Active functional limiting of a microcontroller
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorsAxel Aue, Matthias Schreiber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microcontroller for use in a control device for an internal combustion engine includes: an analysis access via which internal data in the microcontroller can be accessed from outside the microcontroller; a clock generator which generates clock timing for data communication of the microcontroller with other units. The microcontroller is configured to change over from a first clock to a second clock when there is an access to the microcontroller via the analysis access.
Claims13
A microcontroller for a control device of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an analysis access;
- and
- at least one clock generating unit which generates at least one clock for data communication of the microcontroller with other units;
- wherein the microcontroller is configured to, whenever internal data in the microcontroller is accessed from the outside via the analysis access, respond to the access by changing over from a first clock to a second clock which differs from the first clock.
A control device for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a microcontroller including:
- an analysis access;
- and
- at least one clock generating unit which generates at least one clock for data communication of the microcontroller with other units, wherein the microcontroller is configured to, whenever internal data in the microcontroller is accessed from the outside via the analysis access, respond to the access by changing over from a first clock to a second clock which differs from the first clock;
- and
- an interface to a field bus system via which the control device communicates with another unit in the internal combustion engine, wherein the field bus system is a FlexRay bus system or a CAN bus system.
A method for controlling an operation of a microcontroller that is configured to, whenever internal data in the microcontroller is accessed from the outside, respond to the access by performing a clock switching, the method comprising:
- automatically detecting an access to the microcontroller;
- and
- responsive to the detection, performing the clock switching, wherein the clock switching includes automatically switching from (i) a first clock for data communication of the microcontroller with other units, the first clock being generated by a first clock generating unit, to (ii) a second clock generated by a second clock generating unit, the second clock being different from the first clock, wherein the first clock is more precise than the second clock.
A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium storing a computer program having program codes which, when executed on a computer, performs a method for controlling an operation of a microcontroller, the method comprising:
- automatically detecting an access to the microcontroller;
- and
- automatically switching from (i) a first clock for data communication of the microcontroller with other units, the first clock being generated by a first clock generating unit, to (ii) a second clock generated by a second clock generating unit, the second clock being different from the first clock, wherein the first clock is a highly precise clock and the program provides for the switching to occur responsive to, and whenever, internal data in the microcontroller is accessed from the outside.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.