Smart vehicle reflash with battery state of charge (SOC) estimator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9229704-B2
Application number	US-201414231818-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2014
Priority date	Apr 1, 2014
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

Electronic modules in motor vehicles are reflashed without encountering errors due to insufficient electrical power becoming available during a reflashing. A server system stores a database of update files together with data corresponding to a respective current draw and a respective reflash time associated with the respective update files when applied in each respective vehicle. A vehicle sends pedigree information to the server system which then identifies relevant update files and corresponding current draw and reflash time data for the particular vehicle. The relevant update files and corresponding data are sent to the particular vehicle. A state of charge of a battery in the vehicle is determined. A depleted state of charge is estimated that would remain after applying a relevant update file. The update file is not applied if the estimated depleted state of charge is less than a predetermined state of charge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising the steps of:
maintaining in a server system a database of update files for reflashing of respective electronic modules installed in respective vehicles models within a vehicle fleet;
maintaining in the server system data identifying a respective current draw by the electronic modules involve in reflashing and a respective reflash time associated with each respective update file when applied in each respective vehicle model;
sending pedigree information from a particular one of the respective vehicle models to the server system;
identifying in the server system relevant update files and corresponding current draw and reflash time data for outdated modules in the particular vehicle model in response to the pedigree information;
sending the relevant update files and corresponding data to the particular vehicle model;
determining a state of charge of a battery in the particular vehicle model;
estimating a depleted state of charge that would remain after applying a relevant update file, wherein the depleted state of charge is determined by 1) multiplying the respective current draw and the respective reflash time, and 2) adding a current draw corresponding with other modules operating within the particular vehicle model while a relevant update file is applied to one of the outdated modules;
applying the update file if the depleted state of charge is greater than a predetermined state of charge and not applying the update file if the depleted state of charge is less than the predetermined state of charge;
reporting an actual reflash time to the server system after applying a respective update file;
reporting an actual current draw to the server system after applying a respective update file; and
updating the data maintained on the server system in response to the reported actual flash time and actual current draw.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
prioritizing a plurality of the relevant update files into a reflash schedule;
wherein the estimating step determines a respective depleted state of charge after each relevant update file in the schedule.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
shedding loads that are unnecessary while a relevant update file is applied to the respective module.

4. A vehicle comprising:
a plurality of electronic modules operating with updatable instruction sets;
a master electronic module configured for wireless communication with a remote server system storing a database of update files for reflashing of respective ones of the plurality of electronic modules and storing data corresponding to a respective current draw by the electronic modules involved in reflashing and respective reflash time associated with each respective update files when applied in the vehicle;
wherein the master electronic module is configured to determine a state of charge of a battery in the vehicle, estimate a depleted state of charge that would remain after applying a relevant update file, to apply the update file if the depleted state of charge is greater than a predetermined state of charge, and not apply the update file if the depleted state of charge is less than the predetermined state of charge, wherein the depleted state of charge is determined by 1) multiplying the respective current draw and the respective reflash time, and 2) adding a current draw corresponding with other modules operating with the particular vehicle while a relevant update file is applied.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the master electronic module is further configured to prioritize a plurality of the relevant update files into a reflash schedule, and wherein a respective depleted state of charge is estimated after each relevant update file in the schedule.

6. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the master electronic module is further configured to report an actual reflash time to the server system after applying a respective update file.

7. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the master electronic module is further configured to report an actual current draw to the server system after applying a respective update file.

8. The vehicle of the claim 4 wherein the master electronic module is further configured to shed loads that are unnecessary while a relevant update file is applied to the respective module.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Throop Medville Jay
• Tillman Brian D
• Mueller Paul A
• Johnson April D
• Nagi Charles H

Classifications

• G06F17/30876

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F17/30203

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F8/65 Primary

  Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) · CPC title

• B60L2270/40

  related to technical updates when adding new parts or software · CPC title

• B60L58/13

  Maintaining the SoC within a determined range · CPC title