DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND DIAGNOSTIC METHOD FOR VEHICLE

• US 20110238255A1
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ueda, Koichi, Sano, Tomoya
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A diagnostic system for a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine acquires a diagnostic driving pattern defined by a vehicle speed; stores a drive train model for calculating a torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine backward from a vehicle speed and an acceleration; stores map data in which a fuel consumption is associated with a torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine; updates the map data on the basis of a result of actual control over the internal combustion engine; uses the drive train model to calculate changes in torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine when the vehicle is caused to drive in accordance with the driving pattern; and uses the calculated changes in torque and rotational speed and the map data to calculate a fuel efficiency when the vehicle is caused to drive in accordance with the driving pattern.

Claims

1. A diagnostic system for a vehicle that is driven by an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a driving pattern acquisition unit that acquires a diagnostic driving pattern defined by a vehicle speed;

a drive train model storage unit that stores a drive train model for calculating a torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine backward from a vehicle speed and an acceleration;

a map data storage unit that stores map data in which a fuel consumption is associated with a torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine;

a map data updating unit that updates the map data on the basis of a result of actual control over the internal combustion engine; and

a fuel efficiency calculation unit that uses the drive train model to calculate changes in torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine when the vehicle is caused to drive in accordance with the driving pattern, and that uses the calculated changes in torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine and the map data to calculate a fuel efficiency when the vehicle is caused to drive in accordance with the driving pattern.

2. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the drive train model storage unit is configured so that, among coefficients or constants that constitute the drive train model, coefficients or constants associated with specifications of the vehicle are rewritable.

3. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the map data updating unit uses respective actual values of the fuel consumption and the rotational speed and torque of the internal combustion engine to update the map data.

4. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the map data updating unit uses respective actual values of the fuel consumption and the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine and a required torque to update the map data.

5. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the map data updating unit uses respective actual values of the fuel consumption and the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine and an estimated torque estimated from an operating state of the internal combustion engine to update the map data.

6. The diagnostic system according to claim 5, wherein the map data updating unit calculates the estimated torque from an in-cylinder pressure measured by an in-cylinder pressure sensor.

7. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a warning unit that compares the fuel efficiency, calculated by the fuel efficiency calculation unit, with a predetermined reference value and that issues a warning when the calculated fuel efficiency is deteriorated with respect to the reference value.

8. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the driving pattern is defined by a vehicle speed and an acceleration.

9. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the driving pattern is regulated in a cruise mode for cruise driving, and starts calculation using the drive train model when a predetermined condition to perform cruise driving is satisfied.

10. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the driving pattern is a driving pattern regulated in a 10-15 mode or a driving pattern regulated in LA#4 mode.

11. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a torque characteristic model storage unit that stores a torque characteristic model that represents the relationship between a specific engine parameter used in control over the internal combustion engine and a torque of the internal combustion engine;

a data acquisition unit that acquires respective values of the fuel consumption and the torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine and a value of the specific engine parameter at an update timing at which the map data are updated; and

an updating torque value generating unit that, when the acquired value of the specific engine parameter differs from a specific value, uses the torque characteristic model to generate an updating value of the torque, corresponding to the specific value, from the acquired value of the torque, wherein

the map data updating unit updates a value of the fuel consumption of the map data, corresponding to the acquired value or generated updating value of the torque and the acquired value of the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, to the acquired value of the fuel consumption.

12. The diagnostic system according to claim 11, wherein

when the acquired value of the specific engine parameter coincides with the specific value, the map data updating unit updates a value of the fuel consumption of the map data, corresponding to the acquired value of the torque and the acquired value of the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, to the acquired value of the fuel consumption, and

when the acquired value of the specific engine parameter differs from the specific value, the map data updating unit updates a value of the fuel consumption of the map data, corresponding to the generated updating value of the torque and the acquired value of the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, to the acquired value of the fuel consumption.

13. The diagnostic system according to claim 11, wherein the specific engine parameter is an ignition timing, and the specific value is a minimum advance for best torque.

14. The diagnostic system according to claim 11, wherein the specific engine parameter is an air-fuel ratio, and the specific value is a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.

15. The diagnostic system according to claim 11, wherein the specific engine parameter is at least one of a fuel injection timing for a direct-injection engine, an EGR rate and a valve timing.

16. The diagnostic system according to claim 11, wherein when a plurality of values of the fuel consumption, corresponding to the same values of the torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, are acquired, the map data updating unit updates the value of the fuel consumption of the map data to a mean value of the plurality of values of the fuel consumption.

17. A diagnostic method for a vehicle that is driven by an internal combustion engine, comprising:

acquiring a diagnostic driving pattern defined by a vehicle speed;

storing a drive train model for calculating a torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine backward from a vehicle speed and an acceleration;

storing map data in which a fuel consumption is associated with a torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine;

updating the map data on the basis of a result of actual control over the internal combustion engine;

calculating changes in torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine when the vehicle is caused to drive in accordance with the driving pattern using the drive train model; and

calculating a fuel efficiency when the vehicle is caused to drive in accordance with the driving pattern using the calculated changes in torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine, and the map data.