C.r.f. Societa Consortile Per Azioni

Metatron S.r.l.

Alberto Manzone

Riccardo Groppo

Paolo Santero

Claudio Genta

Giancarlo Casellato

Damiano Micelli

Filippo Audisio

Paolo Reggio

Claudio Lanfranco

Giuseppe Catona

Massimiliano Bagnato

Alessandro Pincetti

Mitizi Puccio

A microprogrammable electronic device has a code memory storing a software and/or firmware code having instructions. The microprogrammable electronic device is configured to compute a signature of the code stored in the code memory, and to detect any corruption of the code stored in the code memory on the basis of the computed signature. The microprogrammable electronic device is characterized by being further configured to operate according to instruction cycles, each divided into a respective first and a respective second operating phase; to read a first instruction from the code memory at the first operating phase of an instruction cycle; to decode and execute the read first instruction at the second operating phase of the instruction cycle; to read a second instruction from the code memory at the second operating phase of the instruction cycle; and to compute the signature on the basis of the read second instruction.

Microprogrammable device code signature

A microprogrammable electronic device has a first code memory storing instructions, and is configured to execute each instruction in the first code memory at a respective instruction cycle. The system comprises binary code generating means, and a tracing device. The binary code generating means form part of the device, and are configured to generate and output on a single pin of the device binary codes, each of which indicates a corresponding execution-related event, is generated and outputted at a corresponding instruction cycle, and has N bits, where N is an integer &#x3e;=2. The tracing device is coupled with the single pin to receive the binary codes, and has a second code memory in which the instructions are stored. The tracing device is configured to trace instructions executed by the device, on the basis of the received binary codes and of the instructions stored in the second code memory.

Microprogrammable device code tracing with single pin transmission of execution event encoded signal and trace memory storing instructions at same address

A microprogrammable electronic device comprises a code memory storing a plurality of instructions. At least one instruction, when executed by the device, causes the device to enter into a wait state associated with a plurality of predefined wait state exit conditions. The device is configured to load into an electronic table each condition together with a corresponding code memory address of an instruction to be executed when the condition occurs; to execute, when is in the wait state, a wait instruction stored in the code memory and which, when executed, is such as to cause the device to check simultaneously the conditions loaded into said electronic table to detect if condition occurs; and, if a condition occurs, to exit from said wait state and to execute the instruction stored in the code memory at the code memory address loaded into the electronic table together with the condition that occurred.

Simultaneous checking of plural exit conditions loaded in table subsequent to execution of wait instruction for jitter free exit

The movable element of a solenoid valve is displaced by means of application to the solenoid of alternating phases at constant voltage and at zero voltage, so as to give rise to an alternation of phases of charging and discharging of the solenoid (switching), corresponding to increases and decreases of current around a substantially constant current value. The alternating phases at constant voltage and at zero voltage are controlled so that the phase at constant voltage is maintained for a pre-set time and the phase at zero voltage is terminated when the decreasing current reaches a pre-set value. Alternatively, it is possible to envisage that the phase at constant voltage will be terminated when the increasing current reaches a pre-set value and the phase at zero voltage is maintained for a pre-set time, or else again that both the phase at constant voltage and the phase at zero voltage will be terminated when the increasing current or decreasing current reaches a pre-set value. In any case, the duration of each cycle of charging and discharging of the solenoid is constantly monitored. It is thus possible to identify the instant at which the movable element of the solenoid valve reaches its end-of-travel position as the instant that separates two successive cycles of charging and discharging of the solenoid having durations that differ from one another by a value higher than a pre-set threshold value.

Method for determining the instant when the movable element of a solenoid valve reaches its end position following energization of the solenoid, by means of an analysis of the switching frequence of the solenoid driving current

Provided in a gas-feed system, in particular a system for supplying methane or hydrogen to an internal-combustion engine, is an electronic pressure-reducer or pressure-regulator unit, integrated in which are both a pressure-reducing valve for reducing the pressure of the gas coming from the fuel tank to a value suitable for supplying a distribution manifold or rail and a modulating solenoid valve that functions as modulator of the degree of pressure reduction performed by the pressure-reducing valve. Likewise made in the body of said unit are passages that provide the communications of said valves with one another and of each of said valves with the inlet and the outlet for the gas in said unit. Furthermore, the unit incorporates an electronic control module for controlling the modulating solenoid valve.

Electronic pressure reducer or regulator unit for feeding gas, particularly methane or hydrogen, to an internal combustion engine, and gas feeding system including this unit

There is described a method of operating a device () controlling electric actuators (), and having a pair of input terminals () connected to an electric energy source (); a number of pairs of output terminals (), between each of which a respective electric actuator () is connected in use; and controlled switches () for connecting the electric actuators () to the electric energy source () independently of one another; the method including the step of controlling the controlled switches () to supply an electric current to the electric actuators () via the electric energy source (). The controlling step includes the steps of: determining the possibility of a subsequent operating condition in which specific electric actuators () are supplied simultaneously with electric current from the electric energy source (); and temporally phase shifting the electric currents supplied to the specific electric actuators (), to reduce the effective value of the electric current drawn from the electric energy source ().

Method of operating a device for controlling electric actuators with optimum actuation current distribution

A power circuit provided with an operating circuit for each electrical actuator and including a set of switches controlled selectively to regulate the current flowing through the electrical actuator. The operating device includes a control circuit which can cause the operation of the power circuit and in turn includes a set of control modules, each of which can selectively operate the switches of a corresponding operating circuit, and can supply a state signal (S) indicating the operating state of the control module. A synchronization module receives and processes the state signals (S), to generate a common synchronization signal (S) which synchronizes the control modules. Each control module being capable of coordinating the operating actions sent to the switches of the corresponding operating circuit with the operating actions sent by the other control modules to the corresponding switches, in accordance with the synchronization signal (S).

Operating device for inductive electrical actuators

Described herein is a surface-mounted integrated current sensor for use in a printed circuit having a track along which there flows, in use, the electric current to be measured. The current sensor comprises a package having a bottom face facing, in use, the printed circuit, and on which there is set an electrically conductive bottom piece, which, in use, makes contact with the track of the printed circuit in such a way as to be traversed by the current to be measured. The current sensor moreover comprises a sensor element, for example a Hall-effect one, designed to generate a voltage proportional to the electric current that flows through the bottom piece.

Surface-mounted integrated current sensor

A drive device for electrical injectors of a common rail fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine has a power circuit, in turn having a drive circuit, for each electrical injector, with a number of switches controlled selectively to regulate the current flowing through the electrical injector; and a control circuit for controlling operation of the power circuit; the control circuit having a number of control modules, each for selectively controlling the switches of a respective drive circuit, and for supplying a state signal (S) indicating the operating state of the control module; and a synchronization module for receiving and processing the state signals (S) to generate a common synchronization signal (S) for synchronizing the control modules; each control module synchronizing and coordinating, as a function of the synchronization signal (S), the drive actions imparted to the switches of the respective drive circuit, with the drive actions imparted by the other control modules to the corresponding switches.

Drive device for electrical injectors of an internal combustion engine common rail fuel injection system

A drive device for inductive electroactuators equipped with a power circuit comprising a drive circuit for each electroactuator; each drive circuit comprising a series of selectively controlled transistors for regulating the current flowing through the electroactuator; a control circuit which is capable of driving the operation of each control circuit and a series of control modules, each of which controls the transistors of an associated control circuit; and a memory having at least two memory areas each storing the same operating parameters for the drive circuits; an internal microcontroller for reading the operating parameters; and a series of pointer registers which cooperate with the internal microcontroller and with an external microcontroller to define access of the external microcontroller to one of the memory areas and simultaneously to define access of the internal microcontroller to the other memory area, and to swap the access rights of the internal microcontroller and of the external microcontroller to the two memory areas.

Drive device for inductive electroactuators

The control device comprises a piloting circuit for the electroactuators and a timing circuit which generates timing signals supplied to the piloting circuit for control of the electroactuators. The piloting circuit has a first and a second input terminal which are connected in use respectively to a first and a second terminal of an electrical energy source, and a plurality of pairs of output terminals, one for each electroactuator; each pair of output terminals comprising a first and a second output terminal, between which a respective electroactuator is connected in use. The piloting circuit comprises a plurality of control circuits, one for each electroactuator, which receive as input the timing signals and are activated selectively by the timing signals themselves. Each control circuit comprises a first transistor which is connected between a respective first output terminal, and, at least in pre-determined operating conditions, the first input terminal of the piloting circuit; a second transistor connected between a respective second output terminal and the second input terminal of the piloting circuit; and a diode which is connected between the respective first output terminal and the second input terminal of the piloting circuit itself.

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Orbassano, Italy

Alberto Manzone