Control unit for vehicle and total control system therefor

• US 6,240,340 B1
• Filed: 11/01/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• 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:
  US09/431,078
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701/48, 701/102, 701/114, 701/115, 701/29, 701/35, 73/117.3, 700/4, 700/255, 700/3, 700/5, 714/730, 714/724, 714/736, 714/56, 714/11, 714/23, 714/18, 714/49, 340/436, 340/438
• US Class Current: 701/1
• 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 which includes a plurality of peripheral systems has a plurality of control units which transmit data to each other via a local area network, and which control the peripheral systems in response to sensor signals received from vehicle operating parameter sensors. A first control unit has a memory which stores a first interface software program which receives input signals from sensors and processes such signals for controlling at least one peripheral system of the vehicle, by means of an application software program and first and second interface software programs. A second control unit has a memory which stores an application software program for processing input signals for controlling at least one other peripheral system of the vehicle via a third interface software program. The second control unit receives input data from the first control unit via the local area network.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a plurality of control units which transmit data to each other via a local area network and control a plurality of peripheral systems in response to sensor signals received from vehicle operating parameter sensors, comprising:

a first control unit having a memory, which stores

a first interface software program for receiving input signals from said sensors and processing said input signals into input signal data;

an application software program for processing said input signal data into output signal data for controlling at least a peripheral system of said vehicle, and

a second interface software program for processing said output signal data into output signals and outputting said output signals to said peripheral system; and

a second control unit having a memory, which stores

an application software program for processing input signal data into output signal data for controlling at least a peripheral system of said vehicle, and

a third interface software program for processing said output signal data into output signals and outputting said output signals to said peripheral system;

wherein said second control unit receives input signal data from said first control unit via said local area network in said vehicle.

2. A vehicle having a plurality of control units which transmit data for each other via a local area network in said vehicle and control a plurality of peripheral systems in response to sensor signals received from vehicle operating parameter sensors, comprising:

a first control unit having a memory, which stores

a first interface software program for receiving input signals from said sensors and processing said input signals into input signal data;

an application software program for processing input signal data into output signal data for controlling at least a peripheral system of said vehicle, and

a second interface software program for processing said output signal data into output signals and outputting said output signals to said peripheral system; and

a second control unit having a memory which stores an application software program for processing input signal data into output signal data for controlling at least a peripheral system of said vehicle;

wherein said second control unit receives input signal data from said first control unit and sends output signal data to said first control unit via said local area network in said vehicle.

3. A control unit which has a connector for a local area network in a vehicle and controls a plurality of peripheral systems in response to sensor signals received from vehicle operating parameter sensors, comprising:

a memory, which stores

a first interface software program for receiving input signals from said sensors and processing said input signals into input signal data,

an application software program for processing said input signal data into output signal data for controlling at least a peripheral system of said vehicle, and

a second interface software program for processing said output signal data into output signals and outputting said output signals to said peripheral system; and

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

wherein said central processing unit transmits said input signal data processed by said first interface software program to other external control unit via said local area network through said connector.

4. A control unit which has a connector for a local area network in a vehicle and controls a plurality of peripheral systems in response to sensor signals received from vehicle operating parameter sensors, comprising:

a memory, which stores

an application software program for processing input signal data into output signal data for controlling at least a peripheral system of said vehicle, and

an interface software program for processing said output signal data into output signals, and outputting said output signals to said peripheral system; and

a central processing unit for performing computation of said application software program and said interface software program in said memory;

wherein said central processing unit receives said input signal data for processing said output signal data by said application software program from another control unit via said local area network through said connector.

5. A control unit which has a connector for a local area network in a vehicle and controls a plurality of peripheral systems in response to sensor signals received from vehicle operating parameter sensors, comprising:

a memory, which stores

a first interface software program for receiving input signals from said sensors, and processing said input signals into input signal data, and

a second interface software program for processing output signal data into output signals and outputting said output signals to said peripheral system; and

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

wherein said central processing unit transmits said input signal data processed by said first interface software program and receives said output signal data for processing by said second interface software to and from another control unit via said local area network through said connector, said other control unit having an application software program in a memory for processing said input signal data to said output signal data for controlling at least a peripheral system of said vehicle.

6. A control unit which has a connector for a local area network in a vehicle and controls a plurality of peripheral systems in response to sensor signals received from vehicle operating parameter sensors, comprising:

a memory which stores an application software program for processing input signal data into output signal data for controlling at least a peripheral system of said vehicle, and

a central processing unit for performing computation of said application software program;

wherein said central processing unit receives said input signal data and transmits said output signal data processed by said application software program from and to another control unit via said local area network throuah said connector, the other control unit having a first interface software program for receiving input signals from said sensors and processing said input signals into said input signal data, and a second interface software program for processing said output signal data into output signals and outputting said output signals to said peripheral system in a memory.