Vehicle controlling apparatus

• US 6,411,872 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2001
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Kohji, Nakamoto, Katsuya, Fujita, Masahide
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/919,852
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/31, 180/117, 180/118, 607/06, 607/11, 607/12
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0757 by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs

Abstract

To secure normal operation and then restart a microprocessor (CPU) when a CPU built into an on-vehicle electronic apparatus runs away. A number of on-vehicle loads driven from a CPU, a watchdog timer for monitoring the CPU to reset and restart it on occurrence of an abnormality, and a memory element for storing generation of the reset output are provided, and load driving elements or a load relay is rendered inoperative by output of the memory element. The memory element is reset by cutting off or reclosing the power switch, and an on-vehicle electronic apparatus returns to a normal state.

Claims

1. A vehicle controlling apparatus, comprising:

a manually-operated power switch for on-vehicle engine operation;

first controlling means for controlling a plurality of on-vehicle loads, said first controlling means being supplied with power from an on-vehicle battery when the power switch is closed;

monitoring means for monitoring operation of the first controlling means and generating a reset pulse to restart said first controlling means when a malfunction occurs in said first controlling means;

storage means for storing the reset pulse generated by the monitoring means; and

output stopping means for stopping operation of a load relay provided on a feeder circuit to said on-vehicle loads in response to operation of the storage means; and

wherein said storage means is reset on opening or reclosing of said power switch.

2. The vehicle controlling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power relay for supplying power to said first controlling means from said on-vehicle battery when said manually-operated power switch is closed;

delay outputting means for continuing operation of said power relay after said power switch is opened until part of said on-vehicle loads returns to an initial position based on output of said first controlling means; and

resetting means for resetting said storage means when said power switch is opened.

3. The vehicle controlling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

second controlling means for controlling on-vehicle loads other than said plurality of on-vehicle loads,

wherein said first controlling means monitors operation of said second controlling means and generates a reset pulse to restart said second controlling means.

4. The vehicle controlling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said storage means operates based on logical sum output of said reset pulse generated by said monitoring means and said reset pulse generated by said first controlling means.

5. The vehicle controlling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said storage means counts the number of times of said reset pulses are provided to said first or second controlling means, and operates said output stopping means when said number of times exceeds a predetermined number to stop operation of said load relay.

6. The vehicle controlling apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a malfunction warning means for, in response to the operation of said storage means, providing an indication that said first or second controlling means are malfunctioning and restarted by a reset operation.

7. The vehicle controlling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a said monitoring means comprises a watchdog timer.