Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Continental Automotive Gmbh

Marco Kick

Alfons Fisch

Thomas Maier

Ralf Förster

Johann Falter

Norman Marenco

Markus Kraus

Dirk Geyer

Peter Skotzek

Alexander Froschhammer

Bernhard Schinkowitsch

Gerhard Prochazka

Rainer Lenhart

An internal combustion engine is controlled by a plurality of partially reliability-relevant functional units. Every reliability-relevant functional unit comprises at least one functional module and at least one monitoring module. The monitoring module is separate from the functional module associated therewith and monitors the functioning of the functional module. The control device also comprises a higher order monitoring functional group. The monitoring module has an entry point for communication with the higher order monitoring functional group. When an error is detected, the monitoring module signals the error to the higher order monitoring functional group using the entry point.

Monitoring the functional reliability of an internal combustion engine

The operating voltage is monitored in a microcontroller having associated output stages which are used to control components. In the case of over-voltage, the output stage is disconnected. Two technology-related, voltage monitoring devices working in different operating voltage ranges are provided. Due to the combination thereof, a highly precise disconnection threshold and a greater area for the operating voltage, which is to be monitored, can be obtained. If a malfunction of an over-voltage occurs, the output stages can be disconnected in a reliable manner.

Electronic control device and method for controlling the operation of motor vehicle components

Growing community of inventors

Mintraching, Germany

Marco Kick