Text Using Computer

Ever since the car was first invented, a breaker point ignition has been used to transform battery voltage into 20,000 volts to fire the spark plugs. With government intervention and regulation, more advanced system was needed. This system had to meet emission control levels, gas mileage, and provide a smooth and continuous operation. The answer was found in an on-board computer system. The computer mounted on modern cars has two components. One is the hardware and the other is the software.

The computer hardware on an automobile uses a Central Processing Unit (CPU), which, when made in an integrated circuit, is referred I о as a microprocessor. The integrated circuit (IС) combines transistors, diodes, and capacitors, which are placed on a tiny chip of semiconductor material that is smaller and thinner that an eraser on a pencil. The material used most of the time is silicon. Silicon, like any semiconductor, does not conduct electricity until either voltage, a magnetic field, heat, or light is directed to the semiconductor. A program instructs the microprocessor what to do.

The computer software on a car carries a program. The program (ells the computer what to do, and when to do it in a specific sequence. The program is stored in a permanent memory, which is referred to as Read Only Memory (ROM).The computer knows only what is placed in its memory.

There is another variation, which is called the Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), which can be readily removed und replaced, while the ROM cannot. This makes it less expensive if the memory becomes defective. Only the PROM has to be replaced, not the entire microprocessor. The microprocessor contains a ROM (or PROM) and a RAM. RAM stands for Randon Access Memory, which can be accessed without going through a specific sequence. The technician interfaces with the RAM whenever trouble codes are accessed. Not all computerized ignition systems have trouble codes, however. Some computers have the ability to learn. This is referred to as an adaptive memory. When a value falls outside of a specified limit, due to engine wear, the adaptive memory makes a slight adjustment in the program to compensate. The car must be driven from 20 to 30 miles, as it takes the computer this long to learn. Any time that power is disconnected from the computer, it will have to relearn everything.

Словарь урока

access - 1. поступать 2. доступ

adaptive memory - адаптивная память

adjustment - регулировка

breaker - прерыватель

breaker point ignition - прерывистое зажигание

capacitor - конденсатор

carry a program -выполнять программу

defective - дефектный, неисправный

due to - из-за, благодаря

engine wear - износ двигателя

eraser - ластик

expensive - дорогостоящий

fall - падать

fire the spark plug - воспламенять свечой зажигания

gas mileage - пробег в милях на галлон топлива

hardware - программная часть компьютера

heat - тепло

however - однако

ignition - зажигание

integrated circuit - интегральная схема

invent - изобретать

light - свет (фары)

meet emission control levels - отвечать требованиям по ограничению уровня вредных компонентов в выхлопных газах

on-board computer system - бортовой компьютер

permanent memory - постоянная память

PROM - Programmable Read Only Memory -программируемое постоянное запоминающее устройство (ППЗУ)

RAM - Random Access Memory - оперативная память, оперативное запоминающее устройство (ОЗУ)

ROM - Read Only Memory - постоянная память, постоянное запоминающее устройство (ПЗУ)

semiconductor - полупроводник

Sentral Processing Unit (SPU) - центральный процессорный узел

silicon - кремний

since - с тех пор

spark plugs - запальные свечи

specific sequence - определенная последовательность действий

the ability to learn - способность запоминать (заучивать)

tiny chip - маленький чип

trouble codes - коды, сообщающие о неисправности