Exercise 1. Read and translate the text.
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 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 tells 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 and 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.
Exercise 2. Answer the questions.
1. How many components has the computer on modern cars? What are they?
2. How do we call the computer hardware on the automobile?
3. What does an integrated circuit combine?
4. What material is used in the integrated circuit? Why?
5. What does the computer software do?
6. Why is the computer used on board the car?
7. What does the program tell to the computer?
8. Where is the program stored?
9. What is ROM?
10. What is PROM?
11. What is RAM?