Electronic control unit

An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer, characterized in that:

• the first computer includes a first diagnostic means for diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a diagnosis, in which a comparison is performed between a value calculated using a predetermined operation and a pre-stored reference value for determining whether a relationship between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value is normal;
• the first computer further includes a data transmitting means for sending the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value used for the diagnosis performed by the first diagnostic means;
• the second computer includes a receiving means for receiving the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value;
• the second computer further includes a second diagnostic means for determining whether the first diagnostic means normally operates based on a comparison between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value received by the receiving means;
• the first diagnostic means regularly performs the diagnosis;
• the data transmitting means sends the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value used in the diagnosis most recently performed;
• and
• the second diagnostic means determines that the diagnosis of the first diagnostic means is at halt when a period during which the receiving means has not received the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value exceeds a predetermined reference period.

An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer, characterized in that:

• the first computer includes a first diagnostic means for diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a first diagnosis and a second diagnosis, in which a first value and a second value are calculated using at least two kinds of operations, a first comparison is performed between the first value and a pre-stored first reference value for determining whether a relationship between the first value and the first reference value is normal, and a second comparison is performed between the second value and a pre-stored second reference value for determining whether a relationship between the second value and the second reference value is normal;
• the first computer further includes a data transmitting means for sending a first set of diagnostic data regarding the first diagnosis and a second set of diagnostic data regarding the second diagnosis, respectively;
• the second computer includes a data receiving means for receiving the first set and the second set of diagnostic data;
• the second computer further includes a second diagnostic means for determining whether the first diagnostic means normally operates based on the first and the second diagnostic data;
• and
• the first computer and the second computer are both provided in a vehicle.

An electronic control unit comprising a first apparatus and a second apparatus, wherein:

• the first apparatus includes:
• a first diagnostic portion that performs a diagnosis operation for determining whether the first apparatus is normal based on at least one value calculated in the first apparatus;
• and
• a transmitting portion that transmits information with respect to the diagnosis operation of the first diagnostic portion;
• the second apparatus includes a second diagnostic portion that determines whether the first diagnostic portion is normal based on the information transmitted from the transmitting portion of the first apparatus;
• the first apparatus is a computer;
• the at least one value, which is calculated in the first apparatus, includes first and second values that are calculated by the first diagnostic portion;
• the first diagnostic portion performs a first diagnosis in the diagnosis operation to determine whether a relationship between the first value and a pre-stored first reference value is normal;
• the first diagnostic portion further performs a second diagnosis in the diagnosis operation to determined whether a relationship between the second value and a pre-stored second reference value is normal;
• the information, which is transmitted by the transmitting portion of the first apparatus, includes information with respect to at least one of the first diagnosis and the second diagnosis;
• and
• the second diagnostic portion determines that the first diagnostic portion is abnormal when it is determined that at least one of the first diagnosis and the second diagnosis is not performed beyond a predetermined time period based on the information transmitted from the transmitting portion of the first apparatus.

An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer, characterized in that:

• the first computer includes a first diagnostic means for diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a first diagnosis and a second diagnosis, in which a first value and a second value are calculated using at least two kinds of operations, a first comparison is performed between the first value and a pre-stored first reference value for determining whether a relationship between the first value and the first reference value is normal, and a second comparison is performed between the second value and a pre-stored second reference value for determining whether a relationship between the second value and the second reference value is normal;
• the first computer further includes a data transmitting means for sending a first set of diagnostic data regarding the first diagnosis and a second set of diagnostic data regarding the second diagnosis, respectively;
• the second computer includes a data receiving means for receiving the first set and the second set of diagnostic data;
• the second computer further includes a second diagnostic means for determining whether the first diagnostic means normally operates based on the first and the second diagnostic data;
• and
• the first computer and the second computer are located locally with respect to each other.

An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer, characterized in that:

• the first computer includes a first diagnostic means for diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a diagnosis, in which a comparison is performed between a value calculated using a predetermined operation and a pre-stored reference value for determining whether a relationship between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value is normal;
• the first computer further includes a data transmitting means for sending the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value used for the diagnosis performed by the first diagnostic means;
• the second computer includes a receiving means for receiving the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value;
• the second computer further includes a second diagnostic means for determining whether the first diagnostic means normally operates based on a comparison between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value received by the receiving means;
• and
• the first computer and the second computer are located locally with respect to each other.

An electronic control unit comprising a first apparatus and a second apparatus, wherein:

• the first apparatus includes:
• a first diagnostic portion that performs a diagnosis operation for determining whether the first apparatus is normal based on at least one value calculated in the first apparatus;
• and
• a transmitting portion that transmits information with respect to the diagnosis operation of the first diagnostic portion;
• the second apparatus includes a second diagnostic portion that determines whether the first diagnostic portion is normal based on the information transmitted from the transmitting portion of the first apparatus;
• and
• the first apparatus and the second apparatus are located locally with respect to each other.

An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer, characterized in that:

• the first computer includes a first diagnostic means for diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a diagnosis, in which a comparison is performed between a value calculated using a predetermined operation and a pre-stored reference value for determining whether a relationship between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value is normal;
• the first computer further includes a data transmitting means for sending the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value used for the diagnosis performed by the first diagnostic means;
• the second computer includes a receiving means for receiving the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value;
• the second computer further includes a second diagnostic means for determining whether the first diagnostic means normally operates based on a comparison between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value received by the receiving means;
• and
• the first computer and the second computer are both provided in a vehicle.

An electronic control unit comprising a first apparatus and a second apparatus, wherein:

• the first apparatus includes:
• a first diagnostic portion that performs a diagnosis operation for determining whether the first apparatus is normal based on at least one value calculated in the first apparatus;
• and
• a transmitting portion that transmits information with respect to the diagnosis operation of the first diagnostic portion;
• the second apparatus includes a second diagnostic portion that determines whether the first diagnostic portion is normal based on the information transmitted from the transmitting portion of the first apparatus;
• and
• the first apparatus and the second apparatus are both provided in a vehicle.

A method of operating a first computer and a second computer, the method comprising:

• in the first computer, performing a diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a diagnosis, in which a comparison is performed between a value calculated using a predetermined operation and a pre-stored reference value for determining whether a relationship between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value is normal;
• transmitting, from the first computer, the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value used for the diagnosis performed by the first computer;
• receiving, in the second computer, the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value;
• and
• determining, in the second computer, whether the diagnosing operation of the first computer is performed normally based on a comparison between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value received by the second computer;
• wherein the first computer regularly performs the diagnosis;
• the first computer transmits the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value used in the diagnosis most recently performed;
• and
• the second computer determines that the diagnosis of the first computer is at halt when a period during which the second computer has not received the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value exceeds a predetermined reference period.