Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-11
2001-05-29
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
C701S030000, C701S035000, C701S041000, 37
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240344
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a system for the analysis of peripheral modules and/or control units, which communicate with a control device, particularly the drive [transmission] control mechanism, incorporated in the motor vehicle. The control device has inputs and/or outputs. In addition to the device, the invention also makes available a process for the analysis of control equipment and/or peripheral modules, which are connected to a control device.
2. Description of Related Art
Control devices and control equipment find multiple uses currently in motor vehicles; for example, the engine [speed] control device or the transmission control mechanism can be named. In order to be able to use one and the same transmission control mechanism in vehicles with different types of transmissions, a portion of the inputs and/or the outputs or even all inputs and/or outputs of the control equipment can be provided in a freely configurable design. For example, a data record is filed in a memory area in the control device, from which can be derived the assignments of the individual input and/or output functions to the inputs and/or outputs of the control unit. This means that the control device can recognize, on the basis of this data record, how to interpret the incoming input signals and on which PINs the output signals are to be generated.
In case of defects of peripheral modules or, however, of the control device itself, it was necessary, according to the prior art, to measure individually all inputs and/or outputs and to configure the rebuilt device corresponding to the basic input and/or output functions. This involved a considerable expenditure for preparing drawings and for administration.
Another problem was the following:
Peripheral modules or also control devices, such as, for example, the engine control device, are often allocated according to the customer's wish with arbitrary input and/or output functions. The number of possible input and/or output functions can exceed the number of physically present inputs and/or outputs of the control device. For example, in diagnosing [problems] in such freely configured systems, it is particularly difficult for a service technician working on them to find which functions are basically used.
From DE 4,240,447, a process has been made known for the electronic coding of a vehicle-specific combination of optional, secondary electronic control devices, which can be combined with a primary control device by means of a common signal line.
DE 3,934,974 showed a device for the function control of several control devices in a motor vehicle by means of a control display, whereby means for producing a control signal as a function message are provided in each control device, and whereby, on the basis of this control signal, information can be output for the control of the control display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is thus to make available an analytical system for the analysis of peripheral modules or control units, which are connected to a control device, for example a transmission control mechanism, with which the above-depicted disadvantages of the prior art can be overcome. In particular, a process and a device will be made available with the invention, with which the diagnosis of control units or peripheral modules connected to a control device can be carried out rapidly and in a cost-favorable manner. Also, a diagnosis of simple modules, such as sensors and switches, will be possible.
The object is resolved according to the invention by the system according to claim
1
and the process according to claim
8
.
The analytical device according to the invention makes available a read-out unit, in order to read out the allocation of the assignment of input and/or output functions to inputs and/or outputs. The allocations determined in this way are output on the output device of the analytical device, whereby the output device is preferably a central processing unit with conventional display screen, or even an output by means of a printer.
In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the control device has at least one input and/or output that can be freely allocated. Advantageously, the system has means for preparing wiring diagrams for the inputs and/or outputs of the control units and/or peripheral modules that can be connected to the control device.
All components that communicate electronically with the control device are to be understood as peripheral modules in this application, for example, relays, lamps, switches, sensors, solenoid valves. As control units, with which the control device communicates, for example, reference can be made to the engine [speed] control device, the control device for the anti-lock system or the automatic slip control.
The read-out of the data record filed in the control device can advantageously be conducted by a serial interface, for example, a conventional RS232 interface.
Ideally, the means for preparing wiring diagrams comprise at least one memory area, in which at least the basic configurations of all possible input and output functions are filed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is particularly advantageous if the wiring diagram required for a specific input and/or output allocation is prepared automatically by means of a computational algorithm.
In addition to the device, the invention also makes available a process for the analysis of control equipment and/or peripheral modules, which are connected to a control device, whereby the control device has at least one input/output function and a data record, which contains the assignment of the input and/or output functions to the respective inputs and/or outputs. The process according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the read-out equipment transmits an inquiry with respect to a specific input and/or output function to the control device; based on this inquiry, the assignment is read out from the data record or configuration file that is filed in the control unit, and the PIN allocation is output on the output device, whereby the function assigned to the PIN is represented. It is provided in a further improvement of the process that wiring diagrams for specific components that can be connected are prepared from this information by means of an algorithm. The above-named device and the process are particularly suitable when used for the analysis of control devices in vehicles, particularly of transmission control mechanisms. Defects of the control equipment and/or peripheral modules, which are connected to the control device, can be easily found, for example, by means of a portable microcomputer. This makes possible a rapid diagnosis and location of the defect, which is independent of site.
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Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Ohlandt Greeley Ruggiero & Perle LLP
To Tuan C
Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG
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