Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-24
2003-12-23
Arthur, Gertrude (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
C701S036000, C701S044000, C706S045000, C340S438000, C340S439000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06668219
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a diagnostic device for an automobile and a control device for the same, and more particularly, to an artificial intelligence diagnostic device for diagnosing a problem in an automobile and reporting the diagnosed result to a driver, and an artificial intelligence control device having a self-diagnosis function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a variety of automobiles have been developed to increase the convenience to drivers. In addition, many control devices for controlling the automobiles have been developed. However, malfunctions due to causes which are difficult to be discovered, occur due to many electric devices and control devices. Since it is difficult for drivers themselves to repair an automobile having such a malfunction, the malfunction often perplexes drivers. Even when automobiles are checked and repaired at a service station, the great amount of time and cost it takes to diagnose the malfunction is inconvenient and unreasonable.
Conventional diagnostic devices for automobiles are realized as a simple device which checks whether the wire of a fuse or relay is broken and reports the result. Alternatively, conventional diagnostic devices for automobiles use a separate scanner and allow communication of information between the scanner and an engine control unit (ECU) through a separate communication connector so that drivers can watch and analyze the visualized result of diagnosis to determine the existence or non-existence of a malfunction. However, such diagnostic devices can be used only when drivers are informed that an automobile has a malfunction somewhere, so the malfunction cannot be corrected as soon as it occurs. In addition, there are many restrictions in using such devices. For example, drivers should carry an expensive scanner, be able to manage the scanner, and be familiar with analyzing data provided by the scanner. Further, since only drivers who can understand the wiring of an automobile can use the scanner, and diagnosis is performed after a driver discovers that there is something wrong with an automobile, the conventional diagnostic devices are not very effective at increasing the reliability of an automobile.
Moreover, although existing special diagnostic devices for automobiles allow drivers to be informed about details of a problem of an automobile, since the size of the devices takes up half of a seat in an automobile, and the price thereof is several thousand dollars, it is a burden on individuals or small service stations to use the devices.
At present, automobiles are a necessity to many people. In addition, technology related to automobiles is being rapidly developed, and the number of drivers is increasing. Moreover, control devices for controlling electric devices provided for increasing the convenience to drivers have been developed. However, conventional control devices have uniform set values for operating electric devices, which is inconvenient to drivers. In addition, the control devices are frequently out of order so that they cannot control the electric devices, which perplexes drivers. Accordingly, a device which can be easily managed by a driver, has a self-diagnosis function, and reports the result of diagnosis to the driver through a visual display or voice is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an artificial intelligence diagnostic device for specially managing an automobile using a separate diagnostic central processing unit by diagnosing a malfunction of the automobile in real time and for reporting the result of the diagnosis to a driver through a visual display or voice.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide an artificial intelligence diagnostic device for performing concentrated management on an automobile using a separate diagnostic central processing unit to diagnose the malfunction of an automobile in real time, for reporting the result of the diagnosis to a driver through a visual display or voice, for storing the result of the diagnosis in a personal portable terminal as diagnosis data, and for wirelessly transmitting the result of the diagnosis to a control center through a mobile communications terminal to report the current malfunction state and repair records of the automobile to a service station or an emergency vehicle.
It is a third object of the present invention to provide an artificial intelligence control device for an automobile, which can be easily managed by a driver, has a self-diagnosis function, and reports the result of diagnosis to the driver through a visual display or voice.
To achieve one or more objects of the invention, there is provided an artificial intelligence diagnostic device for diagnosing a malfunction of an automobile, including an electronic time and alarm control system diagnostic unit for diagnosing the state of an electronic time and alarm control system which controls electric devices of the automobile; a junction box diagnostic unit for diagnosing the states of the various fuses and relays included in a junction box; a diagnostic central processing unit for receiving and analyzing diagnosis signals output from the electronic time and alarm control system diagnostic unit, the function box diagnostic unit, and an engine control unit, and generating a signal corresponding to an abnormal state; and an output unit for receiving the signal output from the diagnostic central processing unit and reporting the abnormal state to the driver.
Preferably, the artificial intelligence diagnostic device further includes a first output unit including a lamp for indicating a specific fuse or relay having a malfunction in the junction box according to the result of diagnosis of the junction box diagnostic unit and a lamp driving circuit. Preferably, the output unit includes a second output unit for reporting the abnormal state to the driver through a character message. Preferably, the output unit includes a third output unit for reporting the abnormal state to the driver through a voice message. Preferably, the diagnostic central processing unit receives and analyzes the diagnosis signal from the junction box diagnostic unit, and drives the first output unit to light a lamp corresponding to a specific fuse or relay having a malfunction and outputs a character message and a voice message reporting the state of malfunction through the second and third output units, respectively, when it is determined that the fuse or relay in the junction box malfunctions. Preferably, the diagnostic central processing unit receives and analyzes the diagnosis signal from the engine control unit and outputs a character message and a voice message reporting the state of malfunction in the engine control unit through the second and third output units, respectively, when it is determined that the engine control unit malfunctions. Preferably, the diagnostic central processing unit receives and analyzes the diagnosis signal from the electronic time and alarm control system diagnostic unit and outputs a character message and a voice message reporting the state of malfunction in the electronic time and alarm control system through the second and third output units, respectively, when it is determined that the electronic time and alarm control system malfunctions.
To achieve one or more objects of the invention, there is provided an artificial intelligence diagnostic device for diagnosing a malfunction of an automobile, including a diagnostic circuit for diagnosing the state of an electronic time and alarm control system which controls devices provided to increase the convenience to a driver, the states of the various fuses and relays included in a junction box, the state of an engine control unit which checks and controls the state of an engine, and the state of an antilock break system; a central processing unit for receiving and analyzing a diagnosis signal output from the diagnostic circuit and outputting th
Hwang Chang-sun
Kim Do-hyoung
Arthur Gertrude
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Yu-il Tech. Co., Ltd.
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