Method for controlling an automated gearbox, electronic safety system and adapter plug

A method for controlling an automated gearbox of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• providing an electronic control unit having a main processor;
• controlling a predefined functionality of the automated gearbox using a function software running on the main processor under predefined conditions;
• detecting a safety-critical operating state of the motor vehicle in advance using an electronic safety system having a redundant processor, a monitoring software and a plurality of function blocks, each function block having a signal input and a signal output.

An electronic safety system for motor vehicles, wherein the electronic safety system is of modular design and has a plurality of function blocks, each function block having a signal input and a signal output.

An adapter connector for connecting a wire harness plug connector with a control unit connector of an electronic control unit, the wire harness plug connector being directly connectable with the control unit connector to define electrical signal connections, the adaptor connector comprising:

• first plug connections connecting directly to the control unit connector and second plug connections connecting directly to the wire harness plug connector, the adaptor electrically connecting at least one of the first plug connections to the second plug connections to provide at least one of the electrical signal connections;
• the adapter connector being configured to enable the electronic control unit to work together with an electronic safety system that has a redundant processor;
• at least one other of the first plug connections being electrically isolated from the second plug connections so that the adaptor connector interrupts at least one of the electrical signal connections provided when the wire harness plug connector is directly connected to the control unit connector.