Abstract: An automotive internal combustion engine electronic control unit for performing safety-related functions with a predetermined automotive safety integrity level, including: a microcontroller and an integrated circuit distinct from and communicating with the microcontroller. The microcontroller performs one or more safety-related functions with the same automotive safety integrity level as required to the automotive engine electronic control unit. The integrated circuit performs one or more safety-related functions with an automotive safety integrity level that is lower than that of the microcontroller. The integrated circuit performs, for each performed safety-related function, a corresponding diagnosis function for detecting failures in the performance of the safety-related function.

Abstract: A control circuit for a single-cell linear oxygen sensor having a first and a second electrical terminals on which a first voltage and respectively a second voltage are present, wherein a cell current between the first and second electrical terminals is indicative of a detected oxygen concentration, and wherein the control circuit generates a biasing voltage between the first and the second electrical terminals with a preset pattern as a function of the cell current. The circuit envisages: a transresistance block, coupled to the second electrical terminal to generate a processed voltage as a function of the cell current and based on the preset pattern; and an adder stage, coupled to the transresistance block and to the second electrical terminal, to perform a sum between the processed voltage and the second voltage, to generate the first voltage for the first electrical terminal of the linear oxygen sensor, so that the biasing voltage has the preset pattern as a function of the cell current.

Abstract: An automotive internal combustion engine electronic control unit for performing safety-related functions with a predetermined automotive safety integrity level, including: a microcontroller and an integrated circuit distinct from and communicating with the microcontroller. The microcontroller performs one or more safety-related functions with the same automotive safety integrity level as required to the automotive engine electronic control unit. The integrated circuit performs one or more safety-related functions with an automotive safety integrity level that is lower than that of the microcontroller. The integrated circuit performs, for each performed safety-related function, a corresponding diagnosis function for detecting failures in the performance of the safety-related function.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor by using the PWM technique including the steps of: applying to the clamps of the electric motor an electric voltage varying in time, which displays a square waveform and consists of a sequence of pulses having a uniform wave period and a variable width; adjusting the average value of the electric voltage by varying the width of the pulses; determining the overall required width variation; subdividing the overall required width variation in a determined number of partial variations, the overall sum of which is equivalent to the overall required width variation; and gradually varying the width amplitude of the pulses of the electric voltage by applying in a sequence a corresponding partial variation to each pulse, so that the difference between the width amplitude of a pulse and the width of a following pulse is equivalent to the corresponding partial variation.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor by using the PWM technique; the control method includes the steps of: applying to the clamps of the electric motor an electric voltage varying in time, which displays a square waveform and consists of a sequence of pulses having a uniform wave period and a variable amplitude; adjusting the average value of the electric voltage applied to the clamps of the electric motor by varying the amplitude of the pulses of the electric voltage; determining, in the case of a variation of the amplitude of the pulses, the overall required amplitude variation; subdividing the overall required amplitude variation in a determined number of partial variations, the overall sum of which is equivalent to the overall required amplitude variation; and gradually varying the amplitude of the pulses of the electric voltage by applying in a sequence a corresponding partial variation to each pulse, so that the difference between the amplitude of a pulse and the amplitude of a following pulse is

Abstract: A ventilation system is described for electrical wiring arrangements of electrical circuits comprising a plurality of electrical connection terminals arranged within an insulating element; the ventilation system comprising a plurality of electrical ventilation cables connected to the respective electrical terminals of the electrical circuit; a plurality of connection chambers each produced in the body of the insulating element in such a manner as to accommodate therein the connection between the electrical ventilation cable and the corresponding terminal while maintaining the connection insulated from the outside; and at least one communication duct between the connection chambers produced in the body of the insulating element and designed so as to permit the passage of air between the connection chambers and through the electrical ventilation cables.

Abstract: A ventilation system is described for electrical wiring arrangements of electrical circuits comprising a plurality of electrical connection terminals arranged within an insulating element; the ventilation system comprising a plurality of electrical ventilation cables connected to the respective electrical terminals of the electrical circuit; a plurality of connection chambers each produced in the body of the insulating element in such a manner as to accommodate therein the connection between the electrical ventilation cable and the corresponding terminal while maintaining the connection insulated from the outside; and at least one communication duct between the connection chambers produced in the body of the insulating element and designed so as to permit the passage of air between the connection chambers and through the electrical ventilation cables.

Abstract: A method for control of an injector in an internal combustion engine in which for a specific engine cycle, a control unit calculates a desired value of the opening time of the injector and forwards this desired value to a drive circuit of the injector, a supervision device calculates an actual value of the opening time of the injector during the injection phase, compares this actual value with the desired value and generates an error signal if the difference between the desired value and the actual value is outside a predetermined acceptability range.

Abstract: A method and device for driving an injector in an internal combustion engine in which a current wave which is variable over time, which comprises an initial section substantially of a pulse type and having a relatively high current intensity, an intermediate section during which the current intensity is rapidly reduced to substantially zero values and a final section having a substantially constant and relatively low current intensity, is caused to circulate through a control circuit of the injector.

Abstract: A circuit for monitoring and diagnosing an oxygen probe provided with a sensitive cell connected between a first and a second signal terminal, and a heating member connected between a battery and a heating terminal; the circuit includes an interface stage and a control unit. The interface stage includes a first resistor connected between a switch which is normally open and a supply line at a known potential and the first signal terminal, a second resistor connected between the first signal terminal and a second signal terminal and a third resistor connected between the second signal terminal and reference potential line. The control unit further includes a first analog-digital converter connected to the first signal terminal and a second analog-digital converter connected to the second signal terminal.

Abstract: A method for control of an injector in an internal combustion engine in which for a specific engine cycle, a control unit calculates a desired value of the opening time of the injector and forwards this desired value to a drive circuit of the injector, a supervision device calculates an actual value of the opening time of the injector during the injection phase, compares this actual value with the desired value and generates an error signal if the difference between the desired value and the actual value is outside a predetermined acceptability range.

Abstract: A method and device for driving an injector in an internal combustion engine in which a current wave which is variable over time, which comprises an initial section substantially of a pulse type and having a relatively high current intensity, an intermediate section during which the current intensity is rapidly reduced to substantially zero values and a final section having a substantially constant and relatively low current intensity, is caused to circulate through a control circuit of the injector.

Abstract: A circuit for monitoring and diagnosing an oxygen probe provided with a sensitive cell connected between a first and a second signal terminal, and a heating member connected between a battery and a heating terminal; the circuit comprises an interface stage and a control unit. The interface stage comprises a first resistor connected between a switch which is normally open and a supply line at a known potential and the first signal terminal, a second resistor connected between the first signal terminal and a second signal terminal and a third resistor connected between the second signal terminal and a reference potential line. The control unit further comprises a first analog-digital converter connected to the first signal terminal and a second analog-digital converter connected to the second signal terminal.

Abstract: Control device for a linear oxygen sensor located in an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine in contact with exhaust gases in use, the control device including a linear oxygen sensor composed of at least one reference chamber for receiving a specified percentage of oxygen and being one of at least two types which differ in the way in which the at least one reference chamber receives oxygen; controller for exerting a control action on the linear oxygen sensor to generate an output signal (DIP) at an output representing a ratio of the exhaust gases and being composed of a programmable control device; and an operating unit for operating and programming the programmable control device to match the controller to the type of linear oxygen sensor to which it is connected.