What is the function of the ECU?

[astat1]

Can somebody explain what the ECU does?

[chargerbr549]

The ECU and the pick-up coil inside the distributer took the place of the points and condensor set-up, the ECU reads the signal off of the pickup coil and controls the dwell or saturation of the coil, if I remember correctly points on a v8 would have a dwell around 32 degrees and the ECU would have around 42 degrees to give you a more powerful spark.

kevin