Control Unit

Abstract

Upon initiation of a initiation processing by a task management, reference is made to a initiation table for processing of initiation, and processing of measurement is performed by an input measurement processing in response to the preset timing. Then the input value is stored in a input value storage buffer. When an application program is acquired, an input value acquisition processing is initiated, the input value is from the buffer, and is transferred to the application program. When the application program is set, an output value updating is initiated, the output value having been transferred from the application program is updated, and the result is stored in an output value storage buffer. Further, output processing means is initiated in response to the timing preset on the initiation table and an output value is outputted from the output value storage buffer.

1 . A method for controlling a unit, comprising:
 (a) separately storing a value of an input signal from outside the unit or of an output signal to the outside for each such signal;   (b) measuring an input signal from the outside and updating the stored input value;   (c) issuing an output signal to the outside according to the stored output value;   (d) transferring the stored input value to an application program associated with the unit;   (e) storing the transferred output value; and   (g) initiating steps (b) and (c) in response to a stored timing for controlling the unit.   
   
   
       2 . A method for controlling a unit, comprising:
 (a) separately storing an input value of an input signal from outside the unit or of a value of an output signal to the outside separately for each such signal;   (b) measuring input from the outside and updating the stored input value;   (c) issuing the output value to the outside according to the stored output value;   (d) transferring the stored input value to an application program associated with the unit;   (e) storing the transferred output value; and   (f) initiating steps (b) and (c) in response to a timing set in said application program.   
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (g) occurs in response to the stored timing and implements processing of each signal. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said stored timing in step (f) is set and stored by an initiation timing register. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said application program initiates step (b). 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said application program initiates step (c). 
   
   
       7 . A method for controlling a vehicle engine control unit, comprising:
 (a) storing a value of an output signal from a sensor or of an output signal to an engine control unit separately for each such signal;   (b) measuring input from the sensor and updating the stored input signal value;   (c) outputting an output signal to the engine control unit according to the stored value;   (d) transferring the stored input value to an engine control program;   (e) storing the transferred value;   (f) storing initiation timing; and   (g) initiating steps (b) and (c) in response to the stored timing.   
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the input or output signals include data which the unit receives or transmits through a network connected thereto. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the input or output signals include data which the unit receives or transmits through a network connected thereto. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the input or output signals include data which the control unit receives or transmits through a network connected thereto.