An engine control unit (ECU), ECU is a name given to a device that controls one or more electrical systems in a vehicle. The ECU provides instructions for various electrical systems, instructing them what to do and how to operate.
In automotive electronics, Electronic Control Unit (ECU). It is a generic term for any embedded system that controls one or more of the electrical systems or subsystems in a car or other motor vehicles.
ECU is the brain of the car that is equipped with modern features. Modern vehicles have many ECUs, depending upon the requirement on the nature of the number of inputs and outputs some of several ECUs can be varied. And depending upon the vehicle to vehicle the number of ECU will be used. For example, there are different types of ECU is used in cars which include some or all of the following:
- Engine Control Module(ECM), also called Engine Management System.
- Powertrain Control Module(PCM)
- Transmission Control Module (TCM)
- Brake Control Module(BCM, ABS, or EBCM)
- Telematic Control Module(TCM)
- Central Timing Module(CTM)
- General Electronic Module(GEM)
- Body Control Module(BCM)
- Suspension Control Module(SCM)
- Airbag Control Unit (ACU)
- Speed Control Unit (SCU)
- Cluster ECU, etc.
Functions Of ECU
The primary function of ECU or Engine Control Unit is the controlling of a series of functions of actuators on an internal combustion engine and ensuring excellent engine performance. The engine control unit is also called the power control unit.
- In modern vehicles, the basic working principle of engine operation is still based on combustion and the only difference is that the process is now controlled by the ECU.
- The engine ECU controls the opening and closing of the input/ output valve, by taking input from the accelerator of a pedal of the vehicle.
- The engine ECU is also responsible for calculating the number of fuel injections and spark ignition.ECU controls the injections of fuels and, in petrol engines, the timing of the spark to ignite it.
- The engine ECU results in accurate synchronization, rendering more power, efficiency, and highly functional engines, to the vehicles.
- ECU-controlled vehicles can deliver higher efficiency as compared to mechanical automobiles.
- The ECU uses closed-loop control, a control method that monitors the output of a system to control the inputs to a system.
- A modern ECU might contain 32-bit, 40 MHz processors.
- This may not sound fast compared to the 500- to 1000- MHz processor you probably have in your PC, The code is an average ECU takes up less than 1 megabyte (MB) of memory.
All link ECU comes loaded with a standard range of features that will help unleash the potential of your engine.
