Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU), for use with an internal combustion engine, determines whether an abnormal combustion has occurred in the engine. The ECU uses a sensor signal amplifier to amplify a sensor signal from a sensor by changing an amplification power of the sensor signal and an A/D converter to convert the sensor signal amplified to a digital signal (i.e., a digitized sensor signal). The ECU uses an abnormal combustion detector to determine whether an abnormal combustion has occurred based on a characteristic of a waveform of the digitized sensor signal, and performs an abnormal combustion prevention control to prevent the abnormal combustion when an abnormal combustion is detected. An amplification controller is used to set the amplification power of the sensor signal amplifier based on the amplitude of the digitized sensor signal and a determination result of the abnormal combustion by the abnormal combustion detector.

Abstract: A signal input circuit includes: a signal input device having a signal input terminal; an inspection capacitor connected between the signal input terminal and a reference potential; a connection unit connecting/disconnecting an inspection path between the inspection capacitor and the signal input terminal; a charge and discharge unit charging/discharging the inspection capacitor; and a determination processing unit carrying out a terminal failure detection processing. The determination processing unit controls the connection unit to disconnect the inspection path and controls the charge and discharge unit to set the voltage of the inspection capacitor to a terminal inspection voltage in a charge and discharge procedure, controls the connection unit to connect the inspection path in a continuity establishing procedure, and detects the terminal failure at the signal input terminal or a communication path from the signal input terminal based on a voltage of the inspection path.

Abstract: A signal input circuit includes: a signal input device having a signal input terminal; an inspection capacitor connected between the signal input terminal and a reference potential; a connection unit connecting/disconnecting an inspection path between the inspection capacitor and the signal input terminal; a charge and discharge unit charging/discharging the inspection capacitor; and a determination processing unit carrying out a terminal failure detection processing. The determination processing unit controls the connection unit to disconnect the inspection path and controls the charge and discharge unit to set the voltage of the inspection capacitor to a terminal inspection voltage in a charge and discharge procedure, controls the connection unit to connect the inspection path in a continuity establishing procedure, and detects the terminal failure at the signal input terminal or a communication path from the signal input terminal based on a voltage of the inspection path.

Abstract: The engine control apparatus includes a computing section which performs computation for engine control in synchronization with rotation of an engine, and an A/D converter which A/D-converts an analog signal necessary for the computing section to perform the computation, the analog signal being outputted from an external device such as a knock sensor. The computing section and the A/D converter are configured to enable detection of garble in the data transmitted from the A/D converter to the computing section on the side of the computing section without affecting the operation of the A/D converter.

Abstract: In an engine control device, when a missing-tooth location K formed on a rotor of a crank shaft sensor fixed to a crank shaft of an engine is detected at timing t1 under the condition T3 ?2.4×pulse interval T4, it is checked whether or not the detection result is correct based on pulse intervals T0 to T5. When the detection result is correct, the difference (an adjusting counter value) between a counter-value of a crank counter at the missing-tooth location K detection timing and a correct value at the detection timing of the missing-tooth location K is calculated. The device calculates an adjusted counter-value based on an adjusting counter-value, the current counter-value of the crank counter, and a value (+1) set in advance based on the rewriting timing. The crank counter is replaced with the adjusted counter-value at a first rising-edge of the crank signal.

Abstract: The communication system including a master device and a plurality of slave devices communicatably connected to the master device is configured such that a selected one of the slave devices which is applied with a communication permission signal from the master device through a corresponding one of control lines performs communication with the master device. The master device includes a switching circuit that changes internal connection thereof such that the communication permission signal is applied to another one of the slave devices which should perform communication with the master device next.

Abstract: In an engine control device, when a missing-tooth location K formed on a rotor of a crank shaft sensor fixed to a crank shaft of an engine is detected at timing t1 under the condition T3?2.4×pulse interval T4, it is checked whether or not the detection result is correct based on pulse intervals T0 to T5. When the detection result is correct, the difference (an adjusting counter value) between a counter-value of a crank counter at the missing-tooth location K detection timing and a correct value at the detection timing of the missing-tooth location K is calculated. The device calculates an adjusted counter-value based on an adjusting counter-value, the current counter-value of the crank counter, and a value (+1) set in advance based on the rewriting timing. The crank counter is replaced with the adjusted counter-value at a first rising-edge of the crank signal.

Abstract: The engine control apparatus includes a computing section which performs computation for engine control in synchronization with rotation of an engine, and an A/D converter which A/D-converts an analog signal necessary for the computing section to perform the computation, the analog signal being outputted from an external device such as a knock sensor. The computing section and the A/D converter are configured to enable detection of garble in the data transmitted from the A/D converter to the computing section on the side of the computing section without affecting the operation of the A/D converter.

Abstract: A device for detecting a motional position of an object in motion uses a first unit and a second unit which are communicably linked with each other. The first unit repeatedly produces positional information indicative of the motional position of the object in response to a change in motional position of the object. The change in position is detected by a positional sensor placed to sense a movement of the object and reflects therein a motion of the object. The positional information is pulsed information. The first unit repeatedly transmits produced positional information every time when change in motional position of the object reaches a given unit quantity of change. The second unit repeatedly calculates motional position of the object based on a predetermined procedure including repeatedly counting a starting edge of positional information transmitted from the first unit.

Abstract: In a data processor for processing pieces of input data successively sampled, a memory unit and a plurality of data transferring units for transferring data are provided. Each of the plurality of data transferring units has an upper limit number of data items successively transferable when activated. An activating unit is provided. The activating unit is configured to successively activate, within a predetermined time frame, the data transferring units without all of the data transferring units being deactivated within the predetermined time frame to thereby successively transfer the pieces of input data to the memory unit so as to store the pieces of input data therein.

Abstract: The A/D converter device includes a comparing section and an abnormality judging section. The comparing section compares a voltage of its signal transfer line connected between its input multiplexer and its A/D converting section through its sample-hold section with a predetermined abnormality judging voltage. The abnormality judging section is configured to apply a reference voltage to the signal transfer line in synchronization with an A/D conversion cycle thereof on condition that its A/D converting operation thereof is not interrupted, and to determine presence of abnormality in the A/D converter device if an comparison result of the comparing section does not match an expected value corresponding to the reference voltage.

Abstract: The communication system including a master device and a plurality of slave devices communicatably connected to the master device is configured such that a selected one of the slave devices which is applied with a communication permission signal from the master device through a corresponding one of control lines performs communication with the master device. The master device includes a switching circuit that changes internal connection thereof such that the communication permission signal is applied to another one of the slave devices which should perform communication with the master device next.

Abstract: In a data processor for processing pieces of input data successively sampled, a memory unit and a plurality of data transferring units for transferring data are provided. Each of the plurality of data transferring units has an upper limit number of data items successively transferable when activated. An activating unit is provided. The activating unit is configured to successively activate, within a predetermined time frame, the data transferring units without all of the data transferring units being deactivated within the predetermined time frame to thereby successively transfer the pieces of input data to the memory unit so as to store the pieces of input data therein.

Abstract: The A/D converter device includes a comparing section and an abnormality judging section. The comparing section compares a voltage of its signal transfer line connected between its input multiplexer and its A/D converting section through its sample-hold section with a predetermined abnormality judging voltage. The abnormality judging section is configured to apply a reference voltage to the signal transfer line in synchronization with an A/D conversion cycle thereof on condition that its A/D converting operation thereof is not interrupted, and to determine presence of abnormality in the A/D converter device if an comparison result of the comparing section does not match an expected value corresponding to the reference voltage.

Abstract: A device detecting a motional position of an object in motion comprises a first unit and a second unit which are communicably linked with each other. The first unit repeatedly produces positional information indicative of the motional position of the object in response to a change in the motional position of the object. The change in the position is detected by a positional sensor placed to sense a movement of the object and reflects therein a motion of the object. The positional information is pulsed information. The first unit repeatedly transmits the produced positional information every time when the change in the motional position of the object reaches a given unit quantity of the change. The second unit repeatedly calculates the motional position of the object based on a predetermined procedure including repeatedly counting a starting edge of the positional information transmitted from the first unit.

Abstract: A vehicular engine control unit has multi-CPU configuration. A main CPU executes a control processing subject to a monitoring processing and transmits monitoring data to a sub-CPU. The sub-CPU executes the monitoring processing based on the received monitoring data. The control processing executed by the main CPU and a control characteristic may be changed or modified in accordance with an engine capacity, a vehicle equipment or the like. Similarly, the monitoring data stored in a memory connected with the main CPU is also changed in accordance with the control characteristic and the like. Therefore, the sub-CPU can be commonly used for several arrangements or the control characteristics of the main CPU.

Abstract: An engine ECU comprises a control CPU for executing engine control and a watchdog circuit for monitoring the CPU. The watchdog circuit stores, whenever a reset signal is outputted to the CPU, a reset information indicating a fault record. The CPU executes, after it is once reset and re-started, the predetermined fail-safe process based on the reset information stored. When a monitor CPU connected to the control CPU for making communication is used as the watchdog circuit, fault detection times X and Y are specified to satisfy the relationship of X≧Y, when the communication fault detection time is defined as X and the watchdog pulse fault detection time as Y.

Abstract: A vehicular engine control unit has multi-CPU configuration. A main CPU executes a control processing subject to a monitoring processing and transmits monitoring data to a sub-CPU. The sub-CPU executes the monitoring processing based on the received monitoring data. The control processing executed by the main CPU and a control characteristic may be changed or modified in accordance with an engine capacity, a vehicle equipment or the like. Similarly, the monitoring data stored in a memory connected with the main CPU is also changed in accordance with the control characteristic and the like. Therefore, the sub-CPU can be commonly used for several arrangements or the control characteristics of the main CPU.

Abstract: An engine ECU comprises a control CPU for executing engine control and a watchdog circuit for monitoring the CPU. The watchdog circuit stores, whenever a reset signal is outputted to the CPU, a reset information indicating a fault record. The CPU executes, after it is once reset and re-started, the predetermined fail-safe process based on the reset information stored. When a monitor CPU connected to the control CPU for making communication is used as the watchdog circuit, fault detection times X and Y are specified to satisfy the relationship of X≧Y, when the communication fault detection time is defined as X and the watchdog pulse fault detection time as Y.

Abstract: An electronic control unit is provided with a microcomputer, a power supply circuit and a filter circuit. The microcomputer comprises a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and a SRAM. A voltage-drop detecting circuit within the power supply circuit receives a constant voltage generated in a constant voltage circuit and outputs a voltage detection signal WI by monitoring fall of such constant voltage. The filter circuit also receives the WI signal, generates a WI(A) signal and a WI(B) signal and outputs the WI(B) signal to the SRAM as the signal for restricting the data write operation. The CPU allows start of the data write operation to the SRAM and executes the write operation of data for each data that requires the concurrency when both WI(A) and WI(B) signals indicate permission of the data write operation.