JP2021140407A - Electronic control device and program update system for electronic control device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an electronic control device capable of writing a control program of a microcomputer without using a dedicated application tool.SOLUTION: An electronic control device 1 is provided with an input terminal TEST and a USB port 6 to which a USB memory 7 in which a control program of a main microcomputer 2 is stored is connected. When a test signal is input at startup, the main microcomputer 2 starts in an inspection program mode for updating a control program stored in a memory, and along with repro processing for writing the control program read from the USB memory 7 to the memory, outputs a notification signal for notifying the progress of the repro processing to a display 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic control device including a microcomputer and a system for updating a program of the device.

For example, an electronic control device such as a car navigation device or an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that controls a vehicle includes an IC such as a microcomputer. Hereinafter, it is referred to as a "microcomputer". In such an electronic control device, when the control program of the microcomputer is upgraded, the program is usually rewritten in the state of the product, so-called "repro".

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-187747

However, in the past, when performing a repro, a dedicated application tool was connected to an electronic control device and the microcomputer was instructed to write a program. Therefore, it is necessary to perform work such as attaching / detaching the electronic control device and the tool and activating the tool, which is inefficient and causes an increase in work cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic control device and a program update system for an electronic control device capable of writing a control program of a microcomputer without using a dedicated application tool. To provide.

The electronic control device according to claim 1 includes a signal input terminal into which a test signal is input and a connection terminal to which a storage medium in which a control program of a microcomputer is stored is connected. Then, when the test signal is input at the time of startup, the microcomputer starts in the update mode for updating the control program stored in the memory, and stores the control program read from the storage medium connected to the connection terminal in the memory. Performs update processing to write to. Along with this, a notification signal for notifying the progress of the update process is output to the outside.

With this configuration, it is possible to shift the microcomputer to the update mode and execute the update process simply by starting the microcomputer with the test signal input to the signal input terminal without using a dedicated application tool. In addition, if the notification signal output by the microcomputer to the outside is monitored during the execution, the progress of the update process can be grasped, so that the work can be performed without degrading the efficiency without a dedicated application tool. ..

Specifically, as described in claim 2 or 3, the microcomputer outputs an executing signal as a notification signal during execution of the update process, and outputs an end signal after the update process is executed (claim). 2) Output a standby signal before executing the update process (claim 3). As a result, the worker can grasp whether the update process is being executed, the execution is completed, or the state before the execution.

Further, according to the electronic control device according to claim 4, when the execution of the update process is completed, the microcomputer performs a verification process for verifying whether or not the control program is correctly written in the memory before outputting the end signal. conduct. Then, if the result of the verification process is normal, an end signal is output, and if the result is abnormal, an abnormal signal is output. As a result, the operator can grasp whether or not the update of the control program is completed normally.

According to the program update system of the electronic control device according to claim 5, the display includes two light emitting elements having different emission colors and a control unit for controlling lighting and extinguishing of these light emitting elements. Then, the control unit combines the on / off states of the two light emitting elements and changes them into four display modes according to the change of the notification signal input from the electronic control device according to claim 4. As a result, the operator can easily grasp whether the update process is being executed, the state before the execution, or whether the update is normally completed by referring to the on / off state of the light emitting element of the display.

A functional block diagram showing the configuration of a program update system, which is an embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship between the execution state of a repro process and the LED on / off state in a display. Flowchart showing the processing of the main microcomputer

Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the program update system of the present embodiment targets the control program of the main microcomputer 2 included in the electronic control device 1 such as a car navigation device. A power source 3, which is a battery mounted on the vehicle, is connected to the electronic control device 1 via a vehicle connector 4. From the vehicle connector 4, a power supply + B directly connected to the positive terminal of the power supply 3 and a power supply IG supplied when the ignition switch is turned on are supplied.

The main microcomputer 2 includes a USB interface 5, and a USB memory 7 is connected to the electronic control device 1 via a USB port 6. The USB memory 7, which is an example of the storage medium, stores a control program whose version is newer than that stored in the memory (not shown) of the main microcomputer 2. The USB port 6 is an example of a connection terminal.

The electronic control device 1 has an input terminal TEST for a test signal, and an oscillator 8 is connected to this terminal TEST. The oscillator 8 outputs, for example, a rectangular wave signal having an amplitude of 3.3 V and a frequency of 300 Hz as a test signal. If a test signal is given to the terminal TEST at the time of startup, the main microcomputer 2 starts with the operation mode changed to the inspection program mode. The inspection program mode corresponds to the update mode. When the main microcomputer 2 is started in the inspection program mode, it accesses the USB memory 7, reads the stored control program, writes it in its own memory, and updates it, that is, performs "repro".

Further, the display 11 is connected to the electronic control device 1 via the USB port 9 and the cable 10. The display 11 also includes a USB port 12 and a USB interface 13. Two LEDs 15G and 15R, which are light emitting elements, are connected to the USB interface 13 via a driver 14. Although not shown, the USB interface 13 also includes a microcomputer for control, and the USB interface 13 corresponds to a control unit. As shown in FIG. 2, the USB interface 13 controls the on / off state of the two LEDs 15G and 15R in response to a control command received from the electronic control device 1 by USB communication.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, when the main microcomputer 2 of the electronic control device 1 is started, it determines whether or not a test signal is input to the terminal TEST (S1). For example, it is determined whether or not the signal is a test signal having a frequency of 300 Hz by measuring the rise edge interval of the signal. If the test signal is not input (NO), it is started in the normal mode (S11), and if the test signal is input (YES), it is started in the inspection program mode (S2). In the inspection program mode, the main microcomputer 2 first communicates with the display 11 to turn on the LED 15R (S3). This indicates that "state 1" shown in FIG. 2: "standby state before the start of repro". If necessary, a predetermined waiting time may be provided in order to maintain the LED display of "state 1" and ensure that the operator can visually recognize the LED display.

Subsequently, the main microcomputer 2 accesses the USB memory 7, reads the stored higher version program, writes the program in its own memory, and starts the repro process of updating (S4). Then, both the LEDs 15R and 15G are turned on (S5). This indicates that "state 2" shown in FIG. 2: "repro is being executed". Here, it is the same as in step S3 that the waiting time may be provided as needed.

When all the higher version programs are written in the memory and the repro processing is completed (S6), the main microcomputer 2 performs a verification process for verifying whether or not the programs are correctly written in the memory (S7). In the verification process, for example, the data of the program read from the USB memory 7 and the data of the corresponding memory address are collated.

Then, if all the programs are correctly written in the memory and the result of the verification process is "OK" (S8; YES), only the LED 15G is turned on (S9). This indicates that "state 4": "normal end of repro" shown in FIG. If at least a part of the program is not correctly written in the memory and the result of the verification process is "NG" (S8; NO), the LED 15 is turned off (S10). This indicates that "state 3": "repro NG" shown in FIG.

For example, 2-bit data may be used for the control command of the LED 15 in steps S3, S5, S9 and S10. For example, when a 2-bit data value is assigned to each point extinguishing control as follows, each data value transmitted by the main microcomputer 2 to the display 11 is an example of a notification signal, and the content of each notification signal is Corresponds to the following.
Data value Notification signal 00 State 1 Standby signal 01 State 2 Running signal
10 State 3 Abnormal signal 11 State 4 End signal

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the electronic control device 1 is provided with an input terminal TEST and a USB port 6 to which a USB memory 7 in which a control program of the main microcomputer 2 is stored is connected. Then, when the test signal is input at the time of startup, the main microcomputer 2 is started in the inspection program mode for updating the control program stored in the memory, and the control program read from the USB memory 7 is written to the memory for repro processing. I do. Along with this, a notification signal for notifying the progress of the repro processing is output to the display 11.

With this configuration, the main microcomputer 2 can be shifted to the inspection program mode and repro processing can be executed simply by starting the terminal TEST with a test signal input without using a dedicated application tool. .. Further, during the execution, if the notification signal output by the main microcomputer 2 to the outside is monitored, the progress of the update process can be grasped, so that the work can be performed without deteriorating the efficiency even without a dedicated application tool. can.

Then, the main microcomputer 2 outputs an execution signal during the execution of the repro processing, outputs an end signal after the execution, or outputs a standby signal before the execution. As a result, if the worker grasps the content of the notification signal, he / she can grasp whether the repro processing is being executed, the execution is completed, or the state before the execution. Further, when the execution of the repro processing is completed, the main microcomputer 2 performs the verification process before outputting the end signal, outputs the end signal if the result is normal, and outputs an abnormal signal if the result is abnormal. Output. As a result, the operator can grasp whether or not the update of the control program is completed normally.

Further, the display 11 includes LEDs 15R and 15G and a USB interface 13 for controlling the lighting and extinguishing of these, and the USB interface 13 includes the LEDs 15R according to the change of the notification signal input from the electronic control device 1. , 15G on / off state is combined to change into four display modes. As a result, the operator can easily grasp whether the repro process is being executed, the state before the execution, and whether or not the update is normally completed by referring to the on / off state of the LEDs 15R and 15G.

(Other embodiments)
The test signal is not limited to a rectangular wave signal having a frequency of 300 Hz. The frequency may be changed as appropriate, or a high level may be given to the terminal TEST as a test signal. Further, a monopulse signal or the like having a predetermined pulse width may be used.
The emission color of the LED is not limited to red or green and may be changed as appropriate. Further, the four color LEDs may be individually lit corresponding to the four states, and the emission colors in that case may be the same.
Further, the peripheral device connected to the electronic control device 1 is not limited to the display 11. For example, the 2-bit data value as the notification signal may be displayed as it is by the 7-segment LED, or the data value may be converted into a code and displayed.
The communication protocol used between the electronic control device 1 and the peripheral device is not limited to USB.
The electronic control device is not limited to the car navigation device.

Although the present disclosure has been described in accordance with the examples, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the examples and structures. The present disclosure also includes various modifications and modifications within a uniform range. In addition, various combinations and forms, as well as other combinations and forms that include only one element, more, or less, are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

In the drawings, 1 is an electronic control device, 2 is a main microcomputer, 6 is a USB port, 7 is a USB memory, 11 is a display, and 15 is an LED.

Claims (5)

In an electronic control device including a microcomputer (2)
The signal input terminal (TEST) to which the test signal is input and
It is provided with a connection terminal (6) to which a storage medium in which the control program of the microcomputer is stored is connected.
When the test signal is input at the time of startup, the microcomputer is started in an update mode for updating the control program stored in the memory.
An update process is performed in which the control program read from the storage medium connected to the connection terminal is written to the memory, and the control program is written to the memory.
An electronic control device that outputs a notification signal to the outside to notify the progress of the update process. The microcomputer outputs an execution signal as the notification signal during the execution of the update process.
The electronic control device according to claim 1, wherein an end signal is output after the update process is executed. The electronic control device according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer outputs a standby signal as the notification signal before the execution of the update process. When the execution of the update process is completed, the microcomputer performs a verification process for verifying whether or not the control program is correctly written in the memory before outputting the end signal, and the result of the verification process is normal. If so, output the end signal and
The electronic control device according to claim 2 or 3, which outputs an abnormal signal when the result of the verification process is abnormal. The electronic control device (1) according to claim 4 and
It has two light emitting elements (15R, 15G) connected to the electronic control device and input with the notification signal and having different emission colors, and a control unit (13) for controlling lighting and extinguishing of these two light emitting elements. Equipped with a display (11)
The control unit is a program update system of an electronic control device that changes the on / off state of the two light emitting elements into four display modes in response to a change in an input notification signal.

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