Vehicle control system and unit for preventing power supply cuto

Details Vehicle control system and unit for preventing power supply cuto Vehicle control system and unit for preventing power supply cuto

1999-02-25

2000-10-24

Zanelli, Michael J.

Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location

Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication

701 32, 701115, G06F 100

Patent

active

061380598

ABSTRACT:
A vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) prevents its power supply from being cut off while it is in the process of re-programming data in a re-programmable nonvolatile memory. An ECU includes a microcomputer which, after receiving a re-program request from a re-programming device, determines if an identification code in a flash memory and an identification code from the re-programming device match. If the codes do match, the microcomputer executes re-program processing for overwriting all the data in the flash memory, including a control program. The ECU is supplied with power from a battery by way of a main relay whose contacts are closed when a vehicle ignition switch (IGSW) is turned on or when a drive signal is applied to the relay. When the IGSW starts to operate, the microcomputer outputs the drive signal to the main relay and, when it completes re-program processing and the IGSW is off, the microcomputer stops outputting the drive signal. Thus even if the IGSW is switched off during execution of re-program processing, power to the microcomputer is maintained so that the re-program processing is not interrupted.

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