Electronic control apparatus for motor vehicle
First Claim
1. An electronic control apparatus mounted in a vehicle for controlling equipment of said vehicle, said vehicle comprising a user validation apparatus adapted to become activated to perform a user validation operation when a specific key switch of said vehicle becomes closed and to become deactivated when said specific key switch becomes open, said electronic control apparatus adapted to become selectively activated and deactivated in accordance with said specific key switch becoming respectively closed and open, and upon becoming activated, to perform communication with said user validation apparatus for obtaining a validation result derived from said validation operation and to begin a first predetermined control operation when said validation result is positive, said electronic control apparatus being further adapted to become activated upon acquiring an activation request from a source that is internal or external thereto, while said specific key switch is open, wherein said electronic control apparatus comprises:
- judgement means responsive to activation of said electronic control apparatus for judging a cause of said activation, and control means responsive to a decision of said judgement means that said activation of said electronic control apparatus has resulted from a cause other than closing of said specific key switch for beginning a second predetermined control operation, without communicating with said user validation apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ECU of a vehicle is activated to communicate with a user validation apparatus while a specific signal such as an ignition signal is being produced, and to perform a first control operation when positive validation occurs, and can be activated by a request signal for a second control operation while the specific signal is off, without performing the communication. Erroneous detection of a communication error is avoided in a case when communication is interrupted due to switch-off of the specific signal and the request signal for the second control operation is received during that communication.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electronic control apparatus mounted in a vehicle for controlling equipment of said vehicle, said vehicle comprising a user validation apparatus adapted to become activated to perform a user validation operation when a specific key switch of said vehicle becomes closed and to become deactivated when said specific key switch becomes open, said electronic control apparatus adapted to become selectively activated and deactivated in accordance with said specific key switch becoming respectively closed and open, and upon becoming activated, to perform communication with said user validation apparatus for obtaining a validation result derived from said validation operation and to begin a first predetermined control operation when said validation result is positive, said electronic control apparatus being further adapted to become activated upon acquiring an activation request from a source that is internal or external thereto, while said specific key switch is open,
wherein said electronic control apparatus comprises: -
judgement means responsive to activation of said electronic control apparatus for judging a cause of said activation, and control means responsive to a decision of said judgement means that said activation of said electronic control apparatus has resulted from a cause other than closing of said specific key switch for beginning a second predetermined control operation, without communicating with said user validation apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification