Data recording apparatus and shut-down method for data recording apparatus

• US 20050192723A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Noguchi, Kiyoshige
• Granted Patent: US 7,706,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• 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

Abstract

In a data recording apparatus for recording control parameters in a control unit in a vehicle, it is determined whether or not the control unit has terminated an operation for outputting control parameters to be recorded. Then, when it is determined that the control unit has terminated the operation, shut-down processing is executed at a timing at which the termination of the operation is determined for shutting down a power supply to the data recording apparatus.

Claims

1. A data recording apparatus for recording a control parameter in a control unit in a vehicle comprising:

a determination section for determining whether or not the control unit terminates an operation for outputting the control parameter to be recorded; and

a control section for shutting down a power supply to the data recording apparatus, at a timing at which the termination of the operation is determined, when the determination section determines that the control unit terminates the operation.

2. The data recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination section outputs a data request signal to the control unit,

wherein, when the determination section receives data in response to the data request signal, the determination section determines that the control unit continues to operate, and

wherein, when the determination section does not receive data in response to the data request signal, the determination section determines that the control unit terminates the operation.

3. A data recording apparatus for recording a control parameter in a control unit in a vehicle comprising:

a determination section for determining whether or not the control unit terminates an operation for outputting the control parameter to be recorded;

a detection section for detecting a signal outputted from the vehicle in association with a turning off of an ignition switch; and

a control section having switchable shut-down modes including a first shut-down mode and a second shut-down mode, wherein the control section executes a shut-down processing for shutting down power supply to the data recording apparatus at a timing at which the termination of the operation is determined when the determination section determines that the control unit terminates the operation in the first shut-down mode, and the control section executes the shut-down processing at a timing at which the detection is made when the detection section detects the signal outputted in association with the turning off of the ignition switch in the second shut-down mode,

wherein the control section switches the first shut-down mode and the second shut-down mode in accordance with acquisition contents indicative of the type of the control parameter to be recorded, and an acquisition condition indicative of a condition under which the control parameter can be acquired for effectively identifying a faulty condition of the vehicle.

4. A method of shutting down a recording apparatus for recording a control parameter in a control unit in a vehicle, comprising:

determining whether or not the control unit terminates an operation for outputting the control parameter to be recorded; and

executing shut-down processing for shutting down a power supply to the data recording apparatus at a timing at which the termination of the operation is determined when determining that the control unit terminates the operation.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

outputting a data request signal to the control unit;

determining that the control unit continues to operate, when data in response to the data request signal is received; and

determining that the control unit terminates the operation, when the data in response to the data request signal is not received.

6. A method of shutting down a recording apparatus for recording a control parameter in a control unit in a vehicle, comprising:

a first step of switching switchable shut-down modes including a first shut-down mode and a second shut-down mode, in accordance with acquisition contents indicative of the type of the control parameter to be recorded, and an acquisition condition indicative of a condition under which the control parameter can be acquired for effectively identifying a faulty condition of the vehicle; and

a second step of executing processing in accordance with the switched shut-down mode,

wherein the second step includes the steps of;

determining whether or not the control unit terminates an operation for outputting the control parameter to be recorded, and executing shut-down processing for shutting down a power supply to the data recording apparatus at a timing at which the termination of the operation is determined when determining that the control unit terminates the operation, in the first shut-down mode, and

detecting a signal outputted from the vehicle in association with a turning off of an ignition switch, and executing the shut-down processing at a timing at which the signal is detected when detecting the signal outputted in association with the turning off of the ignition switch, in the second shut-down mode.