Electronic control unit for automotive vehicles

An electronic control unit for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

• a first microprocessor having first memory means for storing one of a plurality of predetermined arithmetic programs for controlling respective predetermined control systems, said first microprocessor being connected to at least one external sensor and an actuator of a corresponding one of said predetermined control systems, said first microprocessor arithmetically processing information from said at least one external sensor based on said one of said plurality of predetermined arithmetic programs stored in said first memory means, and said first microprocessor delivering a control signal as a result of said arithmetic processing to said actuator;
• and
• a second microprocessor connected to said first microprocessor exclusively for delivering and receiving data to and from said first microprocessor and thereby monitoring operation of said first microprocessor;
• wherein said second microprocessor includes:
• (i) second memory means for storing both check data for checking said operation of said first microprocessor, based on which said first microprocessor executes predetermined arithmetic processing, and solutions determined by said check data, said check data being directly applicable, without being modified, for checking operations of microprocessors of all of the predetermined control systems operating on different arithmetic programs, and (ii) determining means for comparing between results of said predetermined arithmetic processing executed by said first microprocessor based on said check data and said solutions stored in said second memory means, and for determining that an abnormality exists in said first microprocessor when said results of said predetermined arithmetic processing and said solutions do not agree.