Vehicle control system and automobile using the same

• US 6,999,855 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kanekawa, Nobuyasu, Sakurai, Kohei, Watabe, Mitsuru, Murabayashi, Fumio, Hayashibara, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/428,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.6, 307/10.7
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/406 Test-mode; Self-diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0006 Digital architecture hierarchy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0205 Diagnosing or detecting failures; Failure detection models
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/18 Packaging of the electronic circuit in a casing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3005 Details not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A low-cost vehicle control system and a car using the system controls radiation of an actuator driver and thereby reduces the radiation component cost and allows downsizing of an electronic control unit to improve the versatility. The vehicle control system has an electronic control unit, a plurality of actuators and actuator drivers for driving the actuators at the actuator side. The actuator drivers, respectively, have a independent self-diagnosis section, a self-protection section, and a communication control section and are dispersed correspondingly to the actuators.

Claims

1. A driver circuit module for an automotive electric load, comprising:

a plug-in connection portion having an electric terminal releasably connected to an electrical terminal of said electric load;

a receiver circuit receiving a control signal from a control unit through one of a wired circuit and radio communication;

a driver circuit generating a control output for said electric load to said electric terminal in accordance with said control signal received by said receiver circuit.

2. An electric load mounted on an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a receiver circuit receiving a control signal from a control unit through one of a weird circuit and radio communication;

a driver circuit generating a control output for said electric load to an electric terminal in accordance with said control signal received by said receiver circuit;

and a connector portion in which said receiver circuit, said driver circuit, and an outside wiring or a connection terminal to an antenna comprise an integral unit.

3. A connector for an automotive vehicle to be releasably connected to an electrical terminal of an electric load, comprising:

a receiver circuit receiving a control signal from a control unit through one of a wired circuit and radio communication;

a driver circuit generating a control output for said electric load to an electric terminal in accordance with said control signal received by said receiver circuit;

an integral connection terminal to outside wiring or an antenna system.

4. A connector as set forth in claim 3, wherein said driver circuit is constructed removably from said connector, and an electric terminal of said driver circuit and an electric terminal of said connector are releasably connected together.

5. A connector capable of being attachably and detachably mounted to an actuator comprising:

a driver circuit portion for driving said actuator;

an output terminal portion for supplying an adjusted electric power to said actuator;

a power supply terminal operatively connected to an outside power supply;

a signal communication use terminal; and

a circuit portion operatively connected to said signal communication use terminal and configured to carry out a signal exchange with an outside machine and an apparatus.

6. A connector according to claim 5, wherein said control portion has a driver portion and said circuit portion.

7. A connector according to claim 5, further comprising a signal terminal.

8. A connector according to claim 5, wherein said communication use terminal has a circuit portion with a self-diagnosing function.

9. A connector according to claim 6, wherein said control portion further has a circuit portion with a self-diagnosing function.

10. A connector according to claim 5, wherein said communication use terminal is a radio communication terminal.

11. An actuator having a detachably and attachably mounted connector capable of comprising:

a driver circuit portion for driving said actuator;

an output terminal portion for supplying an adjusted electric power to said actuator;

a power supply terminal operatively connected to an outside power supply;

a signal communication use terminal; and

a circuit portion operatively connected to said signal communication use terminal and configured to carry out a signal exchange with an outside machine and apparatus.