Electronic control unit for vehicle and data communication method
AssigneeHitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
InventorsYusuke ABE, Koji YUASA, Toshihisa ARAI
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Abstract
An electronic control unit for a vehicle includes a nonvolatile memory that is capable of erasing and writing data electrically, and capable of receiving a program to be written into the nonvolatile memory in units of a predetermined size by means of communication using a communication buffer. The electronic control unit for the vehicle uses communication buffers, the number of which is greater than the number of communication buffers used in an in-vehicle communication environment, to receive the program.
Claims6
An electronic control unit for a vehicle, comprising a nonvolatile memory that is capable of erasing and writing data electrically, and a communication circuit which includes a plurality of communication buffers, each of which is preassigned for communication with each of external devices,
- wherein the external devices include a writing tool, which is connected to the electronic control unit and transmits a program when the program is written into the nonvolatile memory,
- wherein when the electronic control unit in an in-vehicle state communicates with an external device other than the writing tool among the external devices, the electronic control unit is configured to communicate using a communication buffer preassigned for communication with the external device other than the writing tool, among the plurality of communication buffers,
- wherein when the electronic control unit, which is not in the in-vehicle state, communicates with the writing tool, the electronic control unit is configured to communicate using both of a communication buffer preassigned for communication with the writing tool and at least one communication buffer preassigned for communication with at least one external device other than the writing tool.
A data communication method for use in communication of an electronic control unit for a vehicle with external devices, wherein the electronic control unit is provided with a nonvolatile memory that is capable of erasing and writing data electrically, and a communication circuit which includes a plurality of communication buffers, each of which is preassigned for communication with each of the external devices,
- wherein the external devices include a writing tool, which is connected to the electronic control unit and transmits a program when the program is written into the nonvolatile memory,
- the method comprising the steps of:
- using, when the electronic control unit in an in-vehicle state communicates with an external device other than the writing tool among the external devices, a communication buffer preassigned for communication with the external device other than the writing tool, among the plurality of communication buffers, and
- using, when the electronic control unit, which is not in the in-vehicle state, communicates with the writing tool, both of a communication buffer preassigned for communication with the writing tool and at least one communication buffer preassigned for communication with at least one external device other than the writing tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.