Exhaust gas diagnosis system and vehicle control system

• US 20060173608A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Masayuki, Yoshimura, Kentaro, Shimura, Takanori, Morita, Yuichiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,257,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/114
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/55 using telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 11/00 Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus , e.g. for catalytic activity safety, indicating or supervising devices for internal combustion engines F02B77/08; testing of machines G01M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2550/02 Catalytic activity of catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/00 Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents F02D43/00 takes precedence ; control of engine starters F02N11/08, electrical control of engine ignition timing F02P5/145
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1441 Plural sensors
• 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: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits

Abstract

An exhaust gas diagnosis system and a vehicle control system for automotive vehicles to reduce the communication lines and the power lines connected to the antiweatherability-required exhaust gas sensor arranged on the exterior of the vehicle are disclosed. The exhaust gas diagnosis system is configured of an engine control unit (electronic control unit), radio terminal units having the sensor function to detect the exhaust gas, and a radio communication repeater to conduct communication and share a part of the process executed by the conventional engine control unit. The communication lines between the sensor and the electronic control unit and the power lines to the sensor required in the conventional systems are eliminated while at the same time reducing the load on the electronic control unit.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system comprising:

a vehicle control unit to control a vehicle component device;

radio terminal units each having a sensor to monitor the vehicle conditions; and

a radio communication repeater to receive, by radio communication, the vehicle conditions detected by the sensor of the radio terminal units;

wherein the radio communication repeater includes a memory having stored therein a program to determine the vehicle conditions; and

wherein the radio communication repeater, upon receipt of a start signal from-the vehicle control unit, executes the program and outputs the result of determination of the vehicle conditions.

2. A vehicle control system according to claim 1,

wherein the vehicle control unit outputs a start signal to the radio communication repeater and controls the vehicle component device as required to determine the vehicle conditions.

3. A vehicle control system according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle overall control unit connected with a plurality of vehicle control units;

wherein the plurality of the vehicle overall control units execute a predetermined process in response to the result of determination of the vehicle conditions received from the radio communication repeater.

4. A vehicle control system according to claim 3,

wherein the plurality of the vehicle control units correspond to a plurality of vehicle component devices.

5. A vehicle control system according to claim 1,

wherein the vehicle component device is an engine, and the vehicle conditions include the state of the exhaust gas discharged from the vehicle.

6. A vehicle control system according to claim 1,

wherein the radio terminal units include either a battery or a power generator and operates on the power supplied from the battery or the power generator.

7. A vehicle control system according to claim 6,

wherein the power generator generates power from at least selected one of vibration, light and heat.

8. A vehicle control system according to claim 1,

wherein the radio communication repeater is arranged on an external part of the vehicle and connected with the vehicle control unit by a communication cable.

9. A vehicle control system according to claim 8,

wherein the radio communication repeater includes either a battery or a power generator and operates on the power supplied the battery or the power generator.

10. A vehicle control system according to claim 1,

wherein the radio communication repeater is arranged inside the vehicle and conducts radio communication with the radio terminal units through a radio wave propagator included in the vehicle.

11. A vehicle control system according to claim 10,

wherein the radio wave propagator is a window formed of a radio wave transmission material in the vehicle.

12. A vehicle control system comprising:

a vehicle control unit to control a vehicle component device;

radio terminal units each having at least a sensor to monitor a vehicle component part;

a first radio communication repeater to receive, by radio communication, the conditions of the vehicle component part detected by the sensor of the radio terminal units; and

a vehicle overall control unit connected with the first radio communication repeater;

wherein the first radio communication repeater includes a memory having stored therein a program to determine the conditions of-the vehicle component part;

wherein the first radio communication repeater executes the program to monitor the conditions of the vehicle component part, and upon detection of a predetermined change in the vehicle component part, outputs the result of determination of the conditions of the vehicle component part to the vehicle overall control unit; and

wherein the vehicle overall control unit (5010) transmits the first control information corresponding to the predetermined change in the vehicle component part received to the vehicle control unit.

13. A vehicle control system according to claim 12,

wherein the sensor of the radio terminal units is configured to detect at least selected one of the on/off switch operation, temperature, humidity, acceleration and distortion.

14. A vehicle control system according to claim 12, further comprising a second radio communication repeater to receive the external information transmitted from a source external to the vehicle;

wherein the external information received by the second radio communication repeater is transmitted to the first radio communication repeater;

wherein the first radio communication repeater includes a memory having stored therein a program to determine the contents of the external information;

wherein the first radio communication repeater executes the program to monitor the contents of the external information and, upon detection of a change in the contents of the external information, outputs the external information to the vehicle overall control unit; and

wherein the vehicle overall control unit transmits the second control information corresponding to the external information received to the vehicle control unit.

15. A vehicle control system according to claim 12,

wherein the radio terminal units include either a battery or a power generator and operates on the power supplied from the battery or the power generator.

16. A vehicle control system according to claim 15,

wherein the power generator generates power from at least selected one of vibration, light and heat.

17. A vehicle control system according to claim 12,

wherein the first radio communication repeater is arranged inside the vehicle and conducts radio communication with the radio terminal units through a radio wave propagator included in the vehicle.

18. A vehicle control system according to claim 17,

wherein the radio wave propagator is a window formed of a radio wave propagating material included in the vehicle.

19. A vehicle control system according to claim 14,

wherein the vehicle overall control unit transmits the conditions of the vehicle component device acquired through the radio terminal units to a vehicle information management center through an on-vehicle information system.