Communication control system

• US 4,894,781 A
• Filed: 10/01/1987
• Issued: 01/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanigawa, Tetsuo, Hirabayashi, Yuji, Saito, Takao, Sato, Yoshihisa, Akiyama, Susumu, Ito, Katsunori, Ina, Katsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/103,271
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 364/431.04, 364/431.11, 364/431.12, 364/551, 364/551.01, 371/9, 371/11, 371/12, 123/416, 123/417
• US Class Current: 701/114
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2214 Multicontrollers, multimicrocomputers, multiprocessing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23032 Input of data from second control unit if first fails

Abstract

A plurality of control units are connected via a common signal line through which they communicate. Each control unit is operative to control an apparatus according to certain information the control unit normally receives directly through an exclusive signal line by operation of a directly-inputting device. A check is made to determine whether the directly-inputting device is operating normally. If not, then the required information is inputted from its source indirectly through another control unit by way of the common signal line.

Claims

1. A communication control system comprising:

a plurality of control means, each controlling a defined number of controlled devices;

common signal line means for transmitting information between said plurality of the control means;

where said plurality of the control means control the respective controlled devices based on said information transmission via said common signal line means;

first information generating means for generating first information necessary for control of a first controlled device which is controlled by a first control means among said plurality of the control means;

exclusive input means inputting the information from the first information generating means via an exclusive signal line;

wherein the information of the first information generating means is also applied to a second control means among said plurality of the control means;

wherein said first control means controls said first controlled device based on said information inputted by said exclusive input means;

wherein said first control means comprises means for judging whether said exclusive input means is operating normally, and controlling means for, when said exclusive input means is not operating in a normal manner, inputting the information of said first information generating means into said controlling means from said second control means via said common signal line means and controlling said first controlled device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said judging means comprises means for determining whether the information inputted by said exclusive input means resides within a predetermined normal range.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising second information generating means for generating second information in said second control means, the second information being necessary for control of said first controlled device, and wherein said first control means receives the information of the second information generating means from said second control means via said common signal line means and controls said first controlled device based on said inputted second information.

4. A communication control system for a vehicle comprising:

a plurality of control means each controlling a defined number of controlled devices within the vehicle;

common signal line means for transmitting vehicle condition information between said plurality of the control means;

wherein said plurality of the control means control the respective controlled devices based on said information transmission via said common signal line means;

first information generating means for generating first vehicle condition information necessary for control of a first controlled device which is controlled by a first control means among said plurality of the control means;

exclusive input means inputting the information from the first information generating means via an exclusive signal line;

wherein the information of the first information generating means is also applied to a second control means among said plurality of the control means;

wherein said first control means controls said first controlled device based on said information inputted by said exclusive input means;

wherein said first control means comprises controlling means for judging whether said exclusive input means is operating normally, and means for, when said exclusive input means is not operating normally, inputting the information of said first information generating means into said controlling means from said second control means via said common signal line means and controlling said first controlled device.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said judging means comprises means for determining whether or not the information inputted by said exclusive input means resides within a predetermined normal range.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising second information generating means for generating second vehicle condition information in said second control means, the second information being necessary for control of said first controlled device, and wherein said first control means receives the information of the second information generating means from said second control means via said common signal line means and controls said first controlled device based on said inputted second information.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein said first control means comprises means for controlling an engine of the vehicle, and said second control means comprises means for controlling a transmission of the vehicle.