Denso Corporation

Kenji Sunami

Tomoyuki Kashiwagi

Ryouta Nakamura

Kyohei Kanemoto

An engine starter controller for a vehicle equipped with an idle-stop controller includes a user-start circuit, an auto-start circuit, a switch, and a failure detector. The user-start circuit energizes a starter when a driver starts an engine. The auto-start circuit energizes the starter when the idle-stop controller automatically restarts the engine. The switch circuit switches an energization circuit for energizing the starter from the user-start circuit to the auto-start circuit after the user-start circuit starts to energize the starter by causing the auto-start circuit to energize the starter and by putting the user-start circuit into a forced state where the user-start circuit is forced to stop energizing the starter. The failure detector determines whether the auto-start circuit energizes the starter when the energization circuit is switched to the auto-start circuit.

Controller for engine starter

A main CPU transmits data used in determination of whether or not a target throttle opening degree calculation logic and an estimated target throttle opening degree calculation logic are normal (a target degree and an estimated target degree of throttle opening, and a dummy estimated target degree of throttle opening and an expected value) to a sub-CPU. The sub-CPU compares the data pieces in each of the pairs so as to calculate monitor data for monitoring whether or not the determination result in the main CPU is correct. In this manner, it is possible to enhance reliability of the routine for determining whether or not the respective logics are normal.

Electronic control unit

A control program for an electronic control unit (ECU) is installed at an end of a manufacturing line after the ECU is mounted on an automotive vehicle. The ECU common to all types of vehicles is mounted on each vehicle, and the vehicle type is identified based on data sent from the ECU to a program-installing device. The control program suitable to the identified vehicle type is formulated in the program-installing device by selecting program modules from an object library storing various types of modules and by linking those selected modules into the control program. The control program thus formulated is installed in the ECU at the end of the manufacturing line. In this manner, memory capacities both in the ECU and in the program-installing device are considerably saved.

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Obu, Japan

Kenji Sunami