Vehicular electronic control unit

• US 7,149,609 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Kohji
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/891,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 323/266, 323/268, 323/271, 323/299, 323/303, 323/350, 323/351, 701/1, 701/22, 701/36, 701/102, 701/115, 191/2, 191/6, 123/319, 123/396
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/1028 at two points of the transfer characteristic, i.e. by adjusting two reference values, e.g. offset and gain error gain setting for range control H03M1/18
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/188 Multi-path, i.e. having a separate analogue/digital converter for each possible range

Abstract

A voltage generated by a variable analog signal source is input to first and second input terminals of a multi-channel A/D converter via an analog signal input circuit including an analog switch and first and second amplifiers, and a resulting digital conversion value is written to a data memory via a microprocessor. Digital conversion values corresponding to voltages at the first and second input terminals that are obtained when the analog switch is opened are stored as first and second error voltages and used for producing first and second correction voltages, respectively. When the input voltage is low, a value obtained by dividing, by a compensation gain, a second correction voltage corresponding to a second input voltage that is produced by the second amplifier and input to the second input terminal as an enlarged range input terminal is selected.

Claims

1. A vehicular electronic control unit comprising:

an analog signal input circuit for producing voltages corresponding to a voltage generated by a variable analog signal source;

a multi-channel A/D converter for converting the voltages produced by the analog signal input circuit into a conversion digital value;

a data memory;

a microprocessor for writing a digital conversion value produced by the multi-channel A/D converter to the data memory, the microprocessor having a capability of handling digital data having a longer bit length than a bit length corresponding to a resolution of the multi-channel A/D converter; and

a nonvolatile program memory that cooperates with the microprocessor, the analog signal input circuit comprising;

a full-range input circuit that is an input circuit provided between the variable analog signal source and a first input terminal of the multi-channel A/D converter, for producing a first input voltage, the full-range input circuit being configured so that the first input voltage becomes approximately equal to a full-scale input voltage of the multi-channel A/D converter when the voltage generated by the variable analog signal source has a maximum value; and

an enlarged range input circuit that is an input circuit provided between the variable analog signal source and a second input terminal of the multi-channel A/D converter, for producing a second input voltage, the enlarged range input circuit being configured so that the second input voltage becomes approximately equal to the full-scale input voltage of the multi-channel A/D converter when the first input voltage is equal to a prescribed intermediate voltage that is lower than a maximum voltage, wherein the nonvolatile program memory stores programs to serve as;

error signal storing means activated when the voltage generated by the variable analog signal source is zero, for writing, as a first error voltage, a digital conversion value of a first input voltage to the data memory at a first address, and for writing, as a second error voltage, a digital conversion value of a second input voltage to the data memory at a second address;

gain compensating means for producing a second compensation voltage by calculating a second correction voltage by subtracting the second error voltage from a second present voltage that is a digital conversion value of a second input voltage and dividing the second correction voltage by a compensation gain or multiplying the second correction voltage by a compensation gain reciprocal, the compensation gain being set so that the second compensation voltage becomes approximately equal to a first correction voltage in a low voltage range obtained by subtracting the first error voltage from a first present voltage that is a digital conversion value of a first input voltage, the low voltage range being a range that is lower than the intermediate voltage; and

selecting and switching means for selectively using the second compensation voltage if the first input voltage is in the low voltage range, selectively using the first correction voltage if the first input voltage is in a high voltage range that is a range higher than or equal to the intermediate voltage, and issuing an instruction to store a digital conversion value that is proportional to a selection result to the data memory at a prescribed address.

2. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the analog signal input circuit further comprises a first analog switch provided in the full-range input circuit and the enlarged range input circuit, for disconnecting the multi-channel A/D converter from the variable analog signal source or short-circuiting an input circuit between the variable analog signal source and the multi-channel A/D converter to thereby forcibly establish the same state as the voltage generated by the variable analog signal source is zero; and

the nonvolatile program memory further store programs to serve as;

error signal input means for on/off-controlling the first analog switch in accordance with a first instruction signal supplied from the microprocessor, and for causing the error signal storing means to operate; and

present status holding means for preventing data that was selected and stored in the data memory by the selecting and switching means from being changed and keeping the data at a value that was in storage immediately before a start of operation of the error signal input means while the error signal input means is in operation.

3. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores reference gain data that was stored in advance as a reference gain or a reference gain reciprocal and that is a statistical value such as an average or a center value of a plurality of samples obtained by calculating, for a large number of samples, a ratio of a measured value of the second correction voltage to a measured value of the first correction voltage in a state that the first input voltage was approximately equal to the intermediate voltage; and

the compensation gain that is used by the gain compensating means is the reference gain.

7. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 3, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores a program to serve as variable weighted averaging means for calculating a weighted average voltage in a range where a curve of the second compensation voltage and a curve of the first correction voltage overlap with each other in such a manner as to decrease a weight coefficient ranging from 1 to 0 by which to multiply the second compensation voltage and to increase the weight coefficient ranging from 0 to 1 by which to multiply the first correction voltage as an absolute value of a difference between the second compensation voltage and the first correction voltage increases, and for employing the weighted average voltage as a second average voltage; and

the selecting and switching means selectively uses the second average voltage instead of the second compensation voltage.

9. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores programs to serve as;

intermediate signal storing means activated when the first input voltage is forcibly set at a value that is approximately equal to the intermediate voltage, for writing, as a first intermediate voltage, a digital conversion value of the first input voltage to the data memory at a third address, and for writing, as a second intermediate voltage, a digital conversion value of a second input voltage to the data memory at a fourth address; and

gain calculating means for calculating and storing a compensation gain K that is a ratio of a difference between the second intermediate voltage and the second error voltage to a difference between the first intermediate voltage and the first error voltage or a compensation gain reciprocal H that is a reciprocal of the compensation gain K; and

the compensation gain that is used by the gain compensating means is the compensation gain K or the compensation gain reciprocal H calculated by the gain calculating means.

10. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 9, wherein:

the analog signal input circuit further comprises;

intermediate voltage generation circuit for generating a prescribed intermediate signal voltage that is lower than the maximum value of the voltage generated by the variable analog signal source; and

a second analog switch provided in the full-range input circuit and the enlarged range input circuit, for applying the intermediate signal voltage generated by the intermediate voltage generation circuit to the first and second input terminals of the multi-channel A/D converter via the full-range input circuit and the enlarged range input circuit instead of the voltage generated by the variable analog signal source; and

the nonvolatile program memory further stores programs to serve as;

intermediate signal input means for on/off-controlling the second analog switch in accordance with a second instruction signal supplied from the microprocessor, for and causing the intermediate signal storing means to operate; and

present status holding means for preventing data that was selected and stored in the data memory by the selecting and switching means from being changed and keeps the data at a value that was in storage immediately before a start of operation of the intermediate signal input means while the intermediate signal input means is in operation.

14. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores programs to serve as;

intermediate signal storing means activated when the first input voltage is approximately equal to the intermediate voltage, for writing, as a first intermediate voltage, a digital conversion value of the first input voltage to the data memory at a third address, and for writing, as a second intermediate voltage, a digital conversion value of a second input voltage to the data memory at a fourth address;

gain calculating means for calculating and storing a compensation gain K (second difference voltage/first difference voltage) that is a ratio of second difference voltage between the second intermediate voltage and the second error voltage to first difference voltage between the first intermediate voltage and the first error voltage or a compensation gain reciprocal H (first difference voltage/second difference voltage) that is a reciprocal of the compensation gain K; and

intermediate signal checking means for judging whether the second intermediate voltage that was stored by the intermediate signal storing means is within a designated range that is lower than or equal to a maximum output voltage of the multi-channel A/D converter and higher than or equal to a designated output voltage that is a little lower than the maximum output voltage, and for validating the first and second intermediate voltages that were stored by the intermediate signal storing means and causing the gain calculating means to calculate a gain if the second intermediate voltage is within the designated range; and

the compensation gain that is used by the gain compensating means is the compensation gain K or the compensation gain reciprocal H calculated by the gain calculating means.

15. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 14, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores reference gain data that was stored in advance as a reference gain or a reference gain reciprocal and that is a statistical value such as an average or a center value of a plurality of samples obtained by calculating, for a large number of samples, a ratio of a measured value of the second correction voltage to a measured value of the first correction voltage in a state that the first input voltage was approximately equal to the intermediate voltage; and

the nonvolatile program memory further stores programs to serve as;

compensation storage judging means for judging whether the gain calculating means calculated and stored a compensation gain K or a compensation gain reciprocal H;

tentative gain compensating means activated instead of the gain compensating means if a judgment result of the compensation storage judging means is negative, for calculating a second estimate voltage by subtracting the second error voltage from a second present voltage that is a digital conversion value of a second input voltage and dividing a resulting second correction voltage by the reference gain or multiplying the difference by the reference gain reciprocal; and

tentative selecting and switching means activated instead of the selecting and switching means if the judgment result of the compensation storage judging means is negative, for selectively using the second estimate voltage if the first input voltage is in the low voltage range, and selectively using a first correction voltage obtained by subtracting the first error voltage from a first present voltage that is a digital conversion value of a first input voltage if the first input voltage is in the high voltage range, and for issuing an instruction to store a digital value that is proportional to a selection result to the data memory at the prescribed address.

4. A vehicular electronic control unit comprising:

an analog signal input circuit for producing voltages corresponding to a voltage generated by a variable analog signal source that is an exhaust gas sensor having an oxygen pump device and an oxygen concentration cell device;

a multi-channel A/D converter for converting the voltages produced by the analog signal input circuit into a conversion digital value;

a data memory;

a microprocessor for writing a digital conversion value produced by the multi-channel A/D converter to the data memory, the microprocessor having a capability of handling digital data having a longer bit length than a bit length corresponding to a resolution of the multi-channel A/D converter; and

a nonvolatile program memory that cooperates with the microprocessor, the analog signal input circuit comprising;

a variable analog signal circuit comprising;

a pump current supply circuit for supplying a positive or negative pump current to the oxygen pump device;

a current detection resistor connected to the pump current supply circuit; and

a bias voltage source for adding a bias voltage to a positive or negative signal voltage produced by differentially amplifying a voltage across the current detection resistor;

a full-range input circuit that is an input circuit provided between the variable analog signal source and a first input terminal of the multi-channel A/D converter, for producing a first input voltage, the full-range input circuit being configured so that the first input voltage becomes approximately equal to a full-scale input voltage of the multi-channel A/D converter when the voltage generated by the variable analog signal source has a maximum value; and

an enlarged range input circuit that is an input circuit provided between the variable analog signal source and a second input terminal of the multi-channel A/D converter, for producing a second input voltage, the enlarged range input circuit being configured so that the second input voltage becomes approximately equal to the full-scale input voltage of the multi-channel A/D converter when the first input voltage is equal to a prescribed intermediate voltage that is lower than a maximum voltage, wherein the nonvolatile program memory stores programs to serve as;

error signal storing means activated when the voltage across the current detection resistor is zero and both of the first and second input voltages are equal to a prescribed bias voltage, for determining error voltages with respect to a reference bias voltage that is an intrinsic digital conversion value corresponding to a normal bias voltage that complies with a standard, the error signal storing means writing, as a first error voltage, a value obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from a digital conversion value of a first input voltage to the data memory at a first address, and writing, as a second error voltage, a value obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from a digital conversion value of a second input voltage to the data memory at a second address;

gain compensating means for producing a second compensation voltage by calculating a second correction voltage by subtracting the second error voltage from a second present voltage that is a digital conversion value of a second input voltage, dividing a second increment voltage obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from the second correction voltage by a compensation gain or multiplying the second increment voltage by a compensation gain reciprocal, and adding the reference bias voltage to a resulting product or quotient, the compensation gain being set so that the second compensation voltage becomes approximately equal to a first correction voltage in an intermediate range obtained by subtracting the first error voltage from a first present voltage that is a digital conversion value of a first input voltage, the intermediate range being a range that is lower than the intermediate voltage; and

selecting and switching means for selectively using the second compensation voltage if the first input voltage is in the intermediate range, selectively using the first correction voltage if the first input voltage is in one of outside ranges that are outside the intermediate range, and issuing an instruction to store a digital conversion value that is proportional to a selection result to the data memory at a prescribed address.

5. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 4, wherein:

the variable analog signal circuit further comprises a power shutoff analog switch for forcibly making an input signal voltage of the full-range input circuit and the enlarged range input circuit equal to a voltage corresponding to the prescribed bias voltage by preventing a current flow between the pump current supply circuit and the current detection resistor or short-circuiting the current detection resistor;

the nonvolatile program memory further store programs to serve as;

error signal input means for on/off-controlling the power shutoff analog switch in accordance with a first instruction signal supplied from the microprocessor, and for causing the error signal storing means to operate; and

a fuel cutting detecting means for judging that a fuel cutting state is established if fuel supply is not being done though control power is supplied immediately before a start of a drive, during a descending/coasting drive, or a decelerating/coasting drive or present status holding means for preventing data that was selected and stored in the data memory by the selecting and switching means from being changed and keeping the data at a value that was in storage immediately before a start of operation of the error signal input means while the error signal input means is in operation; and

the error signal input means causes the error signal storing means to operate if the fuel cutting detecting means is detecting a fuel cutting state or if the present status holding means is in operation.

6. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 4, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores reference gain data that was stored in advance as a reference gain or a reference gain reciprocal and that is a statistical value such as an average or a center value of a plurality of samples obtained by calculating, for a large number of samples, a ratio of a measured value of a second increment voltage obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from the second correction voltage to a measured value of a first increment voltage obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from the first correction voltage in a state that the first input voltage was approximately equal to the intermediate voltage; and

the compensation gain that is used by the gain compensating means is the reference gain.

8. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 6, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores a program to serve as variable weighted averaging means for calculating a weighted average voltage in a range where a curve of the second compensation voltage and a curve of the first correction voltage overlap with each other in such a manner as to decrease a weight coefficient ranging from 1 to 0 by which to multiply the second compensation voltage and to increase the weight coefficient ranging from 0 to 1 by which to multiply the first correction voltage as an absolute value of a difference between the second compensation voltage and the first correction voltage increases, and for employing the weighted average voltage as a second average voltage; and

the selecting and switching means selectively uses the second average voltage instead of the second compensation voltage.

11. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 4, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores programs to serve as;

intermediate signal storing means activated when the first input voltage is forcibly set at a value that is approximately equal to the intermediate voltage, for writing, as a first intermediate voltage, a value obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from a digital conversion value of the first input voltage to the data memory at a third address, and for writing, as a second intermediate voltage, a value obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from a digital conversion value of a second input voltage to the data memory at a fourth address; and

gain calculating means for calculating and storing a compensation gain K (second difference voltage/first difference voltage) that is a ratio of second difference voltage between the second intermediate voltage and the second error voltage to first difference voltage between the first intermediate voltage and the first error voltage or a compensation gain reciprocal H (first difference voltage/second difference voltage) that is a reciprocal of the compensation gain K; and

the compensation gain that is used by the gain compensating means is the compensation gain K or the compensation gain reciprocal H calculated by the gain calculating means.

12. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 11, wherein:

the variable analog signal circuit further comprises a current reduction detection analog switch connected in series to a resistor that is parallel with the current detection resistor, for forcibly making an input signal voltage of the full-range input circuit and the enlarged range input circuit equal to a voltage corresponding to the intermediate voltage by decreasing a combined current detection resistance when a maximum current is flowing; and

the nonvolatile program memory further stores a program to serve as;

a fuel cutting detecting means for judging that a fuel cutting state is established if fuel supply is not being done though control power is supplied immediately before a start of a drive, during a descending/coasting drive, or a decelerating/coasting drive; and

current decrease detection instructing means for closing the current decrease detection analog switch using a second instruction signal supplied from the microprocessor and causing the intermediate signal storing means to operate when the fuel cutting detecting means is detecting a fuel cutting state.

13. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 12, wherein the nonvolatile program memory further stores a program to serve as intermediate signal checking means for judging whether a sum of the second intermediate voltage stored by the intermediate signal storing means and the reference bias voltage is within a designated range that is lower than or equal to a maximum output voltage of the multi-channel A/D converter and higher than or equal to a designated output voltage that is a little lower than the maximum output voltage, and for validating the first and second intermediate voltages stored by the intermediate signal storing means and causing the gain calculating means to calculate a gain if the sum is within the designated range.

16. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 4, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores programs to serve as;

intermediate signal storing means activated when the first input voltage is approximately equal to the intermediate voltage, for writing, as a first intermediate voltage, a value obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from a digital conversion value of the first input voltage to the data memory at a third address, and for writing, as a second intermediate voltage, a value obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from a digital conversion value of a second input voltage to the data memory at a fourth address;

gain calculating means for calculating and storing a compensation gain K (second difference voltage/first difference voltage) that is a ratio of second difference voltage between the second intermediate voltage and the second error voltage to first difference voltage between the first intermediate voltage and the first error voltage or a compensation gain reciprocal H (first difference voltage/second difference voltage) that is a reciprocal of the compensation gain K; and

intermediate signal checking means for judging whether a sum of the second intermediate voltage stored by the intermediate signal storing means and the reference bias voltage is within a designated range that is lower than or equal to a maximum output voltage of the multi-channel A/D converter and higher than or equal to a designated output voltage that is a little lower than the maximum output voltage, and for validating the first and second intermediate voltages that were stored by the intermediate signal storing means and causing the gain calculating means to calculate a gain if the sum is within the designated range; and

the compensation gain that is used by the gain compensating means is the compensation gain K or the compensation gain reciprocal H calculated by the gain calculating means.

17. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 13, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores reference gain data that was stored in advance as a reference gain or a reference gain reciprocal and that is a statistical value such as an average or a center value of a plurality of samples obtained by calculating, for a large number of samples, a ratio of a measured value of a second increment voltage obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from the second correction voltage to a measured value of a first increment value obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from the first correction voltage in a state that the first input voltage was approximately equal to the intermediate voltage; and

the nonvolatile program memory further stores programs to serve as;

compensation storage judging means for judging whether the gain calculating means calculated and stored a compensation gain K or a compensation gain reciprocal H;

tentative gain compensating means activated instead of the gain compensating means if a judgment result of the compensation storage judging means is negative, for calculating a second estimate voltage by calculating a second correction voltage by subtracting the second error voltage from a second present voltage that is a digital conversion value of a second input voltage, dividing, by the reference gain, a second increment voltage obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from the second correction voltage or multiplying the second increment voltage by the reference gain reciprocal, and adding the reference bias voltage to a resulting quotient or product; and

tentative selecting and switching means activated instead of the selecting and switching means if the judgment result of the compensation storage judging means is negative, for selectively using the second estimate voltage if the first input voltage is in the intermediate range, and selectively using a first correction voltage obtained by subtracting the first error voltage from a first present voltage that is a digital conversion value of a first input voltage if the first input voltage is in one of the outside ranges, and for issuing an instruction to store a digital value that is proportional to a selection result to the data memory at the prescribed address, selection-using the first correction voltage.

18. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 16, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores reference gain data that was stored in advance as a reference gain or a reference gain reciprocal and that is a statistical value such as an average or a center value of a plurality of samples obtained by calculating, for a large number of samples, a ratio of a measured value of a second increment voltage obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from the second correction voltage to a measured value of a first increment value obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from the first correction voltage in a state that the first input voltage was approximately equal to the intermediate voltage; and

the nonvolatile program memory further stores programs to serve as;

compensation storage judging means for judging whether the gain calculating means calculated and stored a compensation gain K or a compensation gain reciprocal H;

tentative gain compensating means activated instead of the gain compensating means if a judgment result of the compensation storage judging means is negative, for calculating a second estimate voltage by calculating a second correction voltage by subtracting the second error voltage from a second present voltage that is a digital conversion value of a second input voltage, dividing, by the reference gain, a second increment voltage obtained by subtracting the reference bias voltage from the second correction voltage or multiplying the second increment voltage by the reference gain reciprocal, and adding the reference bias voltage to a resulting quotient or product; and

tentative selecting and switching means activated instead of the selecting and switching means if the judgment result of the compensation storage judging means is negative, for selectively using the second estimate voltage if the first input voltage is in the intermediate range, and selectively using a first correction voltage obtained by subtracting the first error voltage from a first present voltage that is a digital conversion value of a first input voltage if the first input voltage is in one of the outside ranges, and for issuing an instruction to store a digital value that is proportional to a selection result to the data memory at the prescribed address, selection-using the first correction voltage.

19. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 16, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores a program to serve as variable weighted averaging means for calculating a weighted average voltage in a range where a curve of the second estimate voltage and a curve of the first correction voltage overlap with each other in such a manner as to decrease a weight coefficient ranging from 1 to 0 by which to multiply the second estimate voltage and to increase the weight coefficient ranging from 0 to 1 by which to multiply the first correction voltage as an absolute value of a difference between the second estimate voltage and the first correction voltage increases, and for employing the weighted average voltage as a second average voltage; and

the tentative selecting and switching means selectively uses the second average voltage instead of the second estimate voltage.

20. The vehicular electronic control unit according to claim 18, wherein:

the nonvolatile program memory further stores a program to serve as variable weighted averaging means for calculating a weighted average voltage in a range where a curve of the second estimate voltage and a curve of the first correction voltage overlap with each other in such a manner as to decrease a weight coefficient ranging from 1 to 0 by which to multiply the second estimate voltage and to increase the weight coefficient ranging from 0 to 1 by which to multiply the first correction voltage as an absolute value of a difference between the second estimate voltage and the first correction voltage increases, and for employing the weighted average voltage as a second average voltage; and

the tentative selecting and switching means selectively uses the second average voltage instead of the second estimate voltage.