US 4,730,256 A · Electronic control apparatus including microcomputers for controlling some of the systems found in a vehicle

Abstract

An electronic control apparatus for use in vehicles comprised of two, one-chip microcomputers. The microcomputers each have a ROM and a RAM and are used to control different systems provided in the vehicle. The ROM of the second microcomputer stores an operational program which can be used to calculate control values for controlling various types of devices. It also stores operational map data which can be used to calculate control values for controlling various types of devices. Various signals output by the sensors provided in the vehicle are supplied to both microcomputers. At the start of the power supply to the apparatus, the operational map data stored in the ROM of the first microcomputer, which is to be used by the second microcomputer, is transferred to the RAM of the second microcomputer. The second microcomputer calculates a control value from the transferred operational map data, the signals output by the sensors and other data, thereby controlling the system assigned to it.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An electronic control apparautus, including microcomputers, for controlling the system found in a vehicle, comprising:

a first one-chip microcomputer having at least one ROM, at least one RAM, and at least one input/output port and adapted to calculate a control value for controlling one of the devices provided in the system;
a second one-chip microcomputer having at least one ROM, at least one RAM, and at least one input/output port and adapted to calculate a control value for controlling other of the devices provided in the system;
data transmission means connected between said first and second microcomputers for supplying data from, at least, said first microcomputer to said second microcomputer;
initialization means for transferring an operational map stored in the ROM of said first microcomputer to the RAM of said second microcomputer;
data sensing means for supplying items of data, representing the conditions of the system, to said first and second microcomputers;
and
output means for controlling said first and second microcomputers, which calculate control values from the items of data in accordance with the programs stored in the ROMs and the operational maps stored in the RAMs.

4 more elements

An electronic control apparatus for controlling a first device and a second device mounted on an internal combustion engine, comprising:

sensor means for sensing the operating condition of said engine;
a first one-chip microcomputer having a first ROM and a first RAM and calculating a first control value for said first device in response to said sensed operating condition, said first ROM storing therein a first program which defines the calculation of said first control value, a first data which is to be used in the calculation of said first control value and a first part of second data which is to be used in the calculation of a second value for said second device, and said first part of the second data being changed from engine to engine;
a second one-chip microcomputer having a second ROM and a second RAM and calculating said second control value for said second device in response to said sensed operating condition, said second ROM storing therein a second program which defines the calculation of said second control value and a second part of said second data which is to be used in the calculation of said second control value, and said second part of the second data being unchanged from engine to engine;
data trnasmission means connecting said first microcomputer and said second microcomputer for transmission of data therethrough;
and
initialization means for initializing said first RAM and said second RAM and transferring said first part of the second data stored in said first ROM of said first microcomputer to said second RAM of said second microcomputer through said data transmission means before the calculations of said first value and said second value in said first microcomputer and said second microcomputer, said first part of second data transferred to said second RAM being stored therein while said second microcomputer is in operation and used in the calculation of said second value in addition to said second part of second data.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronic control apparatus including microcomputers for controlling some of the systems found in a vehicle

Life of this patent

Electronic control apparatus including microcomputers for controlling some of the systems found in a vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12