Transferable electronic control unit for adaptively controlling the operation of a motor vehicle

A transferable electronic control unit for adaptively controlling the operation of motor vehicles, wherein the electronic control unit includes means for controlling vehicle operation based upon the values of control parameters that are adjusted according to learned correction factors, the learned correction factors having values that are adaptively updated during vehicle operation to optimize vehicle performance;

• the electronic control unit comprising:
• means for receiving an identification signal having a value that identifies the vehicle in which the electronic control unit is currently operating;
• a random access memory for storing values of the identification signal and the learned correction factors that acre updated during vehicle operation;
• a first non-volatile memory containing predetermined initial values for the learned correction factors;
• a second non-volatile memory;
• means for writing the values of the identification signal and the learned correction factors stored in the random access memory to the second non-volatile memory as saved values for the identification signal and said learned correction factors when vehicle operation ends;
• means for determining whether the electronic control unit has been transferred between vehicles based upon the value of the received identification signal and the saved value of the identification signal;
• means for ensuring that the values of the identification signal and the learned correction factors stored, in the random access memory are equivalent to the saved values for the identification signal and the learned correction factors stored in the second non-volatile memory, when vehicle operation begins and the electronic control unit is determined not to have been transferred between vehicles;
• and
• means for writing the initial values for the learned correction factors stored in the first non-volatile memory to the random access memory to replace the values of the learned correction factors stored therein when vehicle operation begins and said electronic control unit is determined to have been transferred between vehicles.