Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: a first frame, a second frame spaced apart from the first frame in a first direction, and a first joint terminal provided above a second chip provided on the second frame. The first frame includes a first terminal portion extending toward the second frame. The first joint terminal includes a second terminal portion extending toward the first frame. The second terminal portion includes a plane portion, a first projecting portion and a second projecting portion each branching out from the plane portion. An end portion of the first projecting portion and an end portion of the second projecting portion are respectively joined on the first terminal portion. The first projecting portion is different in a length in a first direction from the second projecting portion.

Abstract: In a system, a setting unit sets historical information in response to a manual transient operation. The manual transient operation triggers automatic start of the engine. The historical information represents that the manual transient operation has existed. A validation unit has a first identifier uniquely identifying the vehicle. The validation unit carries out validation communications, in at least one of direct and indirect procedures, with a communication device storing therein a second identifier of the vehicle. The communication device is used by a user of the vehicle. The validation communications use the first and second identifiers. The validation unit validates whether the user is certificated based on the validation communication result. An engine starting unit automatically starts the engine when the historical information has been set by the setting unit and when it is determined that the user of the vehicle is certificated.

Abstract: In a control system in which a first vehicle control apparatus becomes activated prior to activation of a second vehicle control apparatus, and is coupled for communication with the second vehicle control apparatus and has a storage medium for storing data received from the second vehicle control apparatus, the first vehicle control apparatus inhibits processing using data stored in the storage medium, during a delay interval that precedes activation of the second vehicle control apparatus.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus and related control method for an engine are disclosed wherein cylinder discrimination is executed based on a crank signal and a cam signal under a normal signal mode. If a failure occurs in either the crank signal or the cam signal, the cylinder discrimination is executed based on a normal one of the crank signal and the cam signal. A starter device is driven to crank up the engine until judgment is made that the engine enters a running state. A duration time for the starter device to be driven is measured and if the duration time reaches a limit time, the driving state of the starter device is interrupted. When either the crank signal or the cam signal encounters the failure, the limit time is set to a longer time than a preset time for the normal signal mode.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus and related control method for an engine are disclosed wherein cylinder discrimination is executed based on a crank signal and a cam signal under a normal signal mode. If a failure occurs in either the crank signal or the cam signal, the cylinder discrimination is executed based on a normal one of the crank signal and the cam signal. A starter device is driven to crank up the engine until judgment is made that the engine enters a running state. A duration time for the starter device to be driven is measured and if the duration time reaches a limit time, the driving state of the starter device is interrupted. When either the crank signal or the cam signal encounters the failure, the limit time is set to a longer time than a preset time for the normal signal mode.

Abstract: In a system, a setting unit sets historical information in response to a manual transient operation. The manual transient operation triggers automatic start of the engine. The historical information represents that the manual transient operation has existed. A validation unit has a first identifier uniquely identifying the vehicle. The validation unit carries out validation communications, in at least one of direct and indirect procedures, with a communication device storing therein a second identifier of the vehicle. The communication device is used by a user of the vehicle. The validation communications use the first and second identifiers. The validation unit validates whether the user is certificated based on the validation communication result. An engine starting unit automatically starts the engine when the historical information has been set by the setting unit and when it is determined that the user of the vehicle is certificated.

Abstract: An engine control system is provided which is designed to estimate an angular position at which a crankshaft of an engine is expected to stop at a stop of the engine for use in determining the position of the crankshaft at a start of the engine which is to be employed in initiating given engine control tasks. When a preselected condition which indicates the possibility of performing the engine control tasks or will result in initiation of the engine control tasks based on an erroneous value of the estimate of the stop position of the crankshaft, the engine control system inhibits the engine control tasks from being initiated using the estimate of the stop postion, thereby ensuring the stability of control of the engine.

Abstract: In a control system in which a first vehicle control apparatus becomes activated prior to activation of a second vehicle control apparatus, and is coupled for communication with the second vehicle control apparatus and has a storage medium for storing data received from the second vehicle control apparatus, the first vehicle control apparatus inhibits processing using data stored in the storage medium, during a delay interval that precedes activation of the second vehicle control apparatus.

Abstract: An engine control system is provided which is designed to estimate an angular position at which a crankshaft of an engine is expected to stop at a stop of the engine for use in determining the position of the crankshaft at a start of the engine which is to be employed in initiating given engine control tasks. When a preselected condition which indicates the possibility of performing the engine control tasks or will result in initiation of the engine control tasks based on an erroneous value of the estimate of the stop position of the crankshaft, the engine control system inhibits the engine control tasks from being initiated using the estimate of the stop postion, thereby ensuring the stability of control of the engine.

Abstract: A crank signal generated by a crank angle sensor has a front pulse missing portion and a back pulse missing portion in a pulse train of every predetermined angle interval. The level of a cam signal generated by a cam angle sensor becomes different in the pulse missing portion of the crank signal. A level different from that in the pulse missing portion continues for a period of predetermined angles before the pulse missing portion. A microcomputer determines each of the front and back pulse missing portions in the crank signal on the basis of the level of the cam signal in the pulse missing portion of the crank signal in two cycles of the rotation of a crankshaft of the engine and the duration of a different level before the pulse missing portion.

Abstract: In an engine control unit, a crank signal is generated as a pulse train of every predetermined angle interval corresponding to rotation of a crankshaft of an engine. An edge time measuring counter receives the crank signal and measures an interval of pulses. A frequency multiplication counter generates frequency multiplication clocks of integer times by the next pulse on the basis of a pulse interval of this time. A reference counter counts the number of waves of the frequency multiplication clocks between pulses in the crank signal. When the count value of the reference counter reaches a frequency multiplication number, a guard counter forcedly stops outputting of angle clocks which are outputted in response to generation of frequency multiplication clocks in a tracking counter.

Abstract: An engine control unit receives a crank signal that includes a pulse train of a predetermined angle interval corresponding to rotation of an engine crankshaft. An edge time measuring counter measures a pulse interval. A frequency multiplication counter generates frequency multiplication clocks of an integer times the next pulse on the basis of the pulse interval of this time. An angle counter for ignition and/or injection operates on the basis of the frequency multiplication clocks. When a failure in a crank signal system is detected, a CPU switches the angle counter by a change-over switch so as to be used as a free-run counter which operates on the basis of time clocks, and generates a control signal for controlling the engine in accordance with the value of the free-run counter.

Abstract: In an engine control unit, a pulse interval in a crank signal having a pulse missing portion is measured. On the basis of the measured pulse interval, frequency multiplication signals of an integral multiple are generated by the next pulse. At the time of engine start, at least until the pulse missing portion in the crank signal is detected, the engine control is performed in accordance with a cam signal specifying a cylinder position and the crank signal. At predetermined timing after the pulse missing portion in the crank signal is detected, the engine control based on the frequency multiplication signals is executed while performing initialization at the pulse missing portion in the crank signal.

Abstract: In an engine control unit, a crank signal is generated as a pulse train of every predetermined angle interval corresponding to rotation of a crankshaft of an engine. An edge time measuring counter receives the crank signal and measures an interval of pulses. A frequency multiplication counter generates frequency multiplication clocks of integer times by the next pulse on the basis of a pulse interval of this time. A reference counter counts the number of waves of the frequency multiplication clocks between pulses in the crank signal. When the count value of the reference counter reaches a frequency multiplication number, a guard counter forcedly stops outputting of angle clocks which are outputted in response to generation of frequency multiplication clocks in a tracking counter.

Abstract: A crank signal generated by a crank angle sensor has a front pulse missing portion and a back pulse missing portion in a pulse train of every predetermined angle interval. The level of a cam signal generated by a cam angle sensor becomes different in the pulse missing portion of the crank signal. A level different from that in the pulse missing portion continues for a period of predetermined angles before the pulse missing portion. A microcomputer determines each of the front and back pulse missing portions in the crank signal on the basis of the level of the cam signal in the pulse missing portion of the crank signal in two cycles of the rotation of a crankshaft of the engine and the duration of a different level before the pulse missing portion.

Abstract: In an engine control unit, a pulse interval in a crank signal having a pulse missing portion is measured. On the basis of the measured pulse interval, frequency multiplication signals of an integral multiple are generated by the next pulse. At the time of engine start, at least until the pulse missing portion in the crank signal is detected, the engine control is performed in accordance with a cam signal specifying a cylinder position and the crank signal. At predetermined timing after the pulse missing portion in the crank signal is detected, the engine control based on the frequency multiplication signals is executed while performing initialization at the pulse missing portion in the crank signal.

Abstract: An engine control unit receives a crank signal that includes a pulse train of a predetermined angle interval corresponding to rotation of an engine crankshaft. An edge time measuring counter measures a pulse interval. A frequency multiplication counter generates frequency multiplication clocks of integer times by the next pulse on the basis of the pulse interval of this time. An angle counter for ignition and/or injection operates on the basis of the frequency multiplication clocks. When a failure in a crank signal system is detected, a CPU switches the angle counter by a change-over switch so as to be used as a free-run counter which operates on the basis of time clocks, and generates a control signal for controlling the engine in accordance with the value of the free-run counter.