Control unit for vehicle and total control system therefor

• US 5,794,165 A
• Filed: 02/20/1997
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• 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:
  US08/803,375
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 364/423.098, 364/424.027, 364/424.028, 364/424.031, 364/424.034, 364/424.038, 364/424.055, 364/424.058, 364/424.082 , 364/431.01, 364/431.04, 364/431.11, 364/431.12, 371/22.3, 371/22.1, 371/25.1, 340/460, 340/461, 395/680, 395/182.16, 395/185.02, 395/185.05, 73/117.3
• 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: F01N 2900/0422 measuring the elapsed time
• 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 41/26 using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• 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 8/65 : Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• 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 result of computation, an I/O unit for extending the control unit, and extending means for communicating memory data through a bus of a LAN. A single-chip micro-computer is used in vehicle control.

Claims

1. An automobile control unit for controlling an automobile having a sensor for detecting an operational condition of said automobile and a control actuator for controlling said automobile on the basis of a signal from said sensor, comprising:

a one-chip microcomputer including an internal memory which stores a program for operating said actuator; and

a CPU which computes an output value of said actuator on the basis of said signal from said sensor and said program;

wherein

said program includes at least an application software program and an interface software program for converting said sensor'"'"'s signal to data which can be used in said application software program; and

said application software program and said interface software program are stored in different memory areas.

2. An automobile control unit according to claim 1, further comprising an extended memory which is provided outside said one-chip microcomputer.

3. An automobile control unit according to claim 2, wherein said one-chip microcomputer includes extension means for communicating with said extended memory through a bus.

4. An automobile control unit according to claim 3, further comprising a cache memory.

5. An automobile control unit according to claim 3, further comprising an extended I/O means having a number of I/O ports, which number exceeds a number of I/O ports of said extension means after subtraction of I/O ports for use in extension.

6. An automobile control unit according to claim 2, wherein said one-chip microcomputer includes extension means for communicating with said extended memory through a local area network.

7. An automobile control unit according to claim 6, further comprising a cache memory.

8. An automobile control unit according to claim 6, further comprising an extended I/O means having a number of I/O ports, which number exceeds a number of I/O ports of said extension means after subtraction of I/O ports for use in extension.

9. An automobile control unit according to claim 2, wherein said interface software program detailed in a design directory.

10. An automobile control unit according to claim 2, further comprising:

extension means for communicating with said extended memory; and

an extended I/O means having a number of I/O ports, which number exceeds a number of I/O ports of said extension means after subtraction of I/O ports for use in extension.

11. An automobile control unit according to claim 1, wherein said interface software program detailed in a design directory.