IP Library Granted Patent US 11,740,892
Granted Patent B2
US 11,740,892 · App. 17/590,854 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Vehicle control apparatus

Inventors: Toshiaki Tamachi (Seto, JP); Yuuki Makino (Aichi-gun, JP); Masafumi Yamamoto (Nagakute, JP); Koichi Okuda (Toyota, JP); Atsushi Tabata (Okazaki, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G06F8/66B60W50/00B60W2050/0083B60W2520/04B60W2540/215
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,740,892
App. No.
17/590,854
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle control apparatus including: a storage portion configured to store therein a vehicle control software for controlling a vehicle; an updating portion configured to update the vehicle control software stored in the storage portion, to an update software, and an operation check portion configured, when the update software is stored in the storage portion, to make an operation check as to whether the vehicle operates normally or not, by executing processing of the update software on condition that the vehicle is in a vehicle stopped state in which the vehicle is suppressed from being moved in forward and reverse directions. When it is checked by the operation check portion that the vehicle operates normally with the processing of the update software, the updating portion is configured to update the vehicle control software to the update software.

Claims (12)

1. A vehicle control apparatus comprising:

a storage portion configured to store therein a vehicle control software for controlling a vehicle;

an updating portion configured to update the vehicle control software stored in the storage portion, to an update software, and

an operation check portion configured, when the update software is stored in the storage portion, to make an operation check as to whether the vehicle operates normally or not, by executing processing of the update software on condition that the vehicle is in a vehicle stopped state in which the vehicle is suppressed from being moved in forward and reverse directions,

wherein, when it is checked by the operation check portion that the vehicle operates normally with the processing of the update software, the updating portion is configured to update the vehicle control software to the update software.

2. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the operation check portion is configured to inquire an occupant of the vehicle whether the operation check can be made or not, and to execute the processing of the update software to make the operation check when a permission is given by the occupant of the vehicle to make the operation check.

3. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the operation check portion is configured to discontinue the processing of the update software, when the vehicle is switched from the vehicle stopped state to a runnable state in which the vehicle is enabled to run, during the processing of the update software.

4. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the vehicle includes an electric actuator that is to be operated to switch between a vehicle stop range and a vehicle non-stop range that is other than the vehicle stop range, such that the vehicle is placed in the vehicle stopped state when the vehicle stop range is established, and

wherein the operation check portion is configured, when an operation is made to switch from the vehicle stop range to the vehicle non-stop range during the processing of the update software, to delay switching from the vehicle stop range to the vehicle non-stop range, until discontinuation of the processing of the update software is completed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: TAMACHI, TOSHIAKI; MAKINO, YUUKI; YAMAMOTO, MASAFUMI; OKUDA, KOICHI; TABATA, ATSUSHI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 058854/0849 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-018573 · Feb 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220253304A1 · Aug 11, 2022