METHOD FOR IMPROVING DIAGNOSIS OF A POSSIBLE BREAKDOWN IN A VEHICLE

• US 20090055042A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Regnard De Lagny, Joseph, Belaid, Abdelmalik
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A method for diagnosing a possible breakdown of a vehicle component. The method stores a first distance covered by the vehicle at a time when an event related to the breakdown occurs, and stores at least another covered distance, and then makes the diagnosis based on the stored covered distances.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A method for diagnosing a possible fault of a component of a vehicle, comprising:

storing a first distance traveled by the vehicle at a time when an event associated with the fault occurs;

storing at least one other distance traveled; and

making a diagnosis based on the stored distances traveled.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of the stored distances is an absolute distance.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of the stored distances is a relative distance.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the other distance is stored at a time when another event associated with the fault occurs.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the other event is selected from the group of:

disappearance of the fault, and

reappearance of the fault although the fault had disappeared.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the other stored distance corresponds to a computation of total distance traveled in presence of the fault.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the fault is diagnosed as having repaired itself if the total distance traveled in the presence of the fault is less than a predetermined threshold.

19. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein a code is stored making it possible to identify the fault, in addition to storing the other distance traveled.

20. A computer for a vehicle comprising:

an instruction set for diagnosing a possible fault of a component of a vehicle,

the instruction set is configured such that a first distance traveled by the vehicle can be stored at a time when an event associated with the fault of the component occurs,

the instruction set is further configured such that another distance traveled is stored, and

the instruction set is further configured to subsequently make the diagnosis based on the stored distances traveled.

21. An engine comprising:

a computer as claimed in claim 20; and

storage means configured to store the distances traveled.

22. A diagnostic aid system, comprising:

an engine as claimed in claim 20; and