초록 ▼

In an electronic control unit having two computers, the first computer, which is an engine control microcomputer, performs multiple diagnoses and sends data regarding the diagnoses to the second computer, which is a throttle control microcomputer. The data includes a transmission ID, a calculated va

In an electronic control unit having two computers, the first computer, which is an engine control microcomputer, performs multiple diagnoses and sends data regarding the diagnoses to the second computer, which is a throttle control microcomputer. The data includes a transmission ID, a calculated value and a reference value. The throttle control microcomputer directly monitors completion of the diagnoses based on the data.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer, characterized in that: the first computer includes a first diagnostic means for diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a first diagnosis and a second diagnosis, in which a fi

The invention claimed is: 1. An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer, characterized in that: the first computer includes a first diagnostic means for diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a first diagnosis and a second diagnosis, in which a first value and a second value are calculated using at least two kinds of operations, a first comparison is performed between the first value and a pre-stored first reference value for determining whether a relationship between the first value and the first reference value is normal, and a second comparison is performed between the second value and a pre-stored second reference value for determining whether a relationship between the second value and the second reference value is normal; the first computer further includes a data transmitting means for sending a first set of diagnostic data regarding the first diagnosis and a second set of diagnostic data regarding the second diagnosis, respectively; the second computer includes a data receiving means for receiving the first set and the second set of diagnostic data; and the second computer further includes a second diagnostic means for determining whether the first diagnostic means normally operates based on the first and the second diagnostic data; the data transmitting means sends the first set of diagnostic data including the first calculated value and the first reference value as the first diagnostic data, and the second set of diagnostic data including the second calculated value and the second reference value as the second diagnostic data; the second diagnostic means performs a third diagnosis for determining whether a result of the first comparison is normal, and a fourth diagnosis for determining whether a result of the second comparison is normal; the first diagnostic means regularly performs the first comparison and the second comparison; the data transmitting means sends any one of the first set of diagnostic data and the second set of diagnostic data whichever most recently generated; and the second diagnostic means determines that the first diagnosis is halted when a period during which the receiving means has not received the first set of diagnostic data exceeds a predetermined reference period, and that the second diagnosis is halted when a period during which the receiving means has not received the second set of diagnostic data exceeds the predetermined reference period. 2. The electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitting means alternately sends the first set of diagnostic data and the second set of diagnostic data. 3. The electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein the second computer further including a fault recovery means that performs different fault recovery procedures for different conditions, including conditions in which the second diagnostic means has determined that the diagnosis is halted and in which the second diagnostic means has determined that the comparison performed by the first diagnostic means is faulty. 4. An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer, characterized in that: the first computer includes a first diagnostic means for diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a diagnosis, in which a comparison is performed between a value calculated using a predetermined operation and a pre-stored reference value for determining whether a relationship between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value is normal; the first computer further includes a data transmitting means for sending the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value used for the diagnosis performed by the first diagnostic means; the second computer includes a receiving means for receiving the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value; the second computer further includes a second diagnostic means for determining whether the first diagnostic means normally operates based on a comparison between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value received by the receiving means; the first diagnostic means regularly performs the diagnosis; the data transmitting means sends the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value used in the diagnosis most recently performed; and the second diagnostic means determines that the diagnosis of the first diagnostic means is at halt when a period during which the receiving means has not received the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value exceeds a predetermined reference period. 5. The electronic control unit according to claim 4, wherein the second computer further including a fault recovery means that performs different fault recovery procedures for different conditions; including conditions in which the second diagnostic means has determined that the diagnosis is halted and in which the second diagnostic means has determined that the comparison performed by the first diagnostic means is faulty. 6. The electronic control unit according to claim 5, wherein: the first computer and the second computer are used for controlling the throttle angle of a throttle valve of a vehicular engine; and the fault recovery means maintains the throttle angle control with a predetermined upper limit when the second diagnostic means has determined that the diagnosis is halted by the first diagnostic means, and stops the throttle angle control when the second diagnostic means has determined that the diagnosis performed by the first diagnostic means is faulty. 7. An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer, characterized in that: the first computer includes a first diagnostic means for diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a first diagnosis and a second diagnosis, in which a first value and a second value are calculated using at least two kinds of operations, a first comparison is performed between the first value and a pre-stored first reference value for determining whether a relationship between the first value and the first reference value is normal, and a second comparison is performed between the second value and a pre-stored second reference value for determining whether a relationship between the second value and the second reference value is normal; the first computer further includes a data transmitting means for sending a first set of diagnostic data regarding the first diagnosis and a second set of diagnostic data regarding the second diagnosis, respectively; the second computer includes a data receiving means for receiving the first set and the second set of diagnostic data; the second computer further includes a second diagnostic means for determining whether the first diagnostic means normally operates based on the first and the second diagnostic data; and the first computer and the second computer are both provided in a vehicle. 8. An electronic control unit comprising a first apparatus and a second apparatus, wherein: the first apparatus includes: a first diagnostic portion that performs a diagnosis operation for determining whether the first apparatus is normal based on at least one value calculated in the first apparatus; and a transmitting portion that transmits information with respect to the diagnosis operation of the first diagnostic portion; the second apparatus includes a second diagnostic portion that determines whether the first diagnostic portion is normal based on the information transmitted from the transmitting portion of the first apparatus; the first apparatus is a computer; the at least one value, which is calculated in the first apparatus, includes first and second values that are calculated by the first diagnostic portion; the first diagnostic portion performs a first diagnosis in the diagnosis operation to determine whether a relationship between the first value and a pre-stored first reference value is normal; the first diagnostic portion further performs a second diagnosis in the diagnosis operation to determined whether a relationship between the second value and a pre-stored second reference value is normal; the information, which is transmitted by the transmitting portion of the first apparatus, includes information with respect to at least one of the first diagnosis and the second diagnosis; and the second diagnostic portion determines that the first diagnostic portion is abnormal when it is determined that at least one of the first diagnosis and the second diagnosis is not performed beyond a predetermined time period based on the information transmitted from the transmitting portion of the first apparatus. 9. The electronic control unit according to claim 7, wherein the transmitting portion of the first apparatus periodically transmits the information throughout a normal operation of the first apparatus. 10. The electronic control unit according to claim 7, wherein the first apparatus and the second apparatus are used for controlling an engine. 11. An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer, characterized in that: the first computer includes a first diagnostic means for diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a first diagnosis and a second diagnosis, in which a first value and a second value are calculated using at least two kinds of operations, a first comparison is performed between the first value and a pre-stored first reference value for determining whether a relationship between the first value and the first reference value is normal, and a second comparison is performed between the second value and a pre-stored second reference value for determining whether a relationship between the second value and the second reference value is normal; the first computer further includes a data transmitting means for sending a first set of diagnostic data regarding the first diagnosis and a second set of diagnostic data regarding the second diagnosis, respectively; the second computer includes a data receiving means for receiving the first set and the second set of diagnostic data; the second computer further includes a second diagnostic means for determining whether the first diagnostic means normally operates based on the first and the second diagnostic data; and the first computer and the second computer are located locally with respect to each other. 12. An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer, characterized in that: the first computer includes a first diagnostic means for diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a diagnosis, in which a comparison is performed between a value calculated using a predetermined operation and a pre-stored reference value for determining whether a relationship between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value is normal; the first computer further includes a data transmitting means for sending the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value used for the diagnosis performed by the first diagnostic means; the second computer includes a receiving means for receiving the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value; the second computer further includes a second diagnostic means for determining whether the first diagnostic means normally operates based on a comparison between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value received by the receiving means; and the first computer and the second computer are located locally with respect to each other. 13. An electronic control unit comprising a first apparatus and a second apparatus, wherein: the first apparatus includes: a first diagnostic portion that performs a diagnosis operation for determining whether the first apparatus is normal based on at least one value calculated in the first apparatus; and a transmitting portion that transmits information with respect to the diagnosis operation of the first diagnostic portion; the second apparatus includes a second diagnostic portion that determines whether the first diagnostic portion is normal based on the information transmitted from the transmitting portion of the first apparatus; and the first apparatus and the second apparatus are located locally with respect to each other. 14. An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer, characterized in that: the first computer includes a first diagnostic means for diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a diagnosis, in which a comparison is performed between a value calculated using a predetermined operation and a pre-stored reference value for determining whether a relationship between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value is normal; the first computer further includes a data transmitting means for sending the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value used for the diagnosis performed by the first diagnostic means; the second computer includes a receiving means for receiving the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value; the second computer further includes a second diagnostic means for determining whether the first diagnostic means normally operates based on a comparison between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value received by the receiving means; and the first computer and the second computer are both provided in a vehicle. 15. An electronic control unit comprising a first apparatus and a second apparatus, wherein: the first apparatus includes: a first diagnostic portion that performs a diagnosis operation for determining whether the first apparatus is normal based on at least one value calculated in the first apparatus; and a transmitting portion that transmits information with respect to the diagnosis operation of the first diagnostic portion; the second apparatus includes a second diagnostic portion that determines whether the first diagnostic portion is normal based on the information transmitted from the transmitting portion of the first apparatus; and the first apparatus and the second apparatus are both provided in a vehicle. 16. A method of operating a first computer and a second computer, the method comprising: in the first computer, performing a diagnosing operation of the first computer by performing a diagnosis, in which a comparison is performed between a value calculated using a predetermined operation and a pre-stored reference value for determining whether a relationship between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value is normal; transmitting, from the first computer, the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value used for the diagnosis performed by the first computer; receiving, in the second computer, the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value; and determining, in the second computer, whether the diagnosing operation of the first computer is performed normally based on a comparison between the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value received by the second computer; wherein the first computer regularly performs the diagnosis; the first computer transmits the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value used in the diagnosis most recently performed; and the second computer determines that the diagnosis of the first computer is at halt when a period during which the second computer has not received the calculated value and the pre-stored reference value exceeds a predetermined reference period.