And by storing advantages of data models there, according to the storage capacities of the computer memory, it is possible to adapt the computer to all the more types or versions of vehicles.

This however has a drawback. Indeed, this requires a memory capacity for the computer which is greater than that which is strictly necessary for it to operate. In other words, memory capacity is wasted to store data models which will not be used by the computer, due to the fact that these data models correspond to another model or to another version of the vehicle than that in which the computer is actually mounted.

This technical problem is not taken into account, or is not satisfactorily resolved by the calibration methods known in the prior art.

Prior Art

The document FR 2945135-A relates to a method for storing, in the rewritable memory of an automotive electronic computer, calibration data functionally equivalent to a set of different models of complete calibration data. This method comprises operations consisting in recording a single copy of common calibration data, and specific calibration data relieved of this common data. The innovation described in this document uses the relationships between the different versions of specific data to further reduce the memory space dedicated to storage by defining, among these versions, standard versions and variants, the variants being unloaded. of data already contained in the standard versions.

Document FR 2926147-A discloses a method for configuring an on-board computer comprising a memory accessible only in read mode which hosts application software and a permanent memory for storing data readable and writable by the application software. This method comprises a first step in which a file containing at least two calibrations of the application software is stored in a first area of the permanent memory, as well as a data structure comprising pointers which are each associated with a calibration contained in the file. In a second step, an ordered collection of at least one index is written in a second area of the permanent memory so as to select a pointer in the data structure to one of the calibrations contained in the first area of the memory permed.

Summary of the invention

The invention aims to improve the situation, by avoiding the waste of the memory resource of the on-board computers which results from the limits imposed on the calibration of the computers.

To this end, a first aspect of the invention proposes a method for configuring a computer for a motor vehicle comprising steps consisting in, during the mounting of the computer in the vehicle produced in the vehicle assembly plant:

- mount in the vehicle a computer having at least one memory with a memory area initially loaded with a plurality of data models respectively associated with different vehicles which are all likely to be equipped with said computer;

- couple to the vehicle which is assembled a computer configuration tool allowing access to the computer memory;

- enter the type of vehicle that is assembled;

- delete from the computer memory all or part of the data from the data models other than the data model corresponding to the vehicle which is assembled, on the basis of the type of vehicle entered.

The memory space thus freed in the computer can then be used for functional applications of the computer, in particular. In the case of a parking aid calculator, for example, this memory space can be used for the continuous and loop recording of data produced by one or more cameras for acquiring the immediate environment of the vehicle. . This memory space is therefore not lost for the application. In other words, the memory size of a computer is optimized, being limited to what is necessary for the specific needs of the application considered. There is no more memory space dedicated to the storage of data models not used in practice.

Embodiments taken individually or in combination, further provide that:

- the access to the memory is a write access and the data of the deleted data models are erased from the memory, that is to say that the corresponding memory cells of the memory are brought back to their electrical state (corresponding to a 0 or a binary 1) before loading the plurality of data models;

- the access to the memory includes a read access and the data of the data model corresponding to the vehicle which is assembled are copied in another zone of the memory or in another memory of the computer, before being deleted from the zone memory where they were preloaded with data from other data models;

- the portions of the memory initially storing the data of the data models which are deleted are deallocated to allow their subsequent reallocation for other purposes, and thus the overwriting of said data;

- the data models are three-dimensional (3D) representation models of the vehicle, usable by a parking assistance application program when it is executed by the computer when it is running on the vehicle which is assembled;

- the memory space freed in the computer memory due to the deletion of the deleted data models can be used by the application program when it is executed by the computer when it is running on the vehicle which is assembled;

- the computer configuration tool accesses the computer memory via the vehicle diagnostic socket.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a tool for configuring an on-board computer specifically adapted for implementing the method according to the first aspect. The tool includes means for the implementation of all the stages of the process following the mounting of the computer in the vehicle which is assembled.

In a third and final aspect, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with an on-board computer configured by the implementation of the method according to the first aspect.

For example, the computer is a parking aid computer, and the data models are 3D models describing respective vehicles which are likely to be equipped with said computer.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the description which follows. This is purely illustrative and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a motor vehicle seen from above, incorporating a computer which can be configured in accordance with embodiments of the method according to the invention, in particular during assembly of the vehicle in the factory;

- Figure 2 is a functional diagram illustrating the architecture of a computer which can be configured using the method according to the invention;

- Figure 3 shows a set of data models which can be initially loaded into the memory of the computer of Figure 1; and,

- Figure 4 is a diagram of steps illustrating embodiments of the method according to the invention according to the invention.

Detailed description of embodiments

In the description of modes of implementation which follows and in the figures of the appended drawings, the same or similar elements bear the same numerical references in the drawings.

The invention will be described in the nonlimiting context of its application to the configuration of an onboard computer dedicated to the parking assistance function for a motor vehicle. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that the implementation of the method is not limited to this example. Other on-board computers can indeed benefit from the advantages of the method according to the invention. And in particular computers whose calibration usually includes the selection of a data model from a plurality of data models usable by as many different types of respective vehicles, and which are initially loaded into the memory of the computer. It will be noted that the term "initially" must be understood here as meaning before a step of configuring the computer which is intended to pair it with the specific vehicle incorporating it, i.e., in which said computer is mounted. This is encountered, in particular, when the data models are too large to be loaded into the computer memory when the computer is mounted in the vehicle carried out in the vehicle assembly plant.

With reference to the diagram in FIG. 1, a vehicle 100 provided with a parking assistance system such as the Visiopark 1 ™ system from PSA Automobiles SA, is equipped with a computer 1 as well as one or more video cameras, for example three video cameras arranged at the rear of the vehicle to cover a viewing angle of 180 °. In the example shown, the parking assistance system thus comprises, arranged at the rear of the vehicle 100, for example in the rear bumper, a central camera 2, a camera 3 for the left corner and a camera 4 for the right angle of the vehicle, the terms “front”, “rear”, “left” and “right” being used here with reference to the direction of normal travel (ie, in forward travel) of vehicle 100, vehicle 100 shown here being a left-hand drive vehicle. Of course, such a system can be equipped with a different number of video cameras, less than or more than three. Also, other cameras than those of the example shown can be arranged, in particular, at the front of the vehicle 100 in order to further cover the area of the immediate environment in front of said vehicle, and therefore to allow the system to see the vehicle environment in 360 °. These other front cameras are not shown in Figure 1 so as not to overload it.

Such a parking aid system allows the driver to view, on a screen 6 arranged on the dashboard of the vehicle 100 in a position visible to the driver, the surroundings close to the vehicle during the maneuvers (in particular for a parking maneuver of the vehicle in reverse with respect to the simplified example which is shown in Figure 1), in battle or in niche. Parking assistance sensors, for example ultrasonic sensors installed in the front and rear bumpers, generally supplement the information which is delivered to the driver, for example in the form of audible indications signaling the degree of proximity of the possible obstacles. Visual indications representative of the distances to nearby obstacles can also be displayed on the screen, with the top view of the vehicle.

The components of the parking assistance system, namely the computer 1, the cameras 2, 3 and 4, the screen 6 and the ultrasonic sensors (not shown), are suitable for exchanging data via a communication bus 5 , such as a CAN bus, LIN bus, FlexRay, MOST, etc.

An image of the top of the vehicle and its surrounding environment is thus reconstructed in real time, as the maneuver takes place, and displayed on the screen, allowing a 360 ° view. The system can also indicate the path that will be followed by the vehicle during the maneuver, depending on the steering angle that is imparted by the driver to the steered wheels via the steering wheel. Such a system makes it easier to align the vehicle when parking, allowing the driver to view the vehicle in the context of all of the obstacles nearby. Other versions of such a system can also provide active parking assistance, by autonomously steering the electric steering of the car, during maneuvers to park the vehicle.

All of these features require the computer to use a data model specifically representing the vehicle concerned in three dimensions (called "3D model" by shortcut below). To this end, the computer stores in memory a 3D model of the vehicle incorporating it, as will now be presented.

With reference to FIG. 2, the on-board computer 1 of FIG. 1 notably comprises a memory 10 accessible only in read mode, a non-volatile memory 20, a processor 30, an input-output interface 32 and an internal communication bus 31 .

The internal communication bus 31 is arranged for read access to memory 10, to read / write access to memory 20 and to allow the computer 1 to communicate with the outside via the input-output interface 32 so send or receive data respectively to other vehicle components (such as sensors, actuators, other computers, etc.).

The memory 10 is of the ROM (from English “Read Only Memory”) type, which is neither rewritable nor, therefore, erasable. This type of memory is generally directly programmed by the manufacturer of the memory, before it is installed in the computer 1. As a variant, it can be programmed by the manufacturer of the computer, before or after it is installed on the electronic card of the computer.

An area 11 of the memory 10 is configured to store an application program, which dedicates the computer 1 to a particular operational function in the vehicle in which it is on board, namely the parking assistance of the vehicle in the example considered here. The processor 30 is arranged to execute the program stored in the area 11 of the memory 10, by accessing it by means of the internal bus 31.

The processor 30 groups together the usual components necessary for the execution of programs, that is to say an arithmetic and logical unit (UAL), a random access memory of RAM type (from the English "Random Access Memory"), generally also a cache memory, and a micro program necessary for starting and operating the processor 30.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the assembly formed by the memory 10 and the processor 30 can also be replaced by an ASIC circuit (from the English "Application Specific Integrated Circuit"), that is to say an electronic circuit dedicated to a particular application.

The memory 20 is non-volatile (we also say permanent), that is to say that it retains the data stored there even after the on-board computer 1 is turned off. However, it is electrically rewritable, that is that is to say accessible in writing at any time during the operation of the computer 1 to erase the stored data and / or replace them with other data. The memory 20 is for example of the EEPROM type (from the English “Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory”), or of the Flash-EPROM type more often called “Flash memory” because it is an electrically erasable memory model for which erase and write operations are faster.

A zone 21 of the memory 20 is configured to contain data which are written by the application program during the operation of the computer 1, which must be retained even in the event of a cut in the supply voltage of the computer 1. It is acts for example of measurement data carried out, of codes corresponding to observed faults or to any other type of event useful for adaptive use and / or for the diagnosis of the vehicle in which the computer 1 is on board. A motor vehicle computer can indeed use several dozen sensors and actuators, or even more depending on the functions concerned. The storage of operating data and codes associated with faults that may be encountered during the operation of the computer and its associated sensors and actuators makes it possible to diagnose most of the sensors and actuators connected to the computer.

For this purpose, a diagnostic tool can be connected to the computer via its input-output interface 32. This tool can be diagnostic equipment, generally called a diagnostic case, which is suitable for collecting and analyzing the data stored in the zone 22 of memory 20, within the framework of a diagnostic procedure (or OBD, from the English “On-Board Diagnostic”). It will be seen later that a tool of this type can also be used for implementing the method for configuring the computer according to the invention.

Each vehicle of a given type, that is to say each vehicle model and each version of the same model if applicable, corresponds in fact to a configuration (also called calibration) of the application software. The purpose of this calibration is to customize the computer so that it is suitable for the engine, bodywork and different options or different equipment depending on the specific type of particular vehicle in which the computer is used. To this end, a configuration operation is implemented when the vehicle is assembled in the factory, and more particularly when the computer 1 is installed in the vehicle. This operation corresponds to the loading of data in an area 22 of the memory 20, or to the selection of data which have been preloaded in another area 23 of the memory 20 during the manufacture of the computer, which define a set of parameters. This dataset is also called "calibration" for abuse of language. These data include, without limitation, coefficients involved in algorithms executed by the computer in operation, maps and data models used by the computer in operation, etc., which are necessary to operate the application software specifically for the vehicle of the particular type under consideration. The values of the parameters thus stored therefore have the effect of personalizing the application software stored in the area 11 of the memory 10, which moreover is standard software, that is to say independent of the type of vehicle in which the computer is implanted. Such a calibration of the computer thus avoids having to manufacture an on-board computer specific to each type of vehicle.

The method according to embodiments of the invention relates more particularly to the calibration data which are preloaded in the area 23 of the memory 20 of the computer 1. It will be recalled that the advantage of having such calibration data preloaded is that the computer configuration process performed on the vehicle assembly line is faster, since it avoids downloading a large volume of data. As the skilled person understands, by storing in advance (ie, during the manufacture of the computer) at least two sets of parameters in the area 23 of the memory 20 of the computer 1, it is possible to 'Adapt the computer 1 to at least two models or versions of vehicles, one of these sets of parameters being simply selected at the stage of installation of the computer in a vehicle of one of these two types. And by storing therein more sets of parameters, with the only limit of the storage capacity of the memory 20, it is possible to adapt the computer 1 to all the more types of vehicles. The computer configuration operation, with regard to this data preloaded in the area 23 of the memory 20, comes down to a selection made once and for all during the assembly of the vehicle, of the data corresponding to the vehicle of the particular type. considered, in which the computer is mounted.

According to the prior art, a calibration routine is implemented by software which may be contained in another zone 12 of the memory 10 (ROM memory), in response to a request received on the output input system 32. This routine allows the processor 30 to save configuration parameters in area 22 of memory 20, on the one hand, and to record in an ad hoc register of memory 20 information for selecting the information preloaded in area 23 from memory 20, on the other hand.

The request which contains the data to be loaded into the memory area 22 as well as the information for selecting the data already loaded in the memory area 23, can be generated by a user or automatically, when the vehicle is assembled in the factory, via a tool 2 external to the onboard computer 1. Tool 2 can be equipment similar to a diagnostic tool, in that it is able to communicate with the computer via its input-output interface 32 provided for connection of a diagnostic case (OBD), in order to access the memory 20 of the computer 1. The set of configuration parameters of the computer and / or the aforementioned selection information, which together form the calibration associated with the vehicle in assembly course, can be contained in a database 3, external to the computer 1 and to the tool 2, with which the calibration tool 2 communicates, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In a variant not shown, the database 3 can be contained in the tool 2.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates configuration parameters which, because of the volume of data concerned, can be stored in the preloaded zone 23 of the memory of the computer 20. In an example, these are data describing the 3D model of the different types of vehicles in which the computer is likely to be installed. As shown in the figure, the memory area 23 can thus include a number n of different models M1 to Mn, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The one of these models which is selected during the configuration of the computer according to of the invention implementation modes, can be used by the parking aid application executed by the computer in operation. This use may include, in particular, the fact of reconstructing and displaying on screen 6 of FIG. 1, a top view of the vehicle in its environment, i.e. in correspondence with possible obstacles being in the vicinity of the vehicle. It can also include calculating the effective distance separating such obstacles from the vehicle.

With reference to the diagram of steps in FIG. 4, we will now describe in detail embodiments of the method for customizing the computer. The process steps, which are illustrated in the figure, are implemented when the computer is mounted in the vehicle produced in the vehicle assembly plant.

The method begins, at 41, with the mounting in the vehicle under consideration of a computer conforming to the computer 1 which has been described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In particular, it is recalled that this computer has the particularity of comprising a memory 20 with a memory area 23 initially loaded with a plurality of data models M1 to Mn respectively associated with different vehicles which are all capable of being equipped with said computer. This calculator is for example a parking aid calculator. In this case, the data models which are preloaded in the computer memory are for example 3D models describing respective vehicles which are likely to be equipped with said computer.

At 42, a computer configuration tool is coupled to the vehicle which is assembled, allowing access to the memory 20 of the computer mounted in the vehicle in step 41, and in particular to the memory area 23 (cf. FIG. 2). This step can be performed manually by an operator, or automatically by a robot. In one embodiment, the computer configuration tool accesses the computer memory via the diagnostic socket (OBD socket) of the vehicle.

In 43, the type of vehicle that is assembled is given. Again, this step can be carried out by the operator, either by manual entry on a keyboard or a remote control of the configuration tool, or by optical reading of a label (for example a bar code or a QR-code) associated with the vehicle being assembled, with a peripheral member of the configuration tool, for example an optical drive.

In 44, all or part of the data of the data models other than the data model corresponding to the vehicle which is assembled is deleted from the computer memory, on the basis of the type of vehicle indicated in step 43. In the example shown, only the M2 model is kept, the M1 and M3-Mn models being deleted.

In a first embodiment, the access to the memory is a write access, which makes it possible to erase the data of the deleted data models, that is to say to bring the corresponding memory cells from the memory, in their electrical state (corresponding to a binary 0 or 1) before the preloading of the plurality of data models.

In another embodiment, the access to the memory comprises a read access, and the data of the data model corresponding to the vehicle which is assembled are copied into another zone of the memory, before their deletion from the zone of the memory where they were originally stored with data from other data models.

This embodiment has the advantage of making it possible to free all of the memory from the memory area 23, for example if the data of the data model to be kept (ie, of the data model corresponding to the vehicle being assembled ) are thus transferred (ie, copied) to another memory of the computer. This other memory is for example a Flash-EPROM memory distinct from the memory 20, such as for example the memory 24 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. The management of the memory 20 during the operation of the computer is thereby facilitated, since the its entire addressing plan can be used by the application program. Likewise, the subsequent access to the data of the data model corresponding to the vehicle which is assembled is copied is facilitated since each request for access to this data can directly target the memory space or this data is stored after the configuration of the computer. In other words, the use of a pointer indirectly designating the location in the memory 23 to which the data of interest has been preloaded is avoided, which is a priori unknown to the application program (except through selection information, as provided in the prior art configuration techniques).

In a variant which produces substantially the same advantages, the data of the data model corresponding to the vehicle which is assembled is simply moved (Le., Copied) to another location in the memory area 23, for example at the bottom of the memory plane, corresponding at addresses of low weight. The application program then knows that all of the memory space accessible to the most significant addresses is available for data storage during the operation of the computer.

In one embodiment, the erasure of the data from the data models other than that corresponding to the vehicle which is assembled comprises deallocation of the portions of the memory initially storing the data of said data models which are deleted, to allow their subsequent reallocation at other purposes. This embodiment is faster, since it does not include any physical erasure, therefore no writing of data.

Advantageously, the memory space which is freed in the memory of the computer due to the deletion of the deleted data models can be used by the application program when it is executed by the computer when it is operating on the vehicle which is assembled. In the case of a parking aid calculator, this memory space can for example be used for the loop recording of the images captured by the video cameras which monitor the environment around the vehicle. This avoids the waste of memory space caused by the techniques of the prior art, which makes it possible to reduce the cost of the on-board computer.

The present invention has been described and illustrated in the present detailed description and in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in possible embodiments. The present invention is not limited, however, to the embodiments presented. Other variants and embodiments can be deduced and implemented by a person skilled in the art on reading this description and the attached drawings.

In the claims, the term include or include does not exclude other elements or other steps. A single processor or more than one other unit can be used to implement the invention. The various features presented and / or claimed can be advantageously combined. Their presence in the description or in different dependent claims does not exclude this possibility. The reference signs should not be understood as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. Method for setting up a computer for a motor vehicle, comprising steps consisting in, when mounting the computer in a vehicle produced in a vehicle assembly plant: - mounting in the vehicle (100) a computer (1) having at least one memory (20) with a memory area (23) preloaded with a plurality of data models (M1-Mn) respectively associated with different vehicles which are all likely to be equipped with said computer; - couple to the vehicle which is assembled a tool (2) for configuring the computer allowing access to the computer memory; - enter the type of vehicle that is assembled; and, - delete from the computer memory all or part of the data from the data models other than the data model corresponding to the vehicle which is assembled, on the basis of the type of vehicle as indicated. 2. Method according to claim 1, in which the access to the memory is a write access and the deletion of the data from the data models other than the data model corresponding to the vehicle which is assembled comprises erasing the data from said models. of data deleted from memory. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the memory includes read access, and deleting the data from the data models other than the data model corresponding to the vehicle being assembled comprises copying the model data data corresponding to the vehicle which is assembled in another area of the memory or in another memory of the computer, before their deletion from the area of the memory where they were preloaded with the data of the other data models. 4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the deletion of data from the memory consists in deallocating the portions of the memory storing said data to allow their subsequent reallocation for other purposes. 5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the data models are three-dimensional representation models of vehicles usable by a parking assistance application program which can be executed by the computer when it works on the assembled vehicle. 6. Method according to claim 5, in which the memory space freed in the memory of the computer due to the deletion of the deleted data models is usable by the application program during its execution by the computer when it is operating on the vehicle. which is assembled. 7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the computer configuration tool accesses the computer memory via the vehicle diagnostic socket. 8. Tool for configuring an on-board computer comprising means for implementing all the steps of the method of any one of claims 1 to 7, following the mounting of the computer in the vehicle which is assembled. 9. Motor vehicle equipped with an on-board computer configured by implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 10. Vehicle according to claim 9 in which the computer is a parking assistance computer, and in which the data models are 3D models describing respective vehicles which are likely to be equipped with said computer.