Vehicle diagnostic system

• US 20020123833A1
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ohsuga, Minoru, Kanekawa, Nobuyasu, Takaku, Yutaka, Hoshino, Masatoshi, Iihoshi, Yoichi, Sakurai, Kohei
• Application Number:
  US10/079,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123833A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0267 Fault communication, e.g. human machine interface [HMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle diagnostic system comprising an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment, a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between the vehicle and the telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle and for transmitting a communication diagnostic signal to the electronic control unit and receiving a response signal to the communication diagnostic signal, and a communication line for connecting the electronic control unit and the radio communication means wherein the response signal is utilized to determine if the communication line is properly functional.

Claims

1. A vehicle diagnostic system comprising:

an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle, and for transmitting a communication diagnostic signal to said electronic control unit and receiving a response signal to said communication diagnostic signal; and

a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means wherein said response signal is utilized to determine if said communication line is properly functional.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein if said communication line is determined not to be properly functional a notification signal is transmitted to said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle by said radio communication means.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitted vehicle diagnostic information is returned back to said radio communication means by said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle and compared to the vehicle diagnostic information stored in said electronic control unit to determine if said radio communication means is properly functional.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein if said communication line is determined not to be properly functional a notification signal is transmitted to a vehicle operator.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein if said communication line is determined not to be properly functional for a predetermined period of time said system disables said vehicle equipment from operation.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication line signifies a serial communication line or a radio communication.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said radio communication means transmits or receives information other than said vehicle diagnostic information.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said radio communication means is included in an on-vehicle information equipment.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said radio communication means is included in a cellular phone.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said radio communication means is included in a vehicle anti-theft system.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said vehicle anti-theft system utilizes an ignition key as said radio communication means.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein said radio communication means is included in a keyless engine starting system.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said keyless engine starting system utilizes an ignition key as said radio communication means.

14. The system of claim 7 wherein said radio communication means is included in a radar device.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said radio communication means is capable of connecting to an external scan-tool connector.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein a radio communication means is provided in an engine compartment of said vehicle.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said system utilizes a harness which connects said electronic control unit to said vehicle equipment as an antenna for transmitting said vehicle diagnostic information.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said telecommunication equipment is located on a road.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said system complies with an On Board Diagnosis III system.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle diagnostic information is transmitted through the internet.

21. A vehicle diagnostic system comprising:

an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle; and

a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means;

wherein;

said transmitted vehicle diagnostic information is returned back to said radio communication means by said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle and compared to the vehicle diagnostic information stored in said electronic control unit to determine if said radio communication means is properly functional.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein if said radio communication means is determined not to be properly functional a notification signal is transmitted to a vehicle operator.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein if radio communication means is determined not to be properly functional for a predetermined period of time said system disables said vehicle equipment from operation.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein said communication line signifies a serial communication line or a radio communication.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein said radio communication means transmits or receives information other than said vehicle diagnostic information.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said radio communication means is included in an on-vehicle information equipment.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein said radio communication means is included in a cellular phone.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein said radio communication means is included in a vehicle anti-theft system.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said vehicle anti-theft system utilizes an ignition key as said radio communication means.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein said radio communication means is included in a keyless engine starting system.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said keyless engine starting system utilizes an ignition key as said radio communication means.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein said radio communication means is included in a radar device.

33. The system of claim 21 wherein said radio communication means is capable of connecting to an external scan-tool connector.

34. The system of claim 21 wherein a radio communication means is provided in an engine compartment of said vehicle.

35. The system of claim 21 wherein said system utilizes a harness which connects said electronic control unit to said vehicle equipment as an antenna for transmitting said vehicle diagnostic information.

36. The system of claim 21 wherein said telecommunication equipment is located on a road.

37. The system of claim 21 wherein said system complies with an On Board Diagnosis III system.

38. The system of claim 21 wherein said vehicle diagnostic information is transmitted through the internet.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said radio communication means is included in an on-vehicle information equipment.

41. The system of claim 39 wherein said radio communication means is included in a cellular phone.

42. The system of claim 39 wherein said radio communication means is included in a vehicle anti-theft system.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein said vehicle anti-theft system utilizes an ignition key as said radio communication means.

44. The system of claim 39 wherein said radio communication means is included in a keyless engine starting system.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein said keyless engine starting system utilizes an ignition key as said radio communication means.

46. The system of claim 39 wherein said radio communication means is included in a radar device.

47. The system of claim 39 wherein said system complies with an On Board Diagnosis III system.

48. The system of claim 39 wherein said vehicle diagnostic information is transmitted through the internet.

39. A vehicle diagnostic system comprising:

an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle; and

a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means;

wherein;

said radio communication means transmits or receives information other than said vehicle diagnostic information.

49. A vehicle diagnostic system comprising:

an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle, and for transmitting a communication diagnostic signal to said electronic control unit and receiving a response signal to said communication diagnostic signal; and

a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means wherein said response signal is utilized to determine if said communication line is properly functional;

wherein;

said transmitted vehicle diagnostic information is returned back to said radio communication means by said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle and compared to the vehicle diagnostic information stored in said electronic control unit to determine if said radio communication means is properly functional; and

said radio communication means transmits or receives information other than said vehicle diagnostic information.

50. A vehicle comprising a diagnostic system said system comprising:

an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle, and for transmitting a communication diagnostic signal to said electronic control unit and receiving a response signal to said communication diagnostic signal; and

a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means wherein said response signal is utilized to determine if said communication line is properly functional.

51. A vehicle comprising a diagnostic system said system comprising:

an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle; and

a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means;

wherein;

said transmitted vehicle diagnostic information is returned back to said radio communication means by said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle and compared to the vehicle diagnostic information stored in said electronic control unit to determine if said radio communication means is properly functional.

52. A vehicle comprising a diagnostic system said system comprising:

an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle; and

a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means;

wherein;

said radio communication means transmits or receives information other than said vehicle diagnostic information.

53. A vehicle comprising a diagnostic system said system comprising:

an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle, and for transmitting a communication diagnostic signal to said electronic control unit and receiving a response signal to said communication diagnostic signal; and

a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means wherein said response signal is utilized to determine if said communication line is properly functional;

wherein;

said radio communication means transmits or receives information other than said vehicle diagnostic information.

54. A vehicle comprising a diagnostic system said system comprising:

an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle; and

a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means;

wherein;

said transmitted vehicle diagnostic information is returned back to said radio communication means by said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle and compared to the vehicle diagnostic information stored in said electronic control unit to determine if said radio communication means is properly functional; and

said radio communication means transmits or receives information other than said vehicle diagnostic information.

55. A vehicle comprising a diagnostic system said system comprising:

an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle, and for transmitting a communication diagnostic signal to said electronic control unit and receiving a response signal to said communication diagnostic signal; and

a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means wherein said response signal is utilized to determine if said communication line is properly functional;

wherein;

said transmitted vehicle diagnostic information is returned back to said radio communication means by said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle and compared to the vehicle diagnostic information stored in said electronic control unit to determine if said radio communication means is properly functional; and

said radio communication means transmits or receives information other than said vehicle diagnostic information.

56. A method of diagnosing a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

providing a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle, and for transmitting a communication diagnostic signal to said electronic control unit and receiving a response signal to said communication diagnostic signal; and

providing a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means wherein said response signal is utilized to determine if said communication line is properly functional.

57. A method of diagnosing a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

providing a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle; and

providing a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means;

wherein;

said transmitted vehicle diagnostic information is returned back to said radio communication means by said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle and compared to the vehicle diagnostic information stored in said electronic control unit to determine if said radio communication means is properly functional.

58. A method of diagnosing a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

providing a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between said vehicle and said telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle; and

providing a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means;

wherein;

said radio communication means transmits or receives information other than said vehicle diagnostic information.