CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE

• US 20100036558A1
• Filed: 08/05/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Murakami, Yoshifumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,311,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/227 Limping Home, i.e. taking specific engine control measures at abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue

Abstract

In a microcomputer, a signal processing device computes a control signal, such as an accelerator position, a throttle position, based on a sensor output signal, such as an output signal of an accelerator position sensor, an output signal of a throttle position sensor. A torque control device executes a torque control operation to coincide an actual torque with a requested torque based on the control signal. Furthermore, a torque monitor device determines whether a torque increase abnormality exists based on the control signal. A signal abnormality diagnosis device determines whether an operational abnormality of the signal processing device exists based on a relationship between the sensor output signal and the control signal. A monitor IC monitors operational states of the torque monitor device and of the signal abnormality diagnosis device and determines whether an operational abnormality of the torque monitor device or of the signal abnormality diagnosis device exists.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a microcomputer that includes;

a signal processing means for computing a control signal, which is used in a control operation of the vehicle, based on an output signal of at least one sensor installed in the vehicle;

a control abnormality diagnosing means for determining whether a control abnormality of the microcomputer exists based on the control signal; and

a signal abnormality diagnosing means for determining whether an operational abnormality of the signal processing means exists based on a relationship between the output signal of the at least one sensor and the control signal; and

a monitoring means for determining whether at least one of an operational abnormality of the control abnormality diagnosing means and an operational abnormality of the signal abnormality diagnosing means exists by monitoring an operational state of the control abnormality diagnosing means and an operational state of the signal abnormality diagnosing means, wherein the monitoring means is provided separately from the microcomputer.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal abnormality diagnosing means determines the operational abnormality of the signal processing means exists when the relationship between the output signal of the at least one sensor and the control signal becomes a relationship, which interferes with sensing of the operational abnormality by the control abnormality diagnosing means.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an executing means for executing a predetermined fail-safe control operation when at least one of the control abnormality diagnosing means, the signal abnormality diagnosing means and the monitoring means determines that the abnormality exists.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the microcomputer further includes a torque control means for controlling an actual torque of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle to coincide with a requested torque based on the control signal; and

the control abnormality diagnosing means determines whether a torque increase abnormality of the internal combustion engine exists by comparing the actual torque of the internal combustion engine and the requested torque based on the control signal.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

the at least one sensor includes an accelerator position sensor;

the signal processing means computes a sensed accelerator position value as the control signal based on an output signal of the accelerator position sensor; and

the signal abnormality diagnosing means determines that the operational abnormality of the signal processing means exists in a case where the sensed accelerator position value is larger than a predetermined value although the output signal of the accelerator position sensor is smaller than a predetermined value.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

the at least one sensor includes a throttle position sensor;

the signal processing means computes an estimated actual torque value as the control signal based on an output signal of the throttle position sensor; and

the signal abnormality diagnosing means determines that the operational abnormality of the signal processing means exists in a case where the estimated actual torque value is smaller than a predetermined value although the output signal of the throttle position sensor is larger than a predetermined value.