In-vehicle button-stuck malfunction notice system

• US 20030154008A1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Shuzi
• Granted Patent: US 6,826,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3277 of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/0062 Testing or measuring non-electrical properties of switches, e.g. contact velocity monitoring contacts H01H1/0015; monitoring gas density H01H33/563; monitoring vacuum H01H33/668; calibrating H01H69/01; adjusting H01H71/74; testing of electrical properties G01R31/333
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/16 Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"

Abstract

An in-vehicle electronic control unit is equipped with the following: a control section for detecting a button-pushed state; a button-stuck notifying function for notifying button-stuck malfunction information that button-stuck malfunction occurs when the button-pushed state continues for more than a predetermined period; a non-volatile memory for storing the button-stuck malfunction information; and a button-stuck re-notifying function for immediately notifying the button-stuck malfunction information when the button-stuck malfunction information is stored in the memory, when the control section detects the button-pushed state, and when the electric power is turned off and then turned on.

Claims

1. A button-stuck malfunction notice system that is provided in a vehicle, is supplied with electric power by the vehicle, and includes a manipulation button, the system comprising:

button-pushed state detecting means for detecting a button-pushed state in which the manipulation button is pushed;

button-stuck notifying means for notifying button-stuck malfunction information that button-stuck malfunction occurs to a first crew of the vehicle when the button-pushed state continues for more than a predetermined period;

button-stuck storing means for storing the button-stuck malfunction information; and

button-stuck re-notifying means for notifying, to at least one of the first crew and another crew of the vehicle, the button-stuck malfunction information when the button-stuck malfunction information is stored in the button-stuck storing means, when the button-pushed state detecting means detects the button-pushed state, and when the electric power is turned off and then turned on.

2. A button-stuck malfunction notice system according to claim 1,

wherein the button-stuck re-notifying means includes:

first determining means for determining whether the button-stuck storing means stores the button-stuck malfunction information, and

second determining means for determining whether the button-pushed state detecting means detects the button-pushed state,

wherein the button-stuck re-notifying means notifies the button-stuck malfunction information when both of the first determining means and the second determining means determine affirmatively.

3. A button-stuck malfunction notice system according to claim 1, further comprising:

outputting means for outputting the button-stuck malfunction information by the button-stuck notifying means and the button-stuck re-notifying means, wherein the outputting means includes at least one of a display and a speaker.

4. A button-stuck malfunction notice system according to claim 1,

wherein the manipulation button includes an emergency call button used for starting to call outside of the vehicle in an emergency state.

5. A button-stuck malfunction notice system according to claim 1,

wherein the manipulation button includes an information service button used for obtaining information from outside of the vehicle.

6. A button-stuck malfunction notice system according to claim 1,

wherein the manipulation button includes a call button used for calling outside of the vehicle.

7. A button-stuck malfunction notice system according to claim 1,

wherein the manipulation button includes a communication-terminating button used for terminating communication with outside of the vehicle.

8. A button-stuck malfunction notice method included in an electronic device that is provided in a vehicle, is supplied with electric power by the vehicle, and includes a manipulation button, the method comprising steps of:

detecting a button-pushed state in which the manipulation button is pushed;

notifying button-stuck malfunction information that button-stuck malfunction occurs to a first crew of the vehicle when the button-pushed state continues for more than a predetermined period;

storing the button-stuck malfunction information; and

notifying, to at least one of the first crew and another crew of the vehicle, the button-stuck malfunction information when the button-stuck malfunction information is stored, when the button-pushed state is detected, and when the electric power is turned off and then turned on.