초록 ▼

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, wherein a first engine control device generates a control signal to actuate a function of the engine. A switchover device transmits the control signal of the first control device to the engine to actuate the function of the engine. The first co

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, wherein a first engine control device generates a control signal to actuate a function of the engine. A switchover device transmits the control signal of the first control device to the engine to actuate the function of the engine. The first control device transmits a sign-of-life signal which indicates functionality of the control device to the switchover device. The first engine control device does not transmit the sign-of-life signal or transmits the signal incorrectly if a fault occurs which endangers proper actuation of the function of the engine by the first engine control device. If the sign-of-life signal of the first engine control device is not or is incorrectly received by the switchover device, the switchover device stops transmitting the control signals of the first engine control device and starts transmitting a control signal generated by a second engine control device to the engine to actuate the function of the engine.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: generating at least one control signal with a first engine control unit to actuate at least one function of the internal combustion engine; passing along the at least one control signal of the first engine control un

1. A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of: generating at least one control signal with a first engine control unit to actuate at least one function of the internal combustion engine; passing along the at least one control signal of the first engine control unit to the internal combustion engine by a switchover device for actuating the at least one function of the internal combustion engine; transmitting a sign-of-life signal indicating functionality of the first engine control unit continuously or periodically from the first engine control unit to the switchover device; wherein the first engine control unit does not transmit the sign-of-life signal or does not transmit the signal correctly when an error occurs that puts at risk proper actuation of the at least one function of the internal combustion engine by the first engine control unit; andwherein the switchover device stops passing along the control signal of the first engine control unit to the internal combustion engine and begins passing along at least one control signal generated by a second engine control unit for actuation of the at least one function of the internal combustion engine to the internal combustion engine when the sign-of-life signal of the first engine control unit is not being received or is not being received correctly by the switchover device, wherein, during operation of the internal combustion engine, the second engine control unit continuously generates the at least one control signal, even when the control signal is not being passed along by the switchover device to the internal combustion engine. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first engine control unit transmits to the second engine control unit data necessary for actuating the at least one function of the internal combustion engine a single time after or at starting of the internal combustion engine, periodically or as needed; or wherein data necessary for actuating the at least one function of the internal combustion engine are stored in the second engine control unit, and the data are called up when the actuation of the at least one function of the internal combustion engine is switched over to the second engine control unit. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first engine control unit transmits the data to the second engine control unit after a change in the data. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second engine control unit transmits a sign-of-life signal indicating functionality of the second engine control unit continuously or periodically to the switchover device or to the first engine control unit. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second engine control unit monitors a continuously generated control signal in order to detect whether or not said second control unit is actuating the at least one function of the internal combustion engine. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second engine control unit initializes parameters for the actuation of the at least one function of the internal combustion engine with stored values or releases retained values of the parameters for variation when the second engine control unit recognizes that it is actuating the at least one function of the internal combustion engine. 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second engine control unit generates a voltage, based on which a current flows when the second engine control unit is actuating the at least one function of the internal combustion engine, wherein no current flows when the control signal is not being passed along by the switchover device to the internal combustion engine;wherein the second engine control unit monitors whether or not a current is flowing;wherein the second engine control unit actuates a suction throttle; andwherein the second engine control unit monitors the current flowing from the second engine control unit through the suction throttle. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second engine control unit monitors whether or not the current is exceeding a previously determined threshold value. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second engine control unit continuously actuates the suction throttle. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first or the second engine control unit actuates an actuator system of the internal combustion engine. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the actuator system includes at least one injector and/or at least one suction throttle. 12. A switchover device for use in controlling an internal combustion engine wherein the switchover device can be brought into functional connection with a first engine control unit, with a second engine control unit, and with an internal combustion engine; wherein the switchover device is configured to pass along at least one control signal from the first engine control unit or from the second engine control unit to the internal combustion engine;wherein the switchover device is operative to switch over from passing along the signal of the first engine control unit to passing along the signal of the second engine control unit;wherein the switchover device is configured to receive a sign-of-life signal from the first and/or from the second engine control unit, wherein, during operation of the internal combustion engine, the second engine control unit continuously generates the at least one control signal, even when the control signal is not being passed along by the switchover device to the internal combustion engine; andwherein the switchover device is configured so as to stop passing along the at least one control signal of the first engine control unit to the internal combustion engine and starts passing along the at least one control signal of the second engine control unit to the internal combustion engine when the sign-of-life signal of the first engine control unit is not being received or is not being received correctly by the switchover device. 13. The switchover device according to claim 12, wherein the switchover device comprises at least one switch. 14. The switchover device according to claim 13, wherein the switch is a semiconductor switch or an electromechanical switch. 15. The switchover device according to claim 14, wherein the switch is a relay. 16. The switchover device according to claim 12, further comprising anti-interrupt means that permits the switchover device to continue to send at least one control signal to the internal combustion engine during a switchover between the engine control units. 17. An arrangement for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising: a first engine control unit; a second engine control unit; and a switchover device wherein the first engine control unit and the second engine control unit are set up to generate control signals to actuate at least one function of the internal combustion engine, wherein the switchover device brings the first engine control unit and the second engine control unit into functional connection with the internal combustion engine and passes along the control signals to the internal combustion engine, wherein the first engine control unit is set up to generate and transmit a sign-of-life signal indicating functionality of the first engine control unit, wherein the first engine control unit is set up so that the sign-of-life signal is not or is not correctly generated and/or transmitted when an error occurs which puts at risk a proper actuation of the at least one function of the internal combustion engine by the first engine control unit, wherein the first engine control unit is functionally connected to the switchover device so that the sign-of-life signal is received by the switchover device, and wherein the switchover device is configured to stop passing along the at least one control signal of the first engine control unit to the internal combustion engine and to begin passing along the at least one control signal of the second engine control unit to the internal combustion engine when the sign-of-life signal of the first engine control unit is not being received or is not being correctly received by the switchover device, wherein, during operation of the internal combustion engine, the second engine control unit continuously generates the control signal, even when the control signal from the second engine control unit is not being passed along by the switchover device to the internal combustion engine. 18. An internal combustion engine comprising an arrangement according to claim 17. 19. The internal combustion engine according to claim 18, wherein the internal combustion engine is configured as a common-rail engine.