Control unit for controlling safety-critical applications

US6820220B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Peter Dominke · Bietigheim-Bissingen, DE
• Wolfgang Pfeiffer · Künzelsau, DE
• Werner Harter · Mühlacker, DE
• Thomas Lindenkreuz · Reutlingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 22, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 16, 2004
• Expiry date: Oct 22, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/24065
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A control unit, for controlling safety-critical applications, includes a microcomputer, a monitoring unit (check unit), and peripheral circuits (input/output), and in which, to improve the reliability of the error detection for such control units, and to expand the detection to additional error types, the monitoring unit includes a first apparatus, arrangement or structure for measuring the quiescent current of the microcomputer; at least one quiescent current handshake line for controlling the measurement of the quiescent current running between the first apparatus, arrangement or structure of the monitoring unit and the microcomputer; the monitoring unit including a second apparatus, arrangement or structure for applying a test data input signal to the microcomputer, for processing the test data input signal, and for comparing the corresponding test data output signal of the microcomputer to the corresponding test data output signal of the monitoring unit; and at least one test data signal transmission line running between the second apparatus, arrangement or structure of the monitoring unit and the microcomputer.