System and method for converting two diagnostic states of a controller to three diagnostic states

• US 10,026,238 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Siekkinen, John W., Jecks, Daniel W., Dai, Junhong
• Primary Examiner(s): Solis, Erick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bacon, Anthony L
• Application Number:
  US14/835,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20170018126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/00 Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function for propulsion of purely electrically-propelled vehicles with power supplied within the vehicle B60L50/00 - B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/06 said parameters being related to the power supply or driving circuits for the starter
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/304 with other systems inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A control system for a vehicle includes a first vehicle system including a plurality of components and a controller. The controller monitors diagnostic data for the plurality of components of the first vehicle system and outputs a two-state status indicator for each of the components of the first vehicle system. States of the two-state status indicator include a failing state and a not failing state. A control module is configured to receive the two-state status indicator and the diagnostic data from the first vehicle system and to convert the two-state status indicator into a three-state status indicator. The three-state status indicator includes a pass state, a fail state and an indeterminate state. The control module is further configured to alter an engine operating parameter based on the three-state status indicator.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a first vehicle system including a plurality of components and a controller,

wherein the controller monitors diagnostic data for the plurality of components of the first vehicle system and outputs a two-state status indicator for each of the components of the first vehicle system,

wherein states of the two-state status indicator include a failing state and a not failing state; and

a control module configured to receive the two-state status indicator and the diagnostic data from the first vehicle system and to convert the two-state status indicator into a three-state status indicator,

wherein the three-state status indicator includes a pass state, a fail state and an indeterminate state, and

wherein the control module is further configured to alter an engine operating parameter based on the three-state status indicator, wherein the first vehicle system includes an ultra-capacitor and battery system.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control module initializes the three-state status indicator to the indeterminate state for each of the components of the first vehicle system.

3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the control module is configured to monitor the diagnostic data to identify when a diagnostic test is performed for one of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system.

4. The control system of claim 3, wherein if the diagnostic test is performed for one of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system and a result of the diagnostic test is equal to a pass state, the control module is configured to change the three-state status indicator for the one of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system from the indeterminate state to the pass state.

5. The control system of claim 3, wherein if the diagnostic test is performed for one of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system and a result of the diagnostic test is equal to a fail state, the control module is configured to change the three-state status indicator for the one of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system from the indeterminate state to the fail state.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the ultra-capacitor and battery system comprises a battery, an ultra-capacitor, a DC-DC converter, a temperature sensor, a switch and a controller.

7. The control system of claim 6, wherein the control module includes an auto stop/start module configured to selectively stop an engine of a vehicle and restart the engine of the vehicle while an ignition system is ON.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the control module selectively disables the auto stop/start module based on the three-state status indicator.

9. The control system of claim 7, wherein the control module is configured to:

selectively disable the auto stop/start module when the three-state status indicator for one of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system is equal to the fail state; and

selectively enable the auto stop/start module when the three-state status indicator for all of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system are equal to either the pass state or the indeterminate state.

10. A control method for monitoring operation of a vehicle, comprising:

monitoring diagnostic data for a plurality of components of a first vehicle system and outputting a two-state status indicator for each of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system,

wherein states of the two-state status indicator include a failing state and a not failing state;

receiving the two-state status indicator and the diagnostic data from the first vehicle system and converting the two-state status indicator into a three-state status indicator for each of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system,

wherein the three-state status indicator includes a pass state, a fail state and an indeterminate state; and

altering an engine operating parameter based on the three-state status indicator, wherein the first vehicle system includes an ultra-capacitor and battery system.

11. The control method of claim 10, further comprising initializing the three-state status indicator to the indeterminate state for each of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system.

12. The control method of claim 11, further comprising monitoring the diagnostic data to identify when a diagnostic test is performed for one of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system.

13. The control method of claim 12, wherein if the diagnostic test is performed for one of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system and a result of the diagnostic test is equal to a pass state, changing the three-state status indicator for the one of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system from the indeterminate state to the pass state.

14. The control method of claim 12, wherein if the diagnostic test is performed for one of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system and a result of the diagnostic test is equal to a fail state, changing the three-state status indicator for the one of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system from the indeterminate state to the fail state.

15. The control method of claim 10, wherein the ultra-capacitor and battery system comprises a battery, an ultra-capacitor, a DC-DC converter, a temperature sensor, a switch and a controller.

16. The control method of claim 15, further comprising selectively performing an auto stop/start by stopping an engine of a vehicle and later restarting the engine of the vehicle while an ignition system is ON.

17. The control method of claim 16, further comprising selectively disabling the auto stop/start based on the three-state status indicator.

18. The control method of claim 16, further comprising:

selectively disabling the auto stop/start when the three-state status indicator for one of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system is equal to the fail state; and

selectively enabling the auto stop/start when the three-state status indicator for all of the plurality of components of the first vehicle system are equal to either the pass state or the indeterminate state.