JP2018187747A - Writing method of control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a writing method of a control program which can suppress the lowering of the work efficiency of a worker who writes a control program by using a writing device of the control program.SOLUTION: A writing process is constituted of: a PRE attachment process; a transport/writing process for writing a control program while transporting it; a PRE removal process; and a transport process for transporting a PRE. In the PRE attachment process, the PRE is attached to an ECU. In the transport/writing process, the control program is written into the ECU while transporting the ECU and the PRE. In the PRE removal process, the PRE is removed from the ECU into which the control program is written in the transport/writing process. In the transport/writing process, the PRE is transported toward a direction separating from a passage between the PRE attachment process and the PRE removal process from a position in which the PRE attachment process is performed, and after that, the PRE is converted in a direction, and transported toward a direction approximating the passage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a control program writing method.

  In order to pursue driving performance, safety, comfort, and the like, various vehicles including automobiles are equipped with an electronic control unit (ECU) composed of various electronic components. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, these ECUs use a writing device provided on a production line to write a control program to the ECU by CAN communication.

JP 2004-348178 A

  By the way, in recent years, as various functions are implemented in a vehicle, the amount of control program written to the ECU has increased. As the amount of writing to the ECU increases, the time required for writing the control program increases. In order to continue executing each process of the ECU production line without delay, a control program is written in the ECU by attaching the ECU to a plurality of writing devices provided on the ECU production line. Then, after the writing device writes the control program to the ECU, the ECU is removed from the writing device, and the ECU in which the writing of the control program is completed is transported to a position where the next process is performed. Since the worker who writes the control program to the ECU by the writing device moves between the plurality of writing devices, the distance moved during the work is long. If the distance traveled by the worker is extended, the time required for the worker and the labor of the worker will increase even if the same work is performed, and the work efficiency of the worker will be reduced.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a control program writing method that can further improve the work efficiency of an operator who executes control program writing by a control program writing device.

  A control program writing method capable of achieving the above object is a control program writing method for writing the control program using a writing device to a control device that executes control based on the control program, wherein the writing When the apparatus is connected to the control apparatus, the control program supplies power to the control apparatus and uses the communication performed with the control apparatus while conveying on the conveyance path. From the start position which is a position on the transport path when the writing of the control program by the writing device is started. While transporting to the end position, which is the position on the transport path at the end of writing the control program by A writing step of writing the control program to the control device, wherein the control device is transported in a direction away from a path from the start position to the end position, starting from the start position; The direction is changed later, and the sheet is conveyed toward the end position by conveying toward the direction close to the route.

  According to this method, by connecting the writing device to the control device, it is possible to write the control program to the control device while transporting the control device and the writing device. In addition, the position where the writing process is performed has a portion orthogonal to the path from the writing start position to the end position, so that the writing process start position and the writing process end position are close to each other. Can be provided. Accordingly, since the movement range of the worker in the writing process can be reduced, the movement time of the worker can be further shortened, and the work efficiency of the worker can be prevented from being lowered.

  In the control program writing method, a mounting step of mounting the writing device on the control device before the start of the writing step, and a removal step of removing the writing device from the control device after the writing step is completed. It is preferable to have.

  According to this method, the writing of the control program to the control device by the writing device can be started by mounting the writing device on the control device in the mounting step. In addition, after the writing process is completed, the control apparatus is removed from the writing apparatus in the removing process, so that the control apparatus in which the control program is written can be input to the next process.

In the control program writing method, the position where the mounting step is performed is preferably adjacent to the position where the removing step is performed.
According to this method, since the position where the attachment process is performed is adjacent to the position where the removal process is performed, the movement range of the operator who writes the control program in the control device can be reduced. Thereby, it can suppress that a worker's working efficiency falls.

  In the above-described control program writing method, after the writing step is completed, the writing device has a conveying step for returning the writing device from a position where the removing step is performed to a position where the mounting step is performed, and in the conveying step, Preferably, the writing device is charged and traceability information is acquired from the writing device.

  According to this method, by providing the transport step, the writing device already mounted on the control device can be used repeatedly. Moreover, in a conveyance process, it can be used repeatedly more reliably by charging a writing device. Further, by acquiring traceability information from the writing device in the transport process, it is also possible to confirm whether each step of producing the writing device is performed accurately.

  In the control program writing method, the control program is stored in a storage device provided outside the writing device, and the writing device reads the control program from the storage device and reads the control program. Is preferably written to the control device.

  According to this method, the writing device can select a control program to be written in the control device by reading the control program from a storage device provided outside. For this reason, it is possible to easily change the control program by exchanging a storage device provided outside.

  According to the control program writing method of the present invention, it is possible to further improve the work efficiency of an operator who executes control program writing by the control program writing device.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of ECU and PRE. The figure which shows the production line of ECU. The figure which shows the conveyance process charged while conveying PRE. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of each process in the production line of ECU. The figure which shows the production line of ECU of a comparative example. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of ECU of other embodiment, and PRE.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method for writing a control program to the control device by the writing device will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, a portable reprogramming device (hereinafter referred to as PRE 20) is used in a production process of the ECU 10, for example. The PRE 20 writes the control program CP in the ECU 10 by being connected to the ECU 10 after the assembly is completed, for example.

  For example, when the ECU 10 is mounted on a vehicle, the ECU 10 executes various controls based on various state quantities of the vehicle in order to improve the running performance, safety, and comfort of the vehicle. The ECU 10 is provided with a storage unit 11 that stores a control program CP for performing various controls. The ECU 10 also has a connector 12 for connecting to the PRE 20.

  The PRE 20 includes a connector 21 for connecting to the ECU 10, a CAN writing unit 22 that writes a control program CP to the ECU 10 via an in-vehicle network such as CAN communication, a battery 23 that is a power supply source, and an external device. And a communication unit 24 that performs input / output between them. The PRE 20 includes an operation unit 25 that receives an operation by an operator who writes the control program CP, and a display unit 26 that displays a writing state of the control program CP.

  When the connector 21 of the PRE 20 is connected to the connector 12 of the ECU 10, electric power is supplied from the battery 23 to each part of the ECU 10. As a result, the ECU 10 can operate even in the production line. Note that, in the production line of the ECU 10, the ECU 10 itself does not have a power supply source. Therefore, when the PRE 20 is not connected to the ECU 10, the storage unit 11 and the calculation part of the ECU 10 do not operate.

  When the connector 21 of the PRE 20 is connected to the connector 12 of the ECU 10, CAN communication is performed via the connectors 12 and 21 when the operator operates the operation unit 25. That is, the CAN writing unit 22 starts writing the control program CP to the ECU 10 when the connector 12 is connected to the connector 21 and when the operator operates the operation unit 25.

  When the writing of the control program CP to the ECU 10 is completed, the display unit 26 displays that fact. In addition, when the writing of the control program CP to the ECU 10 cannot be completed, the display unit 26 displays that the writing cannot be completed by displaying error information corresponding to the cause that the writing cannot be completed.

  If the connector 21 of the PRE 20 is connected to the connector 12 of the ECU 10, power supply may be started immediately after the connector 21 is connected to the connector 12, or a certain amount of time may be used. You may start after leaving.

  An external memory 30 is connected to the PRE 20. The external memory 30 stores a control program CP. The PRE 20 writes the control program CP to the ECU 10 via the CAN writing unit 22 by reading the control program CP from the external memory 30.

  The PRE 20 is connected to the charging device 40 when not connected to the ECU 10, that is, when the control program CP is not written in the ECU 10. The charging device 40 includes a charging unit 41 and a communication unit 42. When the PRE 20 is connected to the charging device 40, electric power is supplied from the charging unit 41 to the battery 23 via the communication unit 24 and the communication unit 42. Thereby, the battery 23 is charged. Further, when the PRE 20 is connected to the charging device 40, the charging device 40 takes in the traceability information Tr through the communication unit 24 and the communication unit 42. The traceability information Tr is information for facilitating the manufacturing process management and quality inspection of the ECU 10. For example, the charging device 40 takes in the writing state of the control program CP of the ECU 10 connected to the PRE 20 in the writing process (for example, whether writing of the control program CP to the ECU 10 is completed) as traceability information Tr. By confirming the traceability information Tr, it is possible to determine whether or not the control program CP has been properly written to the ECU 10 in the production line of the ECU 10.

Next, an example of the production line of the ECU 10 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the ECU 10 is manufactured through a plurality of (six) processes on the production line. The plurality of processes of the production line of the ECU 10 includes first and second assembly processes, first and second inspection processes, a writing process, and a shipping inspection process.

  The first and second assembly steps are steps for creating an external structure of the ECU 10. For example, the ECU 10 includes various electronic components such as a microcomputer, a substrate on which the electronic components are mounted, and a housing that houses the electronic components and the substrate. In the first and second assembly steps, each of these components. By assembling the elements, an outline outline structure of the ECU 10 is manufactured. Since the control program CP is not yet written in the ECU 10 manufactured through the first and second assembly steps, it is not completed. As an example, the first assembly process is a process of mounting various electronic components on the board, and the second assembly process is a process of assembling the board on which the electronic components are mounted on the housing. Note that both the first assembly process and the second assembly process are completed at the same time t.

  The first and second inspection steps are steps for inspecting whether or not the outline outline structure of the ECU 10 assembled through the first and second assembly steps has the required performance. As an example, the first inspection step is a step of inspecting whether or not various electronic components mounted on the board are mounted as requested, and the second inspection step requires an arithmetic unit of the ECU 10 or the like. This is a step for inspecting whether or not the computer has the computing performance. In the first and second inspection processes, the inspection process is divided into two processes in consideration of the time required for the inspection and the scale of the equipment. Further, both the first inspection process and the second inspection process are completed at the same time t.

  The writing step is a step of writing the control program CP into the ECU 10 that has been inspected through the first and second inspection steps. The writing process includes a PRE mounting process, a transport / writing process for writing the control program CP while transporting, a PRE removing process, and a transport process for transporting the PRE 20.

  In the PRE mounting process, the PRE 20 is attached to the ECU 10. In the PRE mounting step, the operator operates the operation unit 25 when the connector 10 of the ECU 10 is connected to the connector 21 of the PRE 20 and then it is visually confirmed that the ECU 10 and the PRE 20 are properly connected.

  In the conveyance / writing process, the control program CP is written into the ECU 10 while conveying the ECU 10 and the PRE 20 on the conveyance path. The transport path includes a path from a position where the PRE mounting process is performed to a position where the PRE removal process is performed. The ECU 10 is transported to the shipping inspection process by a conveyor or the like. In the conveyance / writing process, writing of the control program CP to the ECU 10 is started when the connector 12 is connected to the connector 21 and the operation of the operation unit 25 is performed. The conveyance / writing process includes a process of conveying in the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the first and second assembly processes and the first and second inspection processes, that is, in the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the production line. It is out. That is, in the conveyance / writing process, the ECU 10 and the PRE 20 are transported from the position where the PRE mounting process as the start position is performed in a direction away from the path between the PRE mounting process and the PRE removing process, and then the direction is changed. Then, it is transported toward the direction approaching the route. Thereby, in the conveyance / writing process, the ECU 10 is conveyed to a position where the PRE removal process as the end position is performed while writing the control program CP in the ECU 10. For this reason, the position where the PRE mounting process is performed and the position where the PRE removing process are performed are adjacent (more precisely, via the transport process).

  In the PRE removal process, the PRE 20 is removed from the ECU 10 in which the control program CP is written in the conveyance / writing process. Then, the ECU 10 for which the writing of the control program CP has been completed is put into the shipping inspection process, and the PRE 20 removed from the ECU 10 is put into the transport process.

In the transporting process, the PRE 20 removed from the ECU 10 in the PRE removing process is transported to a position where the PRE mounting process is performed.
Here, the conveyance process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In the transporting process, the PRE 20 is transported from the position where the PRE removing process is performed to the position where the PRE mounting process is performed, and the PRE 20 is charged when the PRE 20 is connected to the charging device 40, and the charging device 40 is charged with the PRE 20. From the above, the traceability information Tr of the ECU 10 is taken in. In the transport process, the PRE 20 removed from the ECU 10 is sequentially connected to the charging device 40, so that charging and traceability information Tr are transmitted and received. When charging and traceability information Tr are completely transmitted and received, the PRE 20 proceeds to the PRE mounting process. Is thrown in. Thus, the PRE 20 is repeatedly used for writing the control program CP to the ECU 10.

  As the writing amount of the control program CP increases, the transport / writing process ends at a time longer than the time t, for example, at a time 6t. In this regard, in the transfer / writing process, the control line CP is simultaneously written in the six ECUs 10 while being transferred, so that the production line can be continued without delay. Each ECU 10 inspected in the first and second inspection steps is put into the PRE mounting step every time t, and the time required for the conveyance / writing step is set to time 6t, whereby the first and second assembly steps, In addition, a stagnation between the first and second inspection steps and the writing step is suppressed. Note that the stagnation means that a part of the process takes too much time, so that what has been processed in another process is stored without being processed. The time t is a time required for the first and second assembly steps and the first and second inspection steps, for example.

  The shipment inspection step is a step of inspecting whether the ECU 10 in which the control program CP is written through the writing step has a prescribed performance. In the shipment inspection process, for example, it is determined whether or not the control program CP written in the ECU 10 operates as requested. When the control program CP operates as requested, shipment of the ECU 10 is permitted.

Next, the flow of each process in the production line of the ECU 10 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, first, after the first and second assembling steps for creating the outer structure of the ECU 10 are performed (step S1), does the outer structure of the ECU 10 have the required performance? First and second inspection steps for inspecting whether or not are performed (step S2).

Next, a PRE mounting process for attaching the PRE 20 to the ECU 10 is performed (step S3).
When the PRE 20 is attached to the ECU 10 (after step S3), a transport / write process for writing the control program CP to the ECU 10 is performed while transporting the ECU 10 and the PRE 20 (step S4).

  When the writing of the control program CP to the ECU 10 is completed, that is, when the ECU 10 and the PRE 20 have been transported to a predetermined position (after step S4), a removal process for removing the PRE 20 from the ECU 10 is performed (step S5).

  When the PRE 20 is removed from the ECU 10 (after step S5), a transport process for transporting the PRE 20 removed from the ECU 10 to the position of the PRE mounting process is performed (step S6), and the ECU 10 from which the PRE 20 has been removed is inspected. An inspection process is performed (step S7). The writing process is configured by the PRE mounting process (step S3), the transport / writing process (step S4), the PRE removing process (step S5), and the transport process (step S6).

Above, description of the flow of each process is complete | finished.
The operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.
(1) With the PRE 20 attached to the ECU 10, the control program CP can be written to the ECU 10 while conveying the ECU 10 and the PRE 20. For this reason, since it is not necessary to secure a space for arranging the reprogramming device in a place different from the conveyance path of the ECU 10, the arrangement space of the reprogramming device in the production line can be reduced.

  Here, as a comparative example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the conveyance / writing process has only a portion extending in the same direction as the traveling direction of the first and second assembly processes and the first and second inspection processes, The range of movement of the person becomes wide. For example, the worker performs three operations of attaching the PRE 20 to the ECU 10 and operating the operation unit 25 in the PRE mounting process, and removing the PRE 20 from the ECU 10 in the PRE removing process. For this reason, the operator needs to reciprocate between the position where the PRE mounting process is performed and the position where the PRE removing process is performed. That is, the operator needs to move between a position where the PRE mounting process is performed and a position where the PRE removal process is performed provided at both ends in the direction in which the conveyance / writing process extends.

  Here, as the writing amount of the control program CP increases, the transport / writing process takes time 6t. For this reason, even if the ECU 10 and the PRE 20 continue to be conveyed during the conveyance / writing process, if one worker is in charge of the PRE mounting process and the PRE removing process, the movement time of the worker becomes long. Work efficiency falls. Moreover, if the worker's movement time becomes too long, an operator is required in each of the PRE mounting process and the PRE removing process, resulting in a reduction in work efficiency.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance / writing process has a portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the advancing direction of the first and second assembly processes and the first and second inspection processes. The position where the PRE attachment process is performed and the position where the PRE removal process is performed can be provided at closer positions. For this reason, even if one worker is in charge of the PRE mounting process and the PRE removing process, the movement time of the worker can be further shortened, so that the work efficiency of the worker can be prevented from being lowered.

  (2) By providing the battery 23 in the PRE 20, it becomes possible not only to write the control program CP to the ECU 10 inside the factory, but also to write the control program CP to the ECU 10 in a ship or vehicle being transported. . It is also possible to write the control program CP at the shipping destination, and to write the control program CP at dealers and maintenance shops. Even in this case, when the control program CP is written in the ECU 10 while being transported, it is possible to prevent the work efficiency of the operator from being lowered by providing the PRE attachment process and the PRE removal process at close positions. .

  (3) Since the transport process is provided, the PRE 20 that has already been used for writing the control program CP to the ECU 10 can be repeatedly used in the transport / writing process. Further, since the PRE 20 is charged by the charging device 40 in the transport process, even if the PRE 20 is repeatedly used, the PRE 20 can be attached to the ECU 10 in a sufficiently charged state.

  (4) In the transporting process, the charging device 40 reads the traceability information Tr from the PRE 20 so that it is possible to track which state the ECU 10 is in the production line. Further, by using the traceability information Tr, for example, it is possible to determine whether each process in the production line has been accurately performed.

  (5) The PRE 20 selects the control program CP to be written in the ECU 10 by reading the control program CP from the external memory 30. For this reason, if the external memory 30 is replaced, the control program CP can be easily changed.

In addition, you may change this embodiment as follows. Further, the following other embodiments can be combined with each other within a technically consistent range.
In the present embodiment, the PRE 20 writes the control program CP into the ECU 10 by reading the control program CP from the external memory 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a storage unit that stores the control program CP may be provided in the PRE 20.

  A plurality of programs are stored in the external memory 30, and the PRE 20 may write the control program CP into the ECU 10 by selecting one of the programs as the control program CP. When selecting one of the programs as the control program CP, the control program CP may be selected based on, for example, a sign displayed on the outer surface of the control device. As a result, it is possible to save the operator from selecting the control program CP, and to improve the work efficiency of the worker.

  -In this embodiment, although the operation part 25 and the display part 26 were provided in PRE20, as shown, for example in FIG. 6, the operation part 25 and the display part 26 do not need to be provided. When the operation unit 25 and the display unit 26 are not provided in the PRE 20, for example, in the conveyance / writing process, when the connector 12 is connected to the connector 21, the PRE 20 starts writing the control program CP to the ECU 10.

  In the conveyance / writing process, the writing of the control program CP to the ECU 10 is started when the connector 12 is connected to the connector 21 and the operation of the operation unit 25 is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the writing of the control program CP to the ECU 10 may be started when the connector 12 is connected to the connector 21, or the control program CP to the ECU 10 is triggered when the operation unit 25 is operated. May be started. Further, the writing of the control program CP may be started when power is supplied to the ECU 10.

  In the present embodiment, the time required for the first and second assembly steps and the first and second inspection steps is set to time t, and the time required for the writing step is set to 6 t. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the time required for the writing process may be 5 t or less, or 6 t or more. That is, the time required for the fifth step may be set in any manner according to the capacity of the control program CP, the number of ECUs 10 produced, and the like. Further, the time required for the first and second assembly steps and the first and second inspection steps may be set in any manner. Further, the time required for the shipping inspection process may be set in any way.

-In this embodiment, although PRE20 was repeatedly used by providing a conveyance process, it is not restricted to this. That is, the PRE 20 may be disposable without providing a transport process.
-In this embodiment, although the PRE removal process was provided, it does not need to provide. In this case, for example, the ECU 10 is shipped with the PRE 20 attached to the ECU 10. Further, the PRE mounting process may not be provided. For example, the PRE 20 may be attached to the ECU 10 in the first and second assembly steps.

  In the transport / writing process, after transporting away from the path between the PRE mounting process and the PRE removal process, and transporting in the traveling direction of the first and second assembly processes and the first and second inspection processes, You may convey in the range expanded rather than between PRE mounting process and PRE removal process. Even in this case, it is sufficient if the PRE attachment process and the PRE removal process are provided in close proximity.

  -In this embodiment, although the conveyor was mentioned as a means to convey ECU10 and PRE20, it is not restricted to this. For example, any machine that autonomously conveys (automatically according to a certain rule) may be used. That is, any means may be used as long as the ECU 10 and the PRE 20 can be transported.

  In the transporting process, the PRE 20 is transported from the PRE removing process to the PRE mounting process, but the present invention is not limited to this. Since the PRE removal step and the PRE attachment step are provided at close positions, for example, the operator removes the PRE 20 from the ECU 10 in the PRE removal step, attaches the PRE 20 to the charging device 40, and charging by the charging device 40 is completed. The PRE 20 may be mounted on the ECU 10 in the PRE mounting process.

  In FIG. 2, the transport process is illustrated as being provided between the PRE mounting process and the PRE removing process, but the transport process is not provided between the PRE mounting process and the PRE removing process. You may provide a process in the adjacent state.

Next, a technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and its modifications will be additionally described.
(B) A plurality of types of the control program are prepared in advance, and the writing device selects the control program based on the sign displayed on the outer surface of the control device and writes the control program to the control device. How to write a program.

  According to this method, the writing device can select an appropriate control program based on the sign displayed on the outer surface of the control device. Thereby, the operator who writes a control program in a control apparatus can save the effort which selects an appropriate control program, and can improve a worker's working efficiency.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... ECU (control apparatus), 11 ... Memory | storage part, 12 ... Connector, 20 ... PRE (writing apparatus), 21 ... Connector, 22 ... CAN writing part, 23 ... Battery, 24 ... Communication part, 25 ... Operation part, 26: Display unit, 30: External memory, 40: Charging device, 41: Charging unit, 42: Communication unit, t: Time, CP ... Control program, Tr ... Traceability information.

Claims (5)

A control program writing method for writing the control program using a writing device to a control device that executes control based on the control program,
When the writing device is connected to the control device, the writing device supplies power to the control device and uses the communication performed with the control device, while transporting the transport device on a transport path. Write a control program to the control device,
The control device before the control program is written is transported from the start position, which is a position on the transport path when the writing device starts writing the control program, at the end of writing the control program by the writing device. A writing step of writing the control program to the control device while transporting to an end position that is a position on the path;
In the writing step, the control device changes direction after transporting in a direction away from the path from the start position to the end position, starting from the start position, and transports in a direction close to the path. A method for writing a control program to be conveyed to the end position. The control program writing method according to claim 1,
A mounting step of mounting the writing device on the control device before the start of the writing step;
A control program writing method comprising: a detaching step of removing the writing device from the control device after completion of the writing step. The control program writing method according to claim 2,
A method for writing a control program in which the position where the mounting step is performed is adjacent to the position where the removal step is performed. The control program writing method according to claim 2 or 3,
After completion of the writing step, the writing device is returned from the position where the removal step is performed to the position where the mounting step is performed,
In the transporting process, the writing device is charged, and a control program writing method for acquiring traceability information from the writing device. In the writing method of the control program as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
The control program is stored in a storage device provided outside the writing device,
The writing device reads the control program from the storage device and writes the read control program to the control device.