Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
Patent
1998-05-20
2000-09-05
Chin, Gary
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
701 31, 340438, 702183, 702185, 123479, 731173, F02D 4122
Patent
active
061156531
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a diagnostic system, particularly for use in an engine management system, for generating a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) to indicate the operational status of a component or sub-system which is being evaluated by the diagnostic system.
The invention further relates to a validator for use in a diagnostic system to determine the validity of a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) generated during an evaluation routine within the diagnostic system.
The invention also relates to a data collector for use in a diagnostic system to collect and store data in the event that a fault arises in a component or sub-system monitored by the diagnostic system.
The invention also relates to a scheduler for determining the order of execution of a plurality of evaluation routines in a diagnostic system.
The invention further relates to a DF module for executing an evaluation routine during a driving cycle to detect a fault in a component or sub-system in an electromechanical system such as an engine management system and to generate a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) to indicate the operational status of the component or sub-system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order to ensure that operators of electro-mechanical equipment are made aware of any faults which may arise in electronic components of the equipment, self-diagnostic systems are employed to monitor the components or sub-systems and to communicate a warning to the operator should a fault be detected. Such a warning may be in the form of a malfunction indication lamp (MIL) which is illuminated on a control panel.
In the vehicle industry, legislation now dictates that drivers of vehicles must be made aware of certain faults which may arise in the engine management system of the vehicle. For this purpose, self-diagnostic systems are employed to monitor the components or sub-systems in the engine management system and to communicate a warning to the driver should a fault be detected. Such a warning may be in the form of a malfunction indication lamp (MIL) which is illuminated on the vehicle dashboard. Depending on the severity of the fault, the driver may be instructed to visit a workshop immediately to have the fault rectified or, in the case of a minor fault, he may wait until the next scheduled visit to the workshop.
For certain engine management systems, primarily those which affect exhaust emissions, legislation dictates how frequently and under what circumstances diagnostic checks are to be performed. Accordingly, standard driving cycles exist during which all diagnostic checks must be completed. Legislation also requires that, should certain faults be detected during two consecutive driving cycles, these faults be permanently recorded in a memory so that they may be later accessed in the workshop.
Examples of engine management systems include an engine control module, an exhaust gas recirculation system, an evaporated fuel processing system, a secondary air system and a catalytic converter monitoring system. Further components which require monitoring may include an engine coolant temperature sensor, a mass air flow meter sensor, an engine speed sensor, etc. Whilst the functioning of some components can be checked virtually independently of the operating conditions of the engine, many components and systems can only be checked when certain operating parameters prevail, e.g engine load, temperature, engine speed, etc.
Accordingly, diagnostic systems have been developed which prioritize certain diagnostic checks over others. For example, a priority system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,560 in which certain diagnostic checks can be interrupted if operating conditions dictate that a diagnostic check can be performed on an engine management system for which the necessary operating parameters only rarely occur. Once the existing diagnostic check has been interrupted, the prioritized check can then be performed.
Due to the interrelationship between many components and sub-systems making up the engine management system, if op
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Bergstrom Magnus
lleving Peter
Moller Peter
Muller Jan
AB Volvo
Chin Gary
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