Abstract: An arithmetic and control unit includes a monitor unit which counts a cycle time by receiving diagnostic pulses and generates an overflow bit that takes on a prescribed state value when it decides that the cycle time is larger than a prescribed overflow decision time and outputs it after a lapse of a prescribed time, and outputs a pulse-form reset signal as an active level during a prescribed time when the overflow bit is a prescribed state value. Also included is a control unit which generates a diagnostic pulse at every execution of a unit control during control operation and is reactivated upon receipt of active level of a reset signal, and receives and stores the overflow bit at every activation including a reactivation.

Abstract: The arithmetic and control unit according to the present invention includes a monitor unit which counts a cycle time by receiving diagnostic pulses and generates an overflow bit that takes on a prescribed state value when it decides that the cycle time is larger than a prescribed overflow decision time and outputs it after a lapse of a prescribed time, and outputs a pulse-form reset signal as an active level during a prescribed time when the overflow bit is a prescribed state value, and a control unit which generates a diagnostic pulse at every execution of a unit control during control operation and is reactivated upon receipt of active level of a reset signal, receives and stores the overflow bit at every activation including a reactivation, and when the stored overflow bit is not the prescribed state value, the state is decided to be an initial activation and stops the output of the diagnostic pulse to the monitor unit during a monitor unit inspection time which is larger than the overflow decision time, g

Abstract: A traction control method for a vehicle which includes the steps of generating a braking force in drive wheel brake devices when it is determined that a drive wheel shows a slipping tendency, wherein the control mode for left and right drive wheel brake devices is switchable between an independent mode for independently controlling braking forces in the left and right drive wheel brake devices and a collective control mode for collectively controlling braking forces of these brake devices, and controlling the braking forces of the brake devices in the independent control mode in response to a condition in which the absolute value of a difference between left and right drive wheel speeds exceeds a predetermined value.