Patent ID: 8346377
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: F02D,G05B

Abstract:
1. An electronic control apparatus comprising: a plurality of opening/closing devices that are supplied with electric power from an external power source and perform energization drive of a plurality of electric loads corresponding to channel numbers; an intelligent power module in which there are integrated an abnormality detection circuit and at least one of an excess current cutoff circuit and an overheat shutoff circuit for the opening/closing device; and a microprocessor connected mutually in series with the intelligent power module by the intermediary of a serial-parallel converter; wherein the intelligent power module further includes a second multi-channel A/D converter and respective selection circuit for the opening/closing devices, wherein the selection circuit performs circuit-closing drive or circuit-opening cutoff of the opening/closing device, by utilizing at least one of or both a serial control signal that is received from the microprocessor by way of the serial-parallel converter and stored in an updating manner in a buffer memory and a parallel control signal that is directly inputted thereto from the microprocessor without passing through the serial-parallel converter; in addition to that, in the case where no parallel control signal circuit is connected between the microprocessor and the intelligent power module, the selection circuit can determine the opening/closing state of the opening/closing device, based on the logic status of the serial control signal, wherein the abnormality detection circuit generates an abnormality determination signal, obtained by comparing the opening/closing state of the opening/closing device with the logic status of the serial control signal or the parallel control signal selected by the selection circuit, or a status detection signal required to perform an abnormality determination; and the abnormality determination signal or the status detection signal is transmitted in series to the microprocessor by way of the serial-parallel converter, wherein the second multi-channel A/D converter converts analogue detection signals related to conduction currents of part or all of the opening/closing devices into digital values; and the digital conversion data is transmitted to the microprocessor by way of the serial-parallel converter, and wherein, in response to an input signal inputted from an input sensor, the detection signal of the abnormality detection circuit, and the contents of a control program stored in a program memory, the microprocessor opening/closing-controls the plurality of opening/closing devices, by means of the serial control signal or the parallel control signal, so as to control energization drive of the plurality of electric loads; and the intelligent power module adjusts the reading timing in such a way that, regardless of the kind of the control signal, the digital conversion data is always read during the period in which the opening/closing device is driven to be closed.