Electronic control unit

An in-vehicle electronic control system, comprising an in-vehicle electronic control unit (ECU), the ECU including:

• a deterioration information memory configured to store deterioration information of a component in the vehicle;
• and
• a microcomputer configured to
• check whether a degree of deterioration has reached a check value for the component, wherein the check value limits recordation of the deterioration information in the deterioration information memory of the ECU, and
• write the deterioration information of the component in the deterioration information memory, when the degree of deterioration of the component has reached the check value;
• and
• sensors, actuators, and a vehicle diagnostic device connected to the ECU,
• wherein
• the microcomputer is further configured to output the deterioration information of the component from the deterioration information memory to the vehicle diagnostic device to display the deterioration information of the component on the vehicle diagnostic device, when the output deterioration information exceeds the degree of deterioration that would lead to a fault of the component.

An in-vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) for determining wear information for a component in a vehicle, the electronic control unit comprising:

• a communications interface configured to determine a connection of a vehicle diagnostic device to the electronic control unit and to communicate with the vehicle diagnostic device;
• an input/output device configured to receive a signal from the component;
• a memory configured to store the wear information for the component;
• and
• a microcomputer configured to
• receive the signal from input/output device,
• calculate the wear information for the component based on the signal,
• compare the wear information against a check value, wherein the check value limits recordation of the deterioration information in the deterioration information memory of the ECU, and
• save the wear information to the memory when the wear information exceeds the check value, wherein
• the microcomputer is further configured to, upon determining the connection of the vehicle diagnostic device to the electronic control unit, retrieve the wear information from the memory and output the wear information via the communication interface to the vehicle diagnostic device to display the wear information for the component on the vehicle diagnostic device, when the wear information exceeds the check value that would lead to a fault of the component.