JP2015037899A - Vehicle program rewrite device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to perform a rewrite process in short time.SOLUTION: A vehicle program rewrite device (11) includes: a device terminal portion (13) that can be connected to and disconnected from a vehicle terminal portion (6) electrically connected to a vehicle storage medium storing therein a control program for controlling a vehicle (2); a container portion (12) supporting the device terminal portion (13); a device storage medium (19) supported in an interior of the container portion (12), and storing therein a rewrite control program; and rewrite means (22) rewriting the control program stored in the vehicle storage medium to the control program stored in the device storage medium (19) via the respective terminal portions (6, 13).

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle program rewriting device for rewriting a vehicle electronic control program.

With the development of computer technology in recent years, in vehicles such as automobiles and construction machines, engine control, brake control, and the like are computerized and controlled by a computer program. The electronic control program may be rewritten according to version upgrade or the like.
As a technique for rewriting a vehicle program, a technique described in Patent Document 1 below is conventionally known.

  In patent document 1 (Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2012-91755), an antenna (82), a modem (84), a mobile telephone (86), a connector (88), a CD-ROM drive (90), a calculating part (78), A storage unit (80) and a display unit (74) are provided in a vehicle (16), and an update program is used using a satellite broadcasting network (24), a mobile communication network (26), and a CD-ROM (22). The structure which transmits the data of this to a vehicle (16) is described.

JP 2012-91755 A (“0021” to “0025”, “0033” to “0039”, FIG. 1)

(Problems of conventional technology)
With the configuration described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to receive data by wireless communication. However, in practice, the frequency of updating the control program is not so high. Therefore, in a situation where the control program is not updated, a receiving device such as an antenna, a mobile phone, and a CD-ROM drive, and a rewriting means such as a calculation unit become a useless configuration for the vehicle. That is, when a part is mounted on a vehicle due to a low usage frequency and a configuration that is not normally used, problems such as a rise in vehicle price and a deterioration in fuel consumption due to a heavy vehicle weight occur. In addition, a precision machine such as an antenna may break down due to vibration or shock during operation of the vehicle, and may fail to be used due to a failure when actually updating the control program. Furthermore, in wireless communication, the communication state may not be stable depending on the position of the vehicle, and it may take time to receive data and may take time to update the program.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional program rewriting system for a vehicle.
In FIG. 4, in a conventional vehicle program rewriting system 01, a vehicle 02 is provided with a plurality of ECUs (Electronic Control Units) 03. The ECU 03 includes an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 03a for engine control, an ECU 03b for brake control, an ECU 03c for audio control, an ECU 03d for door control, an ECU 03e for collision prevention control, an ECU 03f for meter control, and the like. Have The ECUs 03a to 03f are connected via a vehicle-mounted computer network (Controller Area Network: CAN) 04. A connection terminal unit 06 is connected to the in-vehicle network 04.
A personal computer 07 constituting a control program rewriting device is arranged outside the vehicle 02. The personal computer 07 stores an update program and rewriting software. A network communication tool 08 is connected to the personal computer 07 via a cable. The network communication tool 08 is connected to the terminal unit 06 of the vehicle 02 via a cable. The network communication tool 08 is a device that performs signal conversion, relay, and transfer of data between the vehicle 02 and the personal computer 07.

  In the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 4, the update program and rewriting software are stored in the personal computer 07, and the personal computer 07, which is a precision machine, has a problem that it tends to break down when it is carried. In the personal computer 07, if the power is turned off during the rewriting work, the data may be damaged. If the data stored in the ECU 03 of the vehicle 02 is damaged, the vehicle 02 may not be operated. Furthermore, in the conventional configuration, since the data of the personal computer 07 is transmitted and received through the network communication tool 08, there is a problem that it takes time for processing such as signal conversion, and the time for updating the control program becomes long.

  An object of the present invention is to enable rewrite processing in a short time.

In order to solve the technical problem, the vehicle program rewriting device of the invention according to claim 1 comprises:
A terminal part on the device side that can be connected and disconnected with respect to the terminal part on the vehicle side electrically connected to a storage medium on the vehicle side for storing a control program for controlling the vehicle;
A container portion for supporting the terminal portion on the device side;
A storage medium on the device side that is supported inside the container part and stores a control program for rewriting,
Rewriting means that is supported inside the container part and rewrites the control program stored in the storage medium on the vehicle side to the control program stored in the storage medium on the apparatus side via each terminal part;
It is provided with.

The invention according to claim 2 is the vehicle program rewriting device according to claim 1,
A storage medium on the device side that is detachably supported with respect to the container portion;
It is provided with.

A third aspect of the present invention provides the vehicle program rewriting device according to the first or second aspect,
The rewriting means to be fed through each terminal portion from a storage battery mounted on the vehicle,
It is provided with.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the rewriting process can be performed in a shorter time than when the configuration of the present invention is not provided.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily change the control program for rewriting by attaching / detaching the storage medium as compared with the case where the storage medium on the apparatus side is not removable.
According to invention of Claim 3, compared with the case where electric power is not supplied from the storage battery of a vehicle, it becomes unnecessary to incorporate a storage battery in the program rewriting apparatus for vehicles, and it can reduce in weight.

1A and 1B are explanatory views of a program rewriting apparatus for a vehicle according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1A is a perspective view, FIG. 1B is a view seen from the direction of arrow IB in FIG. 1A, and FIG. FIG. 1D is a view seen from the direction of arrow ID in FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1E is a view seen from the direction of arrow IE in FIG. 1D. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the program rewriting device for a vehicle according to the first embodiment is connected to the vehicle, FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a driver's seat portion of the vehicle, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. . FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the vehicle program rewriting system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional program rewriting system for a vehicle.

Next, specific examples of embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as examples) will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
In order to facilitate understanding of the following description, in the drawings, the front-rear direction is the X-axis direction, the left-right direction is the Y-axis direction, the up-down direction is the Z-axis direction, and arrows X, -X, Y, -Y, The direction indicated by Z and -Z or the indicated side is defined as the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, the lower side, or the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side, respectively.
In the figure, “•” in “○” means an arrow heading from the back of the page to the front, and “×” in “○” is the front of the page. It means an arrow pointing from the back to the back.
In the following description using the drawings, illustrations other than members necessary for the description are omitted as appropriate for easy understanding.

1A and 1B are explanatory views of a program rewriting apparatus for a vehicle according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1A is a perspective view, FIG. 1B is a view seen from the direction of arrow IB in FIG. 1A, and FIG. FIG. 1D is a view seen from the direction of arrow ID in FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1E is a view seen from the direction of arrow IE in FIG. 1D.
2 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the program rewriting device for a vehicle according to the first embodiment is connected to the vehicle, FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a driver's seat portion of the vehicle, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. .
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the vehicle program rewriting system according to the first embodiment.

1 to 3, in the vehicle program rewriting system 1 according to the first embodiment, the vehicle 2 includes a plurality of ECUs 3. The ECU 3 has the same configuration as that conventionally known, and includes an ECU 3a for engine control, an ECU 3b for brake control, an ECU 3c for audio control, an ECU 3d for door control, an ECU 3e for collision prevention control, an ECU 3f for meter control, and the like. Have. Each of the ECUs 3a to 3f has a memory as an example of a vehicle-side storage medium (not shown), and the memory stores a control program for realizing the functions of the ECUs 3a to 3f such as engine fuel control. Yes.
Each ECU 3a-3f is network-connected by CAN4. Power is supplied to the CAN 4 from a battery 5 as an example of a storage battery. A vehicle connector 6 is connected to the CAN 4 as an example of a terminal portion on the vehicle side. In FIG. 2, in Example 1, the vehicle connector 6 is arrange | positioned in the right part of the steering wheel in a driver's seat. Moreover, the vehicle connector 6 is arrange | positioned in the state exposed downward in the opening part 7 opened toward the downward direction.

A repro tool 11 as an example of a vehicle program rewriting device is detachably supported on the vehicle connector 6. The repro tool 11 according to the first embodiment includes a housing 12 as an example of a container portion. The housing 12 is formed in a rectangular tube shape whose outer shape is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and whose inside is a hollow. A tool connector 13 as an example of a terminal portion on the apparatus side is supported at one end of the housing 12.
The tool connector 13 according to the first embodiment is configured by a connector that fits into the vehicle connector 6. The connectors 6 and 13 of the first embodiment are constituted by SAEJ 1962 standard connectors that have been widely used in a conventional program rewriting system for vehicles.

Further, four display lamps 14 as an example of a display unit are provided on the upper surface of the housing 12. The display lamp 14 according to the first embodiment includes a POW lamp 14a that displays whether the power is on, a CAN lamp 14b that displays whether CAN (Controller Area Network) communication is being performed, and rewriting is normally completed. An OK lamp 14c for displaying whether or not rewriting has been completed, and an NG lamp 14d for displaying whether or not rewriting has ended abnormally.
Further, ribs 16 as an example of a reinforcing portion are formed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the housing 12. The rib 16 according to the first embodiment extends toward the end on the tool connector 13 side.
Further, on the left and right side surfaces of the housing 12, grips 17 as an example of an anti-slip portion are formed at end portions on the tool connector 13 side. The grip 17 has an uneven surface so that it does not slip when an operator attaches or removes the repro tool 11 to or from the vehicle 2.
On the right side surface of the housing 12, an SD card slot 18 as an example of a storage medium accommodating portion is disposed at the center in the vertical direction. An SD card 19 as an example of a storage medium can be inserted into and removed from the SD card slot 18.

In FIG. 3, a housing 12 houses a control circuit 21 which is an example of a control unit and is an example of a rewriting unit. The control circuit 21 is configured by a small information processing device, a so-called microcomputer. The control circuit 21 inputs / outputs signals to / from the outside, adjusts the input / output signal level, and the like, and stores a ROM and necessary data in which programs and data for executing necessary processes are stored. It has a RAM for temporary storage, a CPU that performs processing in accordance with the ROM and a program stored in the RAM, a clock oscillator, and the like. The control circuit 21 can realize various functions by executing a program stored in a ROM or the like.
The control circuit 21 according to the first embodiment is supplied with power supplied from the battery 5 transformed by a converter via the tool connector 13. Therefore, the repro tool 11 according to the first embodiment is driven by being supplied with power from the battery 5.

Output signals are input to the control circuit 21 of the first embodiment from the SD card slot 18 and signal output elements such as the ECUs 3a to 3f.
Further, the control circuit 21 according to the first embodiment outputs a control signal to the ECUs 3a to 3f, the display lamp 13, the SD card slot, and the like as examples of controlled elements.

(Function of the control circuit 21)
The control circuit 21 has a function of executing processing according to an input signal from the signal output element and outputting a control signal to each control element. That is, the controller C has the following functions.
22: Rewriting means The rewriting means 22 rewrites the control program stored in the memories of the ECUs 3 a to 3 f to the control program stored in the SD card 19 via the connectors 6 and 13.
Specifically, the rewriting means 22 of the first embodiment first turns on the POW lamp 14a when the connectors 6 and 13 are connected, the CAN 4 is energized, and power is supplied from the battery 5.

Next, the rewrite means 22 starts the process which reads data from the SD card 19, and rewrites the control program memorize | stored in memory of ECU3a-3f to the control program memorize | stored in the SD card 19. FIG. The control program rewriting process is conventionally known and described in, for example, Patent Document 1 and the like, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. In addition, the rewriting means 22 of Example 1 blinks the CAN lamp 14b during rewriting processing.
When the rewriting process of the control program ends normally, the rewriting unit 22 turns off the CAN lamp 14b and turns on the OK lamp 14c. On the other hand, when the rewriting process of the control program does not end normally, the rewriting means 22 turns off the CAN lamp 14b and turns on the NG lamp 14d.

(Operation of Example 1)
In the vehicle control program rewriting system 1 according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration, the repro tool 11 simply connects the tool connector 13 to the vehicle connector 6 and the control program rewriting process is started. When the rewriting process is completed, the lamps 14c and 14d are turned on, and the operator can recognize that the rewriting process has been completed.
The repro tool 11 according to the first embodiment has a simple configuration in which a housing 12 includes a tool connector 13 and an SD card slot 18 and a control circuit 21 is disposed therein. Therefore, the number of parts is small and the cost can be reduced as compared with a conventional configuration using a personal computer or a receiving device for wireless communication. In addition, since the configuration is simple, it is also strong against failures due to vibrations and shocks.

Furthermore, the repro tool 11 of the first embodiment can be reduced in size and weight as compared with a personal computer, and can be easily carried and handled. In particular, the repro tool 11 according to the first embodiment is rewritten only by being connected to the vehicle connector 6, and it is not necessary to learn and know how to use the rewrite application program.
In the configuration using the personal computer, in order to rewrite the control program, the service person needs to know how to use the rewrite program and to carry and handle the personal computer carefully. Therefore, service personnel who can rewrite the control program are limited, and sales offices where the service man is located are limited. Therefore, conventionally, when the vehicle 2 is brought to a limited store where the control program can be rewritten, or when the number of vehicles 2 to be rewritten increases, there is a problem that it takes time until rewriting is performed in waiting order.

On the other hand, the repro tool 11 according to the first embodiment is easy to carry and handle, is resistant to failure, does not need to be familiar with the method of use, and can be easily rewritten. It can be rewritten even if it is distributed to a store or sales office. Therefore, it is easy to increase the number of stores that can be rewritten, the waiting time is reduced, and it is possible to perform the entire rewriting operation of all the vehicles 2 to be rewritten in a short time.
In particular, in the first embodiment, the repro tool 11 itself performs a program rewriting process, and the extra processing is reduced as compared with the conventional technique of data conversion, relay, and transfer using the network communication tool 08. ing. Therefore, the program rewriting process itself is also accelerated. Therefore, the time for one rewriting process can be shortened, and the entire rewriting work of all the vehicles 2 can be shortened.

Further, the repro tool 11 according to the first embodiment receives power from the battery 5 of the vehicle 2 when connected to the vehicle 2. Therefore, the fear that the power is turned off during work like a personal computer is reduced. Therefore, failure of rewriting work is suppressed.
Furthermore, in the repro tool 11 of the first embodiment, power is supplied from the battery 5 of the vehicle 2 and the housing 12 does not include a battery such as a dry battery or a rechargeable battery. Therefore, the repro tool 11 is reduced in weight, and is easier to carry and handle during work than a configuration incorporating a dry battery or the like.
In particular, in the first embodiment, the repro tool 11 is attached to the opening 7 of the vehicle 2 from below, and the repro tool 11 is hung by the fitting of the connectors 6 and 13 during the rewriting process. Yes. When a dry battery or the like is built in the repro tool 11, if the repro tool 11 becomes heavy and the fitting force between the connectors 6 and 13 is insufficient, the repro tool 11 may fall off during the rewriting process. On the other hand, the repro tool 11 according to the first embodiment is lighter than the case where a dry battery or the like is incorporated, and the repro tool 11 is prevented from dropping from the vehicle connector 6.

In the repro tool 11 of the first embodiment, the update data of the control program is stored in the SD card 19 that can be attached to and detached from the repro tool 11. Therefore, by preparing the SD card 18 for each vehicle type of the vehicle 2 and replacing the SD card 19, it is possible to deal with vehicles 2 of different vehicle types.
In addition, by storing the update data of the software for performing the rewriting process in the SD card 19, it is possible to support not only the update of the control program of the vehicle 2 but also the upgrade of the rewrite software.

(Example of change)
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is made in the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. Is possible. Modification examples (H01) to (H06) of the present invention are exemplified below.
(H01) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the connector 13 of the repro tool 11 is directly connected to the vehicle connector 6 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one end of the extension cable can be attached to the tool connector 13 of the repro tool 11 and the other end of the extension cable can be connected to the vehicle connector 6. In other words, the repro tool 11 can be indirectly connected to the vehicle connector 6 using an extension cable. By using the extension cable, for example, even when the vehicle connector 6 is installed in a complicated place, it is possible to easily connect.

(H02) In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the update data of the control program is stored in the SD card 19 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a standard storage medium other than the SD card can be used. In addition, for the purpose of preventing illegal copying, alteration, falsification, etc. of data, a removable storage medium such as an SD card is not used and updated to a storage medium such as a ROM or RAM mounted on the board of the control circuit 21. It is also possible to store data.
(H03) In the above-described embodiment, it is desirable to supply power from the battery 5 of the vehicle 2 to the repro tool 11, but it is also possible to incorporate a battery such as a dry battery or a rechargeable battery.

(H04) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the rewriting process is started when the repro tool 11 is attached to the vehicle connector 6 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an input button for starting rewrite processing may be provided on the housing 12 and the rewrite processing may be started when the input button is input after being connected to the vehicle connector 6.
(H05) In the above embodiment, the lamp 13 is exemplified as an example of the display unit, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of lamps, lighting, flashing, extinguishing, or lamp color can be arbitrarily changed. Furthermore, any notification member such as a liquid crystal screen or voice guidance can be used as the display unit.

(H06) In the above-described embodiment, the automobile as the vehicle 2 has been exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. is there.

2 ... Vehicle,
5. Storage battery,
6 ... Terminal part on the vehicle side,
11 ... Vehicle program rewriting device,
12 ... container part,
13: Terminal portion on the device side,
19 ... Storage medium on the device side,
22: Rewriting means.

Claims (3)

A terminal part on the device side that can be connected and disconnected with respect to the terminal part on the vehicle side electrically connected to a storage medium on the vehicle side for storing a control program for controlling the vehicle;
A container portion for supporting the terminal portion on the device side;
A storage medium on the device side that is supported inside the container part and stores a control program for rewriting,
Rewriting means that is supported inside the container part and rewrites the control program stored in the storage medium on the vehicle side to the control program stored in the storage medium on the apparatus side via each terminal part;
A vehicle program rewriting device comprising: A storage medium on the device side that is detachably supported with respect to the container portion;
The vehicle program rewriting device according to claim 1, further comprising: The rewriting means to be fed through each terminal portion from a storage battery mounted on the vehicle,
The vehicle program rewriting device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

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