Nissan Motor Company Limited

Masakazu Imai

Hiroyuki Kamishima

Toshimasa Miwa

Isao Yamamoto

Kazuhiko Ito

Tetsuya Asada

Tetsuo Sasaki

A control system keeps a controlled device operating even when a microcomputer of the system overruns during operation of the controlled device. The control system includes a microcomputer which outputs an operating signal to operate a vehicle-mounted device when the qualifications of operation of the device are met and which outputs a program run signal representing that a control program is being normally executed by the microcomputer and a sleep signal representative of a sleep condition/low power consumption condition of the microcomputer, a watch dog timer which, when the microcomputer fails to output the program run signal, resets the microcomputer and when the microcomputer outputs the sleep signal stops the resetting of the microcomputer, an auxiliary operating circuit which, with a key switch of a motor vehicle kept ON and the sleep signal output from the microcomputer, outputs an auxiliary operating signal of the device subject to meeting of operating qualifications of the device, and a drive circuit which drives the vehicle-mounted device when receiving the operating signal from either one or the microcomputer and the auxiliary operating circuit.

Automotive controller maintaining operation of controlled device when a microcomputer overruns and cannot be reset

A head lamp (3) is turned off when a first set time (T1) has lapsed in a state that a circumferential illumination intensity (B) is equal to or higher than a first level (B1), or when the vehicle has run a first set distance (L1) in a state that the circumferential illumination intensity (B) is equal to or higher than a second level (B2) lower than the first level (B1). Accordingly, even if the vehicle is stopped immediately after a moving to a bright place from a dark place, or even if the peripheral environment has become bright during a stop in the dark place, the head lamp (3) can be securely turned off.

Control system for vehicular illumination

In apparatus and method for cruise control for an automotive vehicle, a controller is provided for running a self-diagnosis upon a receipt of the power supply via the first switch, for determining whether the apparatus operates normally or abnormally as a result of the run of the self-diagnosis, and for starting an acceptance of an input of the signal from the second switch when determining that the apparatus operates normally as the result of the self-diagnosis, and for issuing a warning signal when determining that the apparatus operates abnormally when the input of the signal from the second switch occurs at a time of the start of the acceptance of the input of the signal from the second switch and the input of the signal from the second switch occurs after a predetermined time has passed from the time when the acceptance of the input of the signal from the second switch occurs.

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Yokohama, Japan

Masakazu Imai