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US6490491B1
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Method and device for programming a controller, in particular in a motor vehicle
Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
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Filing: 1999-10-28
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Granted: 2002-12-03
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Expires: 2019-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A method for programming a controller, in particular in a motor vehicle, which is switched from the operating mode to the programming mode by a signal which is supplied externally to the controller. In a method which ensures adequate protection against unauthorized reprogramming of the controller and is nevertheless simple to handle, the external signal is used to produce switching information in a programmable read only memory, which stores at least one operating program and/or data (which is updated at predetermined intervals) for the controller and causes the changeover to the programming mode when the controller is activated.
Inventors
- 👤 Stefan Hartmann
- 👤 Kai Volkmar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:37
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D45/00; F02D41/00; F02D41/24; F02D41/2406; F02D41/2425; F02D41/2487; F02D41/26; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/0426; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/65; B; B60; B60W; B60W50/00; B60W2050/0001; B60W2050/0002; B60W2050/0004; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/23; G05B2219/23305; G05B2219/23323; G05B2219/25; G05B2219/25032; G05B2219/26; G05B2219/2637
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for programming a controller, in particular in a motor vehicle, which controller is switched from an operating mode to a programming mode by means of a signal which is supplied externally to the controller, wherein the external signal is used to produce switching information in a programmable read only memory ( 4 ), which stores at least one operating program and/or data, said operating program and/or data being updated at predetermined intervals, for the controller ( 1 ) and causes the changeover to the programming mode when the controller ( 1 ) is activated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for programming a controller, in particular in a motor vehicle, which controller is switched from an operating mode to a programming mode by means of a signal which is supplied externally to the controller, wherein the external signal is used to produce switching information in a programmable read only memory ( 4 ), which stores at least one operating program and/or data, said operating program and/or data being updated at predetermined intervals, for the controller ( 1 ) and causes the changeover to the programming mode when the controller ( 1 ) is activated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the signal for switching the controller ( 1 ) is used to change the contents of a memory location in the programmable read only memory ( 4 ).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the switching information is produced by changing a diagnosis bit in the programmable read only memory ( 4 ).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, after identifying the switching information, a program loading algorithm in the controller ( 1 ) is activated, and a new operating program for the controller ( 1 ) is then read in.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein, once the programming process has been completed, the switching information is deleted from the programmable read only memory ( 4 ).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
167 words
A device for programming a controller, in particular in a motor vehicle, in which case the controller has an microcontroller, which is connected to a programmable read only memory and a diagnosis interface, and the controller is supplied via the diagnosis interface with a signal for switching the controller from the operating mode to the programming mode, wherein the signal for switching the controller ( 1 ) to the operating mode produces switching information in the programmable read only memory ( 4 ), which is connected via the micro-controller ( 2 ) to the diagnosis interface ( 5 ) and stores an operating program and/or data, said operating program and/or data being updated at predetermined intervals, for the controller ( 1 ), and, after activation of the arithmetic unit ( 2 ), the switching information is read by this microcontroller ( 2 ) in the programmable read only memory ( 4 ), and, after reading the switching information, the microcontroller ( 2 ) activates the programming mode.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
167 words
A device for programming a controller, in particular in a motor vehicle, in which case the controller has an microcontroller, which is connected to a programmable read only memory and a diagnosis interface, and the controller is supplied via the diagnosis interface with a signal for switching the controller from the operating mode to the programming mode, wherein the signal for switching the controller ( 1 ) to the operating mode produces switching information in the programmable read only memory ( 4 ), which is connected via the micro-controller ( 2 ) to the diagnosis interface ( 5 ) and stores an operating program and/or data, said operating program and/or data being updated at predetermined intervals, for the controller ( 1 ), and, after activation of the arithmetic unit ( 2 ), the switching information is read by this microcontroller ( 2 ) in the programmable read only memory ( 4 ), and, after reading the switching information, the microcontroller ( 2 ) activates the programming mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the signal for switching the controller ( 1 ) is able to be deleted by means of a diagnosis apparatus ( 6 ).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
The device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein, after setting the programming mode, a new operating program for the controller ( 1 ) is initially transferred to a random access memory ( 3 ) in the microcomputer ( 2 ) and, after deleting those memory locations in the programmable read only memory ( 4 ) which contain a previous operating program, the new operating program is then transferred to the programmable read only memory ( 4 ).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the new operating program is transferred from an external arithmetic unit ( 8 ), via a controller matching unit ( 9 ), to the controller ( 1 ) to be programmed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the controller matching unit ( 9 ) is freely configurable for matching to different interfaces and bus systems ( 10 , 11 , 12 ).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-02 | 2006-06-03 | 2006-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-02 | 2010-06-03 | 2010-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-02 | 2014-06-03 | 2014-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |