Control unit for vehicle and total control system therefor

• US 6,009,370 A
• Filed: 05/04/1998
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Minowa, Toshimichi, Katayama, Hiroshi, Yoshida, Yoshiyuki, Morinaga, Shigeki, Ishii, Junichi, Kayano, Mitsuo, Kurata, Kenichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US09/071,802
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/33, 701/102, 701/115, 701/29, 701/35, 701/114, 701/99, 73/117.3, 371/22.35, 395/182.09, 395/183.07, 395/183.22, 123/396, 74/11, 74/31, 74/46, 74/730
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0005 Processor details or data handling, e.g. memory registers or chip architecture
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 11/007 the diagnostic devices measuring oxygen or air concentration downstream of the exhaust apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2550/02 Catalytic activity of catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/285 the sensor having a signal processing unit external to the engine control unit
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1454 the characteristics being an oxygen content or concentration or the air-fuel ratio
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/187 using a hot wire flow sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/263 the program execution being modifiable by physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21015 Easy expansion, extension of I-O
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21021 Intelligent I-O, executes tasks independently from main cpu
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21127 Signal adaption I-O
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21137 Analog to digital conversion, ADC, DAC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21138 Variable filtering as function of kind of sensor signal
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23277 Use of separate interface software, main program calls functions from it
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23371 : Fixed and variable memory for parameters or user program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24125 : Watchdog, check at timed intervals
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25243 : Digital filter
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25301 : Expansion of system, memory
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25341 : Single chip programmable controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25435 : Multiplex for analog signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25451 : Connect module to bus using interface with adaptive logic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2637 : Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0802 : Addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means, e.g. caches
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/66 : of program code stored in read-only memory [ROM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/70 : Software maintenance or management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems

Abstract

A vehicle control unit comprises an interface software memory for storing an interface software program for connecting an application software program with an operating system in an internal ROM, a central processing unit for performing computation of the application software program and the interface software program, an erasable memory for storing data such as the result of computation, an I/O unit for extending the control unit, and extending means for communicating memory data through a bus or a LAN. A single-chip micro-computer is used in vehicle control.

Claims

1. An automobile control unit comprising:

a one-chip microcomputer with an internal memory;

an operating system (OS) program and a first application program stored in said internal memory;

an external memory connected to said one-chip microcomputer; and

a second application program stored in said external memory.

2. An automobile control unit comprising:

a one-chip microcomputer with an internal memory;

an operating system (OS) program and a first application program stored in said internal memory;

an external memory connected to said one-chip microcomputer; and

a second application program stored in said external memory, for executing processing other than by said first application program.

3. An automobile control unit comprising:

a one-chip microcomputer which includes a cache memory and an internal memory;

an operating system program and a first application program stored in said internal memory;

an external memory connected to said one-chip microcomputer; and

an additional program stored in said external memory, which additional program is fetched into said cache memory for execution thereof.

4. An automobile control unit comprising:

a one-chip microcomputer which includes a cache memory and an internal memory;

an operating system program and an application program stored in said internal memory;

an external memory connected to said one-chip microcomputer; and

an additional application program stored in said external memory; and

a power source coupled to supply power to said control unit;

wherein

a portion of a process program of said additional application program is fetched into said cache memory when said power source is turned on.

5. A process for programming an engine control having an application function and an interface function for communicating with a plurality of peripheral systems, including a plurality of sensors, comprising:

programming said interface function to form an interface program;

programming said application function separately from said interface function;

compiling said interface function and said application function to form an object code; and

storing said object code in a memory.

6. The process according to claim 5 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises at least an air flow sensor and an engine speed sensor.

7. The process according to claim 6 wherein said engine speed sensor comprises a crank angle sensor.

8. A control unit for a vehicle having a plurality of peripheral systems which are controlled in response to sensor signals received from vehicle operating parameter sensors, comprising:

a first memory adapted to receive and store therein at least an application software program for processing signals for controlling at least a peripheral system of said vehicle; and

a second memory having at least an interface program stored therein for communicating between said application program and said peripheral systems;

a central processing unit for performing computation of an application software program stored in said first memory and the interface software program stored in said second memory;

wherein, the interface software program includes a calculating function for processing said sensor signals to provide processed signals required by the application software program.

9. A control unit for a vehicle according to claim 8 wherein said operating parameter sensors include at least one of an air flow sensor and an engine speed sensor.

10. A control unit for a vehicle having a plurality of peripheral systems which are controlled in response to sensor signals received from vehicle operating parameter sensors, comprising:

a first memory adapted to receive and store therein at least an application software program for processing signals for controlling at least a peripheral system of said vehicle; and

a second memory having at least an interface program stored therein for communicating between said application program and said peripheral systems;

a central processing unit for performing computation of an application software program stored in said first memory and the interface software program stored in said second memory;

wherein said interface software program is modifiable independently of an application software program stored in said first memory, to accommodate changes in or substitution of said peripheral systems without modification of said application software.

11. An interface arrangement for a control unit in a vehicle having a plurality of peripheral systems controlled in response to sensor signals received from vehicle operating parameter sensors, said control unit having a central processor unit for generating control signals responsive to said sensor signals according to at least one application software program, said control unit comprising:

a memory for receiving and storing an application software program which requires processed signals for computation of said control signals;

a memory having stored therein an interface software program, which interface software program provides processing for generating processed signals based on said sensor signals, which processed signals are in a form which can be read into and processed by an application software program entered into said memory.

12. An interface arrangement for a control unit in a vehicle according to claim 11 wherein said operating parameter signals include at least an engine speed sensor and an air flow sensor.

13. A control unit for a vehicle having a plurality of peripheral systems and an operating system for performing various kinds of functions using a micro-computer, said control unit comprising:

an application software memory for storing an application software program for controlling at least one of said peripheral systems;

an interface memory having stored therein an interface software program for connecting said application software program with said peripheral systems and said operating system;

a central processing unit for performing computations of said application software program and said interface software program; and

a memory for storing computed data.