Control system with microcomputer and associated electrically reconfigurable logic circuit
First Claim
1. A control system having a microcomputer and a hardware circuit capable of being selectively set in configuration, said control circuit comprising:
- a first oscillator circuit operative above a first potential level;
a second oscillator circuit operative above a second potential level lower than the first potential level;
a nonvolatile memory for storing therein circuit configuration set data for said hardware circuit; and
setter means connected to said second oscillator circuit and responsive to the configuration set data stored in said nonvolatile memory for setting the configuration of said hardware circuit before said microcomputer connected to said first oscillator circuit is rendered operative after power is applied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system adaptable for use in controlling internal combustion engines has a microcomputer and a hardware circuit reconfigurable in internal logic circuitry in such a manner that the setting of configuration is completed before the microcomputer is rendered operative upon application of a power supply voltage. The microcomputer is assembled in a 4-V guarantee circuit block with its operating guarantee power supply voltage of 4 volts. A 3-V guarantee block includes a random logic circuit and an EEPROM for storage of circuit configuration set data. The 3-V guarantee block also includes a first power-on reset circuit for providing respective sections with a reset-release command signal when an applied power supply voltage potentially rises at 3 volts, and a second power-on reset circuit for forcing the random logic circuit in the reset state until completion of the reconfiguration of the hardware circuit.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A control system having a microcomputer and a hardware circuit capable of being selectively set in configuration, said control circuit comprising:
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a first oscillator circuit operative above a first potential level; a second oscillator circuit operative above a second potential level lower than the first potential level; a nonvolatile memory for storing therein circuit configuration set data for said hardware circuit; and setter means connected to said second oscillator circuit and responsive to the configuration set data stored in said nonvolatile memory for setting the configuration of said hardware circuit before said microcomputer connected to said first oscillator circuit is rendered operative after power is applied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A control system for an engine having a microcomputer and a hardware circuit operable by a voltage lower than that of said microcomputer and selectively changeable in configuration after power is applied, said control system comprising:
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a nonvolatile memory provided in said hardware circuit for storage of circuit configuration set data; and means for setting periodically a configuration of said hardware circuit in response to the configuration set data stored in said nonvolatile memory before said microcomputer is rendered operative after power is fed, said hardware circuit being for producing a fixed control signal for said engine before said microcomputer produces a control signal for said engine. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A control system having a microcomputer and a hardware circuit capable of being selectively set in configuration, said control circuit comprising:
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an oscillation circuit; a nonvolatile memory for storing therein circuit configuration set data for said hardware circuit; and setter means connected to said oscillation circuit and responsive to the configuration set data stored in said nonvolatile memory for setting the configuration of said hardware circuit before said microcomputer is rendered operative after power is applied; said setter means setting the configuration of said hardware circuit periodically in response to oscillation output of said oscillation circuit. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A redundant internal combustion engine control system comprising:
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a programmed microprocessor-based primary control system connected for normal engine control; a re-configurable hardwired backup control system connected for alternative back-up engine control; said backup control system being configured to operate at an operating-voltage lower than the minimum operating voltage of said primary control system.
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23. A redundant method for controlling an internal combustion engine, said method comprising:
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controlling the engine with a programmed microprocessor-based control system when an available-operating voltage is above a predetermined level; and alternatively controlling the engine with a configurable hardwired control circuit when said available operating voltage is below said predetermined level.
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Specification