JP2008303822A - Control device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a state of stored control data in a volatile memory until the control data using timing arrives. <P>SOLUTION: When starting a control device, preferential control data used just after its starting is preferentially read out of an external nonvolatile memory, and is stored in the built-in volatile memory (s120 to s150). The preferential control data is used just after starting, and the using timing arrives in a short period after starting the control device. Thus, when this control data is preferentially stored in the volatile memory, even before finishing storage of the whole control data group, the possibility of storing its control data in the volatile memory is enhanced when the control data using timing arrives. Thus, "the state of storing its control data in the volatile memory when the control data using timing arrives" can be quickly realized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device that controls the operation of a control target by performing control processing using each control data.

As a control device as described above, after starting up, one or more control data stored in a built-in non-volatile memory (ROM) is sequentially stored (expanded) in a built-in volatile memory (RAM). In addition, it is common to perform control processing while using this (see Patent Document 1).
JP 08-137514 A

  However, when the control device as described above does not have a built-in nonvolatile memory, the control data is read out from the external memory storing all the control data every time it is started. Must be stored in volatile memory.

  In response to this, a volatile memory that can receive power from the outside and retain the stored contents is used, and if control data is held here, as described above, the control There is no need to read data and store it in volatile memory.

  However, even with this configuration, if power supply to the volatile memory is interrupted due to factors such as battery replacement, the control data stored in the volatile memory will be erased. However, the control data must be read from the external memory and stored in the volatile memory.

  At this time, since reading from the external memory requires more time than reading from the built-in memory, before reading and storing all the control data, the control data before storage is stored. The timing to use may come.

  In this case, the control data determined as the initial value is used at the arrival timing, but the contents of the control data to be read from the external memory and the initial control data are misaligned. As a result, there is a high possibility that control of the control target by the control process cannot be performed as intended.

  The present invention was created in order to solve such a problem, and its purpose is that the control data is stored in the volatile memory before the timing for using the control data arrives. It is to provide the technology for realizing.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a volatile memory capable of storing a control data group composed of a plurality of control data necessary for controlling the operation of a control target is provided, and the volatile memory stores the control data group. A control device configured to control the operation of a control target by executing control processing while using each control data in the control data group includes the following data reading means and data storage means The first configuration (Claim 1) may be used.

  In this configuration, when the control device is activated, the data reading means for reading out the control data group from the external memory storing the control data group, and the control data read by the data reading means Data storage means for storing a data group in the volatile memory.

  Then, the data reading means, when starting up the control device, from the control data group, one or more control data (hereinafter, referred to as being used when the control process is performed immediately thereafter). Each of the other control data (hereinafter referred to as “non-priority control data”) is read out after each of them is read preferentially. The data storage means stores each of the one or more priority control data read preferentially by the data reading means in the volatile memory, and thereafter read by the data reading means. Each of the one or more non-priority control data is stored in the volatile memory.

  According to this configuration, when the control device is activated, priority control data used when performing control processing immediately after the activation can be preferentially read from the external memory and stored in the volatile memory.

  The priority control data is used when the control process is performed immediately after the start-up, that is, the control data arrives at a timing for use in a short period after the control device is started. Therefore, if this control data is preferentially stored in the volatile memory, even when storage of the entire control data group is completed, when the timing for using the control data arrives, There is a high possibility that the control data is stored in the volatile memory.

  As a result, the “state in which the control data is stored in the volatile memory when the timing for using the control data arrives” can be realized quickly. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that control of the control target by the control process will not be performed as intended.

  Note that the above-described priority control data may be any data as long as it is determined to be used when performing the control process immediately after startup, and the specific type of data is not particularly limited.

  For example, when the control device is configured to control the operation of the engine in the vehicle as a control target, and the control data group includes control data corresponding to a plurality of types of operation states in the engine, It is conceivable to use data according to the operation state at the time of starting as priority control data.

For this purpose, the first configuration is preferably a second configuration (claim 2) in which the data reading means is as described below.
In this configuration, the data reading means reads, as the priority control data, one or more pieces of control data corresponding to the operation state at the start of the engine from the control data group when the control device is activated. .

  If comprised in this way, at the time of starting of a control apparatus, the 1 or more control data according to the operation state at the time of the start in an engine can be memorize | stored in a volatile memory as priority control data.

  Since this control device controls the operation of the engine and is started prior to the start of the engine, in the control process after the start, the operation state at the start of the engine is first set. The timing for using the corresponding control data comes.

  Therefore, if the control data according to the operating state at the start of the engine is preferentially stored in the volatile memory, the control data can be stored even before the entire control data group is stored. There is a high possibility that the control data is stored in the volatile memory when the use timing arrives.

As a result, the “state in which the control data is stored in the volatile memory when the timing for using the control data arrives” can be realized quickly.
In the first configuration, when the control object is configured to control the operation of the engine in the vehicle, and the control data group includes control data corresponding to the engine speed, It is conceivable that data according to the rotation speed classified as the low rotation speed is used as the priority control data.

For this purpose, the above configuration is preferably a third configuration (claim 3) in which the data reading means is as described below.
In this configuration, when the control device is started, the data reading means outputs one or more pieces of control data corresponding to the number of revolutions that can be reached immediately after starting the engine from the control data group. Read as data.

  If comprised in this way, at the time of starting of a control apparatus, the 1 or more control data according to the rotation speed which can be reached immediately after starting of an engine can be memorize | stored in a volatile memory as priority control data.

  This control device controls the operation of the engine and is started at the same time as the start of the engine. Therefore, immediately after starting, the control device depends on the number of revolutions that can be reached immediately after the start of the engine. The timing for using the control data will come.

  Therefore, if the control data corresponding to the number of revolutions that can be reached immediately after the engine is started is preferentially stored in the volatile memory, the control data can be controlled even before the storage of the entire control data group is completed. There is a high possibility that the control data is stored in the volatile memory when the timing for using the data is reached.

As a result, the “state in which the control data is stored in the volatile memory when the timing for using the control data arrives” can be realized quickly.
In the first configuration, each control data in the control data group includes an execution area including data necessary for execution of the control process, and whether the control process can be appropriately executed based on the execution area. In the case of a check area composed of data for checking whether or not, it is conceivable that data consisting only of the execution area is used as priority control data.

For this purpose, the above configuration is preferably a fourth configuration (claim 4) in which the data reading means is shown below.
In this configuration, when the control device is activated, the execution areas of the control data constituting the control data group are read as the priority control data.

If comprised in this way, at the time of starting of a control apparatus, each execution area | region of the control data which comprises a control data group can be memorize | stored in a volatile memory as priority control data.
Thus, by preferentially storing only the data area used in the execution of the control process in the volatile memory, the “timing for using the control data” can be obtained even before the storage of the entire control data group is completed. At the point of time, the state in which the control data is stored in the volatile memory can be realized immediately.

  Further, as a configuration for solving the above-described problem, a program for causing a computer system to execute various processing procedures for causing all the means included in any of the first to fourth configurations to function (claim 5). ).

This is because a computer system controlled by this program functions as a part of any one of the first to fourth configurations.
Note that the above-described program is composed of an ordered sequence of instructions suitable for processing by a computer system, and is provided to a control device and a user who uses the control device via various recording media and communication lines. Is.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(1) Overall Configuration The control device 1 is configured as a microcomputer built in an electronic device (ECU) 100 and performs control processing using a control data group stored in a built-in volatile memory 10. By carrying out, it is configured to control the operation of the controlled object. In the present embodiment, the control target is configured to control the operation of the vehicle engine 200 (fuel injection control or the like).

  In this control device 1, the volatile memory 10 is a backup memory capable of holding stored contents in a state where power is supplied from the outside (battery 310), and control necessary for controlling the operation of the control target. Storage areas for storing data for each type are secured. These storage areas are in a state where initial value control data is stored when the power supply from the battery 310 is started, and each is then overwritten (stored) in an initialization process described later.

The volatile memory 10 does not have to be configured as a backup memory. In this case, when the external power supply is started when the control device 1 is started, the initial control data is stored. Is stored. That is, in this case, every time the control device 1 is activated, the state returns to the state in which the initial control data is stored.
(2) Initialization Process Executed by Control Device 1 Hereinafter, a processing procedure of an initialization process started when the control device 1 is activated will be described with reference to FIG. The control device 1 starts when the ignition switch (IG switch) 320 is switched to the ON side in a state where the battery 310 is connected via the electronic device 100.

  When the initialization process is started, first, it is checked whether or not the read condition is satisfied (s110). Here, when the control data stored in the storage area of the volatile memory 10 is the initial value, it is determined that the read condition is satisfied.

  Here, the control data stored in the storage area becomes the initial value when the volatile memory 10 is a backup memory, when the power supply from the battery 310 is started. Therefore, in this case, it is checked whether or not the battery 310 is reconnected by replacement or the like. On the other hand, if the volatile memory 10 is not a backup memory, the control data becomes the initial value when the control device 1 is activated. In this case, it is checked whether the control device 1 has been activated. Will be.

  If it is determined in s110 that the read condition is not satisfied (s110: NO), the initialization process is immediately terminated, whereas if it is determined that the read condition is satisfied (s110: YES), the nonvolatile process is performed. From the control data group stored in the memory 110, one or more control data (hereinafter referred to as "priority control data") determined to be used when performing the control process immediately after the control device 1 is started. Each is read preferentially (s120). Here, the type of control data corresponding to the data configuration of the control data group stored in the nonvolatile memory 110 is read as the priority control data.

  For example, when the control data group includes control data corresponding to a plurality of types of operation states in the engine 200, each of one or more control data corresponding to the following starting states is read as priority control data. . Note that the control data corresponding to the operating state is, for example, a starting state indicating a transient operating state at the start of the engine 200 or an operating state in which stable operation is performed through the starting state. This is control data prepared according to the state.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, when the control data group includes control data corresponding to the rotational speed of the engine 200, one or more depending on the rotational speed that can be reached immediately after the engine 200 is started. Each of the control data is read as priority control data (see FIG. 3A). Immediately after the start of the engine 200, there is usually no sudden change in the number of rotations classified into the high rotation side (for example, several thousand rotations or more), so here the number of rotations classified into the low rotation side (for example, One or more pieces of control data corresponding to several hundred revolutions are read out.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, each control data in the control data group includes an execution area composed of data necessary for executing the control process, and whether the control process can be appropriately executed based on the execution area. In the case of a check area (in this embodiment, a plurality of data areas having the same data structure as the execution area), each data consisting of the execution area is data for priority control. (See FIG. 4A).

Next, each of the priority control data read in s120 is stored (overwritten) in the storage area of the volatile memory 10 (s130).
Here, for example, when the control data group is composed of control data corresponding to a plurality of types of operation states in the engine 200, and when the control data group is composed of control data corresponding to the rotational speed of the engine 200, Each priority control data is stored in the storage area by being overwritten on the control data stored in the storage area of the volatile memory 10 corresponding to the type (see FIG. 3A).

  Further, when each control data in the control data group is composed of an execution area and a check area, each execution area which is the priority control data is stored in the storage area of the volatile memory 10 corresponding to the type. By being overwritten as each check area as well as the execution area of the stored control data, it is stored in that storage area (see FIG. 4A).

  Next, control data (hereinafter referred to as “non-priority control data”) other than the priority control data read out in s120 out of the control data group stored in the nonvolatile memory 110. It is read (s140). Here, control data of a type corresponding to the data configuration of the control data group stored in the nonvolatile memory 110 is read as non-priority control data.

  For example, when the control data group includes control data corresponding to a plurality of types of operation states in the engine 200, each of one or more control data corresponding to the normal state is read as non-priority control data. .

  Further, when the control data group includes control data corresponding to the rotational speed of the engine 200, each of the one or more control data corresponding to the rotational speed classified into the high speed side is priority control data. (See FIG. 3B).

  When each control data in the control data group is composed of an execution area and a check area, each data consisting of the check area is read as non-priority control data (see FIG. 4B). ).

Next, each non-priority control data read in s140 is stored (overwritten) in the storage area of the volatile memory 10 (s150).
Here, for example, when the control data group is composed of control data corresponding to a plurality of types of operation states in the engine 200, and when the control data group is composed of control data corresponding to the rotational speed of the engine 200, Each non-priority control data is stored in the storage area by being overwritten on the control data stored in the storage area of the volatile memory 10 corresponding to the type (see FIG. 3B).

  When each control data in the control data group is composed of an execution area and a check area, each check area that is non-priority control data is a storage area of the volatile memory 10 corresponding to the type. Is overwritten as a check area for the control data stored in (1) and is stored in the storage area (see FIG. 4B). Thereby, storage of the entire control data group from the nonvolatile memory 110 to the volatile memory 10 of the control device 1 is completed.

In this way, after s150 is completed, the initialization process ends.
(3) Operation | movement by the control apparatus 1 Then, operation | movement of the control apparatus 1 mentioned above is demonstrated based on FIG.

  As described above, the control device 1 is activated when the ignition switch 320 is switched to the ON side while the battery 310 is connected to the control device 1 via the electronic device 100.

  After starting up in this way, the control data group is read from the nonvolatile memory 110 and stored in the volatile memory 10 by the initialization process described above (s120 to s150 in the figure). . At this time, priority control data in the control data group is preferentially read from the nonvolatile memory 110 (s120 in the figure), and stored in the volatile memory 10 (s130 in the figure).

  In addition, when the starter switch (STA switch) 330 is switched to the ON side, the control device 1 starts executing a control process for controlling the operation of the control target in parallel with the above-described initialization process. . In a normal case, the starter switch 330 is operated by an operation (key cylinder rotation operation) for switching the starter switch 330 to the on side according to the driver's intention after the ignition switch 320 is switched to the on side. It is configured to switch to the on side.

  In this control process, first, a processing procedure is performed in order to perform control (start control) for starting the engine 200, whereby the engine 200 operates in the start state. After the start state based on the start control, a processing procedure is performed to perform control (normal control) for stably operating the engine 200, whereby the engine 200 is in a stable normal state after the start state. To work.

  In the process of executing these processing procedures, the timing for using the control data is reached as needed, so that the control data stored in the volatile memory 10 is used at that timing.

  Further, as described above, this control process is a process that is started when the starter switch 330 is switched to the ON side. This starter switch 330 is activated by the ignition switch 320 that is the trigger for starting the initialization process described above. After switching to the on side, it switches to the on side in response to an operation by the driver. In other words, there is a time lag until the operation by the driver is performed after the control device 1 is activated and the initialization process is started before the control process is activated.

In the initialization process, as described above, the priority control data is preferentially read and stored in the volatile memory 10 first, so that the control process is started and the control data is used. By the time, the priority control data, that is, the control data used when performing the control process immediately after the activation is preferentially stored in the volatile memory 10.
(4) Operation and Effect With the control device 1 configured as described above, the priority control data used when performing the control process immediately after the startup is preferentially read from the nonvolatile memory 110 and is volatile. It can be stored in the memory 10.

  This priority control data is used when the control process is performed immediately after startup, that is, control data that arrives at a timing for use in a short period after the control device 1 is started. Therefore, if the control data is preferentially stored in the volatile memory 10, even when the storage of the entire control data group is completed, the timing for using the control data has arrived. The possibility that the control data is stored in the volatile memory 10 increases.

  Specifically, the timing for using the control data comes after the starter switch 330 is switched to the ON side. The starter switch 330 is switched from the ignition switch 320 to the ON side. In response to the user's operation (key cylinder rotation) after the control device 1 is activated, the control device 1 is switched to the ON side.

  Therefore, the priority control data is preferentially stored in the volatile memory 10 during the time from when the ignition switch 320 is switched on to when the starter switch 330 is switched on. Become. Thus, the possibility that the control data that can be used immediately after the starter switch 330 is turned on after the starter switch 330 is turned on is stored in the volatile memory 10 is increased. Can do. As a result, the “state in which the control data is stored in the volatile memory when the timing for using the control data arrives” can be realized quickly. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that control of the control target by the control process will not be performed as intended.

  Further, when the control data group includes control data corresponding to a plurality of types of operation states in the engine 200, one or more according to the operation state at the start of the engine 200 when the control device 1 is started. These control data can be stored in the volatile memory 10 as priority control data.

  Since the control device 1 is activated prior to the start of the engine 200, the control data corresponding to the operation state at the start of the engine 200 is first used in the control processing after the activation. Timing will come.

  Therefore, the control data corresponding to the operation state at the start of the engine 200 is preferentially stored in the volatile memory 10, so that the control data group can be controlled even before the storage of the entire control data group is completed. There is a high possibility that the control data is stored in the volatile memory when the timing for using the data is reached. Thereby, “a state in which the control data is stored in the volatile memory 10 when the timing for using the control data arrives” can be realized immediately.

  Further, when the control data group includes control data corresponding to the rotation speed of the engine 200, at least one corresponding to the rotation speed that can be reached immediately after the start of the engine 200 when the control device 1 is started. These control data can be stored in the volatile memory 10 as priority control data.

  Since this control device 1 is started at the same time as the start of the engine 200, immediately after the start, the control data corresponding to the number of revolutions that can be reached immediately after the start of the engine 200 is used. Will arrive.

  Therefore, by preferentially storing the control data in accordance with the number of revolutions that can be reached immediately after starting the engine 200 in the volatile memory 10, the storage of the entire control data group is completed. However, there is a high possibility that the control data is stored in the volatile memory 10 when the timing for using the control data arrives. Thereby, “a state in which the control data is stored in the volatile memory 10 when the timing for using the control data arrives” can be realized immediately.

  Further, when each control data in the control data group is composed of an execution area and a check area, priority is given to the execution areas of the control data constituting the control data group when the control device 1 is activated. Can be preferentially stored as volatile data in the volatile memory 10.

In this way, only the data area used in the execution of the control process is preferentially stored in the volatile memory 10, so that “control data is used even before storage of the entire control data group is completed. When the timing has arrived, it is possible to immediately realize the state where the control data is stored in the volatile memory 10.
(5) Modifications Embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can take various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

  For example, in the said embodiment, what applied the control apparatus in this invention to the structure which controls operation | movement of the engine 200 in a vehicle was illustrated. However, the present invention may be configured to control the operation of a control target other than the engine 200.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, the starter switch 330 was switched to the ON side with rotation of a key cylinder, and what was comprised so that the engine 200 might be started by it was illustrated. However, a push switch that functions as the starter switch 330 may be provided as a switch independent of the key cylinder, and the engine 200 may be started by an operation of pressing this switch. In this case, it is possible to configure the engine 200 to start after waiting for all the control data to be stored in the volatile memory 10 after operating the push switch. In order to improve the startability of the engine, it is preferable to start the engine when the priority control data is stored in the volatile memory 10 as described above.
(6) Correspondence with the Present Invention In the embodiment described above, s120 and s140 in FIG. 2 are data reading means in the present invention, and s130 and s150 in FIG. 2 are data storage means in the present invention.

Block diagram showing the overall configuration of the control device Flow chart showing processing procedure of initialization processing Diagram showing how control data is stored in volatile memory (1/2) Diagram showing how control data is stored in volatile memory (1/2) Timing chart for explaining the operation of the control device

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control apparatus, 10 ... Volatile memory, 100 ... Electronic device, 110 ... Non-volatile memory, 200 ... Engine, 310 ... Battery, 320 ... Ignition switch, 330 ... Starter switch.

Claims (5)

A volatile memory capable of storing a control data group composed of a plurality of control data necessary for controlling the operation of the controlled object, and each of the control data in the control data group stored in the volatile memory A control device configured to control the operation of a controlled object by executing a control process while using
A data reading means for reading out the control data group from the external memory storing the control data group when the control device is activated;
Data storage means for storing the control data group read by the data reading means in the volatile memory,
The data read-out means is one or more control data (hereinafter referred to as “priority”) that are determined to be used in the execution of the control process immediately after the control data group when the control device is activated. After each of the control data (referred to as “control data”) is read preferentially, the other control data (hereinafter referred to as “non-priority control data”) is read out,
The data storage means stores each of the one or more priority control data preferentially read by the data reading means in the volatile memory, and then is read by the data reading means. Each of the above non-priority control data is stored in the volatile memory. In the case where the control object is configured to control the operation of the engine in the vehicle, and the control data group includes control data corresponding to a plurality of types of operation states in the engine,
The data reading means reads, as the priority control data, each of one or more control data corresponding to an operation state at the start of the engine from the control data group when the control device is activated. The control device according to claim 1. When the control object is configured to control the operation of the engine in the vehicle, and the control data group includes control data corresponding to the engine speed,
The data reading means reads, as the priority control data, one or more pieces of control data corresponding to the number of revolutions that can be reached immediately after starting the engine from the control data group when the control device is activated. The control device according to claim 1. Each control data in the control data group includes an execution area including data necessary for execution of the control process, and data for checking whether the control process can be appropriately executed based on the execution data. If it consists of check areas,
2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the data reading unit reads, as the priority control data, the execution region of each of the control data constituting the control data group when the control device is activated. 3.   A program for causing a computer system to execute various processing procedures for causing all of the means according to any one of claims 1 to 4 to function.

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