BMMA 3573

Engine and Transmission Control System

By: Herdy Rusnandi

Edited: Mohd Suffian Ab Razak,
Nur Rashid Mat Nuri

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Why Use Electronics and Computer Control in

the Vehicle?
• Improve the operation or efficiency of an
existing mechanical system.
• Electronic components are more
affordable, smaller than in the past.
• Reduce emissions and improve safety.
• Consumer demand (eg: ABS, climate
control, electric seat adjustment
systems,etc).

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‘ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS’ OR
‘COMPUTER CONTROLLED SYSTEMS’…??
Electronic systems:
• uses electronics to improve the safety, size, cost or
efficiency of a system, but the electronics do not
necessarily control the system.
• Can be manually or automatically controlled.

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‘ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS’ OR
‘COMPUTER CONTROLLED SYSTEMS’…??

Computer controlled systems:

• Some of the actions or functions are automated.
• Uses a computer or ECU to control actions and functions.

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ECU controlled system

• ECU receives information from sensors, makes calculations
and decisions, and then operates an actuator (or provides
signals for other electronic components such as digital
displays).

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ECU Components and Construction

Microprocessor
• ECU contains one or more microprocessors which are the
main decision making components.
• Provides an appropriate output signal, which is used to
control an actuator or influence another system (usually by
communicating with another ECU)

Amplifier / Driver Stage

• Microprocessors operate using very weak signals, i.e. 5 volt,
0.5~1 amp, so would not be directly connected to the
actuators, which uses much higher voltages and currents.

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ECU Components and Construction

ALU

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ECU Components and Construction

High speed switching of circuits

• The ECU on a modern vehicle system is often tasked with switching a circuit on and
off at very high speed and frequency. (e.g. Ignition coil or fuel injector which could
occur as often as 100 times a second)

Memory
• Computers, including ECUs, have a memory (ROM, RAM) which is stored in a
memory microchip.
• The memory contains all of the necessary operating details applicable to the
system being controlled by the ECU.
• An EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory) or EEPROM (electrically
erasable programmable read-only memory), is a type of memory chip that retains
its data when its power supply is switched off (non-volatile).
• Operating data and a controlling program are stored in ROM, whereas
instantaneous data (engine speed, load, temperature etc.) are stored in RAM.
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ECU Components and Construction

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
• The ALU is part of the ECU that handles all the
calculations the ECU may need. It performs arithmetic
and logic operations, including bit shifting operations.

• ALUs routinely perform the following operations:

– Logical Operations: These include AND, OR, NOT,
XOR, NOR, NAND, etc.
– Bit-Shifting Operations: This pertains to shifting
the positions of the bits by a certain number of
places to the right or left, which is considered a
multiplication operation.
– Arithmetic Operations: This refers to bit addition
and subtraction. Although multiplication and
division are sometimes used, these operations
are more expensive to make.
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ECU Components and Construction

Type of signal
• An analogue signal can be regarded as a signal or
indicator that continuously changes from one value
to another.
• A voltage signal produced by many sensors can be an
analogue signal. An example is a throttle position
sensor.

• A digital signal provides a stepped or pulsed signal.

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ECU Components and Construction

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ECU Components and Construction
Analogue to Digital Conversion (example)

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ECU Components and Construction

Analogue to digital (A/D) converters

• ECUs ideally require a digital signal, some form of conversion
is necessary to change the analogue signal from a sensor into
a digital signal.
• Sensors produce analogue signals that need to be converted
to digital signals for the microprocessor to function,
– Analogue to digital converter (A/D converter) is used.
• ECU can also contain converters that change digital signals
into analogue signals (D/A Converter).
– Necessary if the actuator operates using an analogue
signal. (i.e. fuel gauge.)
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ECU Components and Construction

Analogue to digital (A/D) converters

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The Complete ECU

• In conclusion therefore, the ECU receives information from sensors (the
information might be either digital or analogue).
• The digital information passes directly to the microprocessor, but the
analogue information must be converted to a digital signal before being
passed to the microprocessor.
• Microprocessor assesses the information, perform calculation via ALU,
refers to the programmed memory to find out what tasks to perform,
makes the appropriate calculations and passes an appropriate control
signal to the relevant actuator (or provides signals for an electronic
component such as a digital display).
• Where the actuator is operated using higher voltages and currents (such
as a fuel injector), the weak digital signal from the microprocessor will
need to be amplified using a power transistor or using relay.
• The essential point to remember is that an ECU cannot achieve its main
objective, which is to operate an actuator or electronic component, unless
the appropriate signals are received.
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The Complete ECU

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Sensors that could be fitted to an engine management

system:
• Engine coolant temperature sensor.
• Air temperature sensor (intake system).
• MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor.
(An intake manifold pressure/vacuum sensor for an indication of
engine load).
• Crankshaft position sensor
(Identifies the crankshaft position for ignition and fuel injection
timing, and also indicates engine speed).
• Camshaft position sensor
(Providing additional information for ignition and fuel injection
timing).

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Sensors that could be fitted to an engine management

system (Cont’d):
• Throttle position sensor
(Indicates the amount of throttle opening and the rate at which the
throttle is opened or closed).
• Boost pressure sensor
(Indicates the boost pressure in the intake manifold that has been created
by the turbocharger).
• Lambda sensor 1
(Indicates the oxygen content in the exhaust gas passing into the catalytic
converter, which enables the ECU to correct the fuel mixture).
• Lambda sensor 2
(Indicates the oxygen content in the exhaust gas leaving the catalytic
converter, which helps the ECU assess if the catalytic converter is
functioning efficiently).

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Actuators that could be fitted to an engine management

system :
• Fuel injector solenoid (for fuel quantity control).
• Idle speed stepper motor (for idle speed control).
• Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) solenoid valve (part of an
emission control system).
• Turbocharger wastegate solenoid valve (controlling
turbocharger boost pressure).
• Ignition coil
(in this instance, the ECU is in fact controlling the ignition
timing when it switches the ignition coil on/off, although
strictly speaking the ignition coil is not an actuator).

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SENSORS: A MEANS OF PROVIDING INFORMATION

The parameters most commonly measured:

• Temperature (of fluids or exhaust gas).
• Movement (angular and linear), including rotational sensing
such as crankshaft speed.
• Position (angular and linear), primarily for partial rotation of
components or partial linear movement but also including
exact angular position of rotational sensors, e.g. the angle of
rotation of a crankshaft at a given time.
• Pressure/vacuum
• Oxygen, using a specific type of sensor used to measure the
oxygen content in the exhaust gas.

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SENSORS: A MEANS OF PROVIDING INFORMATION

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