Patent ID: 6505105
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
A method of calibrating an electronic control unit (ECU), comprising the steps of:providing a control algorithm for controlling a microcontroller of an ECU, the microcontroller including a port for coupling the microcontroller to an external tool, the microcontroller executing a control algorithm which controls a subsystem coupled to the ECU; loading a plurality of initial calibration tables into a first non-volatile memory bank; loading the plurality of initial calibration tables into a second non-volatile memory bank; receiving an indication from the external tool as to which of the calibration tables loaded in the second non-volatile memory bank are to be modified; loading the indicated calibration tables into a volatile memory; receiving a replacement calibration constant from the external tool, the replacement calibration constant replacing an existing calibration constant located within one of the calibration tables in the volatile memory; executing the control algorithm utilizing the replacement calibration constant and the calibration tables in the volatile memory that are required for a particular calibration routine; receiving an indication that the calibration tables currently in the volatile memory are to be loaded into the second non-volatile memory bank; and executing the control algorithm utilizing the calibration tables in the first non-volatile memory bank until the calibration tables in the volatile memory are loaded into the second non-volatile memory bank.