Data processing: structural design – modeling – simulation – and em – Simulating electronic device or electrical system – Software program
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-28
2001-02-20
Teska, Kevin J. (Department: 2763)
Data processing: structural design, modeling, simulation, and em
Simulating electronic device or electrical system
Software program
C703S008000, C701S035000, C701S115000, C700S024000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192331
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for simulating control functions of a control device, in particular engine control functions of a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A control function of a control. device is stored as control program code in a memory of the control device, and is processed in order to execute the control functions. To test the functionality of the control device, it is advantageous to simulate the control program code beforehand, i.e. to represent the control functions as a model and execute a correspondingly generated simulation program code in real time. In this context, the simulation program code is generated by a simulation tool.
One or more control device functions are modeled in an “external bypass” and simulated on a processor provided in an external simulation computer. Other control functions which are not to be simulated, as well as the operating system drivers and hardware drivers, run on the internal processor provided in the control device. With the external bypass, processing of the simulation program code is accomplished in the external simulation computer, communication with the control device taking place via interfaces, for example by means of a CAN bus.
FIG. 1
shows a general configuration of an external bypass for the control program code, in which simulation of the control functions of a control device
20
to be simulated takes place in an external simulation computer
30
.
Control device
20
has a plurality of control functions which are used to control an arbitrary assembly
10
, for example a motor vehicle engine. For the development of new control functions or the enhancement of existing control functions of control device
20
, corresponding control program code modules of the control program code stored in the control device memory are replaced by a calculation in an external processor which is located in an external simulation computer
30
. The simulation program code generated by the simulation tool is processed in the external processor of simulation computer
30
. While assembly
10
is operating, for example while the engine is operating, the simulation program code receives the corresponding input variables or input data, via interfaces, from the control program code of control device
20
; it then executes or processes them, and writes the output data or result variables back into control device
20
. It is thereby possible during operation to modify, for example, the engine control functions of a vehicle, and observe the results directly on the vehicle. The control functions of control device
20
to be tested are modeled by an input device
40
, and entered into the external simulation computer.
The input data for the control functions displaced into the external simulation computer
30
are made available by control device
20
, and the output data of the control functions displaced into the external simulation computer
30
are delivered back to control device
20
.
The external bypass, described above, of portions of the control program code stored in control device
20
has several disadvantages. An external simulation computer is necessary for simulating the control device functions. In addition, the interfaces must be so fast that the input variables arriving from the external assembly are available quickly enough to the simulation computer, and the calculated data are available in timely fashion to control device
20
for further processing in the control device program.
This means an additional hardware outlay for the additional interfaces and the external simulation computer itself. Data are continually being exchanged via the interfaces between control device
20
and the external simulation computer
30
, additional time being required for the data transmission. This time loss can considerably impair a simulation of the control device functions that must occur in real time. The simulation computer
30
to be provided in the case of the external bypass is, moreover, not designed for certain environmental conditions, as control device
20
is. It is thus not possible to take into account appropriately the influence of environmental conditions on the simulation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The method according to the present invention for simulating control functions of a control device is advantageous in that data exchange between the control program code and the simulation program code is considerably simplified.
It is also advantageous, according to the present invention, that both the control program code and the simulation program code are located in the control device itself, i.e. that the control program code and the simulation program code are exposed to the same environmental conditions.
It is further advantageous to perform the simulation directly in the control device itself, without displacing that simulation into an external simulation computer. This greatly reduces the equipment outlay.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the simulation program code module that is made available is generated from a test control function, the test control function being input into the control device via an input device.
This is advantageous in that only specific control functions to be tested, and not the totality of all control functions stored in the control device, are simulated.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the switching device is switched over to a branch address of a simulation program code module stored in the second memory area.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the branch address for a simulation program code module stored in the second memory area is defined in each case upon generation of the control program code.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a common branch address is made available for all the simulation program code modules stored in the second memory area, activation of the simulation program code modules belonging to the control functions to be simulated being performed by means of flags or markers.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, each control program code module is independently simulated by a pertinent simulation program code module.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the control function to be simulated is selected as a test control function via the input device.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the control functions of the control device to be simulated are simulated in real time.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the simulation of the control functions to be simulated occurs internally on a processor provided in the control device.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a predetermined data exchange method is provided, by means of which input data are conveyed to the simulation program code modules and by means of which the simulation program code modules deliver output data.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the data exchange method delivers information to the simulation program code modules about memory addresses for reading out input data and writing in output data.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the switching device has at least two switchable states for switching from a control program code module to a simulation program code module, the pertinent control program code module being executed in a first switchable state, and the pertinent simulation program code module being executed in a second switchable state.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, one or more test control functions are input for each control function to be simulated.
This is advantageous in that several different test control functions, representing different models, can be entered for a control function to be simulated, and can be alternatively tested by switching over the switching device.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the test control functions are entered textually or grap
Gaessler Hermann
Koerner Hendrik
Maienberg Uwe
Mayer Rainer
Mischker Karsten
Frejd Russell W.
Kenyon & Kenyon
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Teska Kevin J.
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