Patent ID: 7248932

Claim:
An electronic control unit comprising a first computer and a second computer and outputting a control signal for an object of control based on a predetermined detection signal, the first computer comprising: a determination routine unit operable to, in order to check an abnormal state of a logic function for operating the control signal based on the predetermined detection signal, operate a dummy control signal by using dummy data stored in advance in accordance with the logic function and to determine whether or not a relationship between the dummy control signal and an expected value of the dummy control signal, which expected value is stored with respect to the dummy data in advance, is normal; and a transmission unit operable to transmit the dummy control signal and the expected value thereof that are used in a determination routine by the determination routine unit to the second computer; the second computer comprising: a receiving unit operable to receive the dummy control signal and the expected value thereof; and a monitor routine unit operable to compare the dummy control signal and the expected value thereof received by the receiving unit so as to perform a calculation routine for calculating monitor data for monitoring whether or not a result of the determination routine by the determination routine unit is correct; wherein the electronic control unit further comprises: a fail-safe routine unit operable to perform a fail-safe routine based on the determination result by the determination routine unit and the monitor data by the monitor routine unit; the logic function includes a first logic function for operating the control signal based on the predetermined detection signal and a second logic function, for operating a simplified control signal based on the predetermined detection signal; the determination routine unit further determines whether or not a relationship between the control signal operated in accordance with the first logic function and the simplified control signal operated in accordance with the second logic function is normal; and the transmission unit transmits the control signal and the simplified control signal, as well as the dummy control signal and the expected value thereof, to the second computer, and the monitor routine unit further compares the control signal with the simplified control signal to perform a calculation routine for calculating the monitor data for monitoring whether or not a result of the determination routine in the determination routine unit is correct.