Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – With particular system function
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-05-01
Crosland, Donnie L. (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
With particular system function
C340S438000, C340S439000, C340S425500, C340S010100, C701S029000, C701S033000, C702S183000, C702S188000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06225898
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based upon Japanese Patent Applications No. Hei. 10-130419 filed May 13, 1998, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle diagnosis system and a vehicle diagnosis apparatus, which can diagnose a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional vehicle diagnosis system in an electronic control unit (engine ECU) mounted on a vehicle stores a diagnosis code corresponding to a detected trouble in a backup RAM, and informs a trouble occurrence to user by lighting a warning lamp such as a check engine lamp. This system is equivalent to OBD(California On Board Diagnosis) II. In the case of a vehicle which mounts the OBD II system, several ECUs mounted on the vehicle are connected to an external scan tool via a K-line in a repair shop. The external scan tool communicates with the ECUs by IS
0
9141 protocol using a communication format decided by SAE, and reads the diagnosis code to diagnose a trouble.
Recently, CARB (California Air Resource Bureau) requests that the diagnosis system have a radio transponder so that it can reply for requests by using a radio communication (i.e., OBD III).
Several vehicle diagnosis systems have proposed to communicate the diagnosis data by using the radio communication. For example, in a vehicle diagnosis system, as described in Japanese Laid-open Patent No.5-332888, a trouble message including trouble data from each engine ECU and predetermined identified code is sent as a radio signal using a weak radio wave. Receiving stations provided in some areas receive the trouble message each of which is sent from vehicles in the area, and send the received trouble message to a terminal unit in a repair shop via a telephone line. Then, the terminal unit can identify a user and detect trouble contents of user's vehicle.
In a vehicle diagnosis system, as described in Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 7-50886, an FM radio diagnosis device receives an FM radio signal from an external diagnosis device provided in a repair shop or the like, and then send command data related to the FM radio signal to each engine ECU mounted on the vehicle. When each engine ECU sends a response, the FM radio diagnosis device takes out diagnosis data from the response and sends an FM radio signal related to the taken-out diagnosis data to the external diagnosis device.
Further, in a vehicle diagnosis system, as described in Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 3-4660, a measuring device is connected to engine ECU mounted on the vehicle. The measuring device has a radio communication portion for sending and receiving a radio signal. The measuring device connects the engine ECU to an external control center via an automobile telephone network by using the radio communication portion. When a diagnosis instruction is input to an input control terminal of the measuring device, vehicle diagnosis data is output from the engine ECU. Then the vehicle diagnosis data is sent to the external control center to diagnose the diagnosis data. Finally, a result of the diagnosis is returned to the radio communication portion of the measuring device.
Here, when there are not many radio wave monitor stations, it is desired to diagnose the vehicle by using the external scan tool. However, none of the above-mentioned conventional vehicle diagnosis system meets this desire.
Further, even if there are many radio wave monitor stations, it may take long time for many vehicles to have diagnosis system equivalent to OBD III, if such a diagnosis system is newly developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was accomplished in view of the above-mentioned inconvenience. An object is to provide a vehicle diagnosis system, which can easily handle not only OBD II but also OBD III by using a conventional OBD II system.
According to the present invention, an electronic control unit, a transponder and a connector are connected via a communication line. The transponder receives a request signal from the external radio communication device by radio, reads the operation data concerning the operation condition in response to the request signal, and sends the operation data to the external radio communication device by radio. The external scan tool, which is used in such as a repair shop, can read the operation data stored in the electronic control unit, when it is connected to the communication line via the connector.
The transponder is capable of communication with the external radio communication device and the electronic control unit. Furthermore, the transponder is capable of reading the operation data stored in the electronic control unit like the external scan tool. Therefore, this vehicle diagnosis system becomes compatible with the OBD III by only adding the transponder to the conventional OBD II system. Furthermore, since the external scan tool can connect to the connector of the communication line, the vehicle diagnosis system is also compatible with the OBD II.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5541840 (1996-07-01), Gurne et al.
patent: 5787367 (1998-07-01), Berra
patent: 5916286 (1999-06-01), Seashore et al.
patent: 5987394 (1999-11-01), Takakura et al.
patent: 6025776 (2000-02-01), Matsuura
patent: 6055468 (2000-04-01), Kaman et al.
patent: 6067009 (2000-05-01), Hozuka et al.
patent: 6084870 (2000-07-01), Wooten et al.
patent: 3-4660 (1991-01-01), None
patent: 5-332888 (1993-12-01), None
patent: 7-50886 (1995-02-01), None
Furusawa Kenzo
Kamiya Kenji
Kawabata Norichika
Matsuura Yuuichirou
Crosland Donnie L.
Denso Corporation
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
LandOfFree
Vehicle diagnosis system having transponder for OBD III does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle diagnosis system having transponder for OBD III, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle diagnosis system having transponder for OBD III will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2490927