Electronic control unit

• US 20090204275A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Jahn, Thilo
• Application Number:
  US11/921,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20090204275A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

An electronic control unit for controlling at least one function of a vehicle, having at least one input for receiving control-relevant data from at least one sensor, a computer device for processing the control-relevant data and generating control instructions, and at least one output for outputting the control instructions to at least one actuator, and furthermore having a device for limiting the operation of the control unit in time and/or functionality.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. An electronic control unit for controlling at least one function of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one input for receiving control-relevant data from at least one sensor;

a computer device for processing the control-relevant data and generating control instructions; and

at least one output for outputting the control instructions to at least one actuator having a limiting device for limiting operation of the control unit in at least one of time and functionality.

8. The control unit of claim 7, wherein it has a real-time clock for setting at least one of a predefinable operation time and a fixed point in time when the operation can be limited or terminated.

9. The control unit of claim 8, further comprising:

a non-volatile storage device for storing an already elapsed or utilized operation time.

10. The control unit of claim 7, wherein the control unit function can be limited by at least partially de-activating a software program running on the computer device.

11. The control unit of claim 7, wherein the device has an arrangement for ensuring partial functionality of the control unit enabling emergency features after the operation of the control unit has been limited.

12. The control unit of claim 7, wherein the device has an enabling arrangement for enabling resumption of at least one of limited operation and unlimited operation even after the operation has been limited.