Memory writing device for an electronic device

Abstract

To provide a memory-writing device which can simply and reliably write desired data to a nonvolatile memory of an electronic device, connection is made with an ECU to perform write processing to write write data from the memory-writing device to a flash ROM by copying a write-control program from the external portion to a RAM and executing the write-control program, and by sequentially sending the foregoing write-control program and write data to this ECU together with sending, at a predetermined timing, write-control information required for the ECU to execute the write-control program, the write-control program and the write-control information are stored in a freely attachable and removable first ROM and the write-control information stored in the first ROM is read and sent to the ECU at a memory-rewriting device to cause the write processing to be performed in the ECU. According to this device, an ECU of differing specifications can be supported merely by exchanging the first ROM.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system comprising: 
 a control unit having a memory; and    a memory rewriting device including: 
 discriminating information storage means for storing second discriminating information;  
 determining means for receiving first discriminating information sent from the memory of the control unit and for determining whether the first discriminating information sent from the control unit coincides with the second discriminating information stored in the discriminating information storage means; and  
 rewrite control program sending means for sending a rewrite control program to the control unit in response to a determination by the determining means that the first discriminating information sent from the memory of the control unit coincides with the stored second discriminating information, whereby the rewrite control program is stored in the control unit;  
   wherein the first and second discrimination information includes at least a type and specification of each device which is controlled by the control unit, or a model name and grade name of a vehicle in which the control unit is mounted.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said determining means receives said first discriminating information and determines whether said second discriminating information coincides with said first discriminating information by comparing said second discriminating information and said first discriminating information.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising means for storing data that is to be rewritten to cause new data to correspond to discriminating information indicating a device conforming to said new data and store said new data, and together therewith, to send said discriminating information corresponding to said new data to said electronic control unit before sending said rewrite control program.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the control unit is mounted in a vehicle and each of the first and second discriminating information includes an identification code of each vehicle.  
     
     
         5 . A memory rewriting device comprising: 
 a receiver for receiving a first identifier transmitted from a controller of a device;    a storage medium for storing a second identifier;    a comparator for comparing the first identifier sent from the controller and the second identifier stored in the storage medium to determine whether the received first identifier and second identifier stored in the storage medium coincide;    transmitting a rewrite control program to the controller if the comparator determines that the first and second identifiers coincide;    wherein the first and second identifiers include at least a type and specification of each device which is controlled by the controller, or a model name and grade name of a vehicle in which the controller is mounted.    
     
     
         6 . A method of controlling a device, the method comprising: 
 transmitting a first identifier from a controller of the device to a memory rewriting device;    storing a second identifier in a storage medium of the rewriting device;    comparing the first and second identifiers with a comparator in the memory rewriting device; and    sending a rewrite control program to the controller if the comparator determines that the first and second identifiers coincide so that the transmitted rewrite control program can be stored in a memory of the controller;    wherein the first and second identifiers include at least a type and specification of each device which is controlled by the controller, or a model name and grade name of a vehicle in which the controller is mounted.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the rewrite control program sending means generates an error signal in response to a determination by the determining means that the first discriminating information sent from the memory of the control unit does not coincide the stored second discriminating information.  
     
     
         8 . The memory rewriting device of  claim 5  wherein the memory rewriting device generates an error signal in response to a determination by the comparator that the first and second identifiers do not coincide.  
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 6  wherein an error signal is generated if the comparator determines that the first and second identifiers do not coincide.  
     
     
         10 . A control unit mounted in a vehicle, the control unit comprising: 
 a volatile memory;    a storage medium for storing a first identifier;    a comparator for comparing (i) a second identifier sent from a memory rewriting device external to the control unit and (ii) the stored first identifier to determine whether the first and second identifiers coincide with one another;    a receiver for receiving a rewrite control program from the memory rewriting device; and    wherein each of the first and second identifiers is established for at least a type and specification of each device which is controlled by the control unit, or a model name and grade name of the vehicle.    
     
     
         11 . A system comprising: 
 a memory rewriting device; and    a control unit including: 
 a storage medium for storing a first identifier, the first identifier identifying at least a device controlled by the control unit;  
 a comparator for comparing a second identifier transmitted from the memory rewriting device and received by the control unit and the first identifier stored in the storage medium of the control unit to determine whether the first and second identifiers coincide with one another; and  
 a signal generator for generating a rewrite request signal if the first and second identifiers coincide and transmitting the rewrite request signal to the memory rewriting device;  
   wherein the memory rewriting device transmits a rewrite control program to the control unit when the rewrite request signal is received from the control unit.    
     
     
         12 . A system of  claim 11  wherein the first and second identifiers include at least a type and specification of each device which is controlled by the control unit, or a model name and grade name of a vehicle in which the control unit is mounted.  
     
     
         13 . A method of controlling a device, the method comprising: 
 transmitting a first identifier from a memory rewriting device to a controller of the device;    storing a second identifier in a storage medium of the controller;    comparing the first and second identifiers with a comparator in the controller;    sending a rewrite request signal from the controller to the memory rewriting device if the comparator determines that the first and second identifiers coincide; and    transmitting a rewrite control program stored in the memory rewriting device to the controller when the rewrite request signal is received by the memory rewriting device from the controller.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first and second identifiers include at least a type and specification of each device which is controlled by the controller, or a model name and a grade name of a vehicle in which the controller is mounted.