The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 17, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 11, 1998
Toshimasa Miwa, Kanagawa, JP;
Isao Yamamoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Tetsuo Sasaki, Kanagawa, JP;
Masakazu Imai, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroyuki Kamishima, Yokohama, JP;
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, JP;
Abstract
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.