REAL TIME VEHICLE DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM

• US 20160343177A1
• Filed: 08/08/2016
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: McQuade, Charles Michael, Brinton, Brett, Colvin, Greg
• Application Number:
  US15/231,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20160343177A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G06F 11/0739 in a data processing system embedded in automotive or aircraft systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/079 Root cause analysis, i.e. error or fault diagnosis in a hardware test environment G06F11/22; in a software test environment G06F11/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/061 Improving I/O performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0631 by allocating resources to storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0656 Data buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence

Abstract

Operational data generated and used in a vehicle to control various vehicular systems is temporarily stored in a data buffer in the vehicle. A processor in the vehicle is configured to detect anomalous conditions, which can be based on predefined fault codes or user defined conditions (based on a single parameter or a combination of parameters). Whenever such an anomaly is detected, a diagnostic log is conveyed from the vehicle to a remote location. Such a log will include the detected anomaly, and buffered operational data. In at least one embodiment, the diagnostic log includes buffered operational data collected both before and after the anomaly. The diagnostic log is analyzed at the remote location to diagnose the cause of the anomalous condition, so a decision can be made as to whether the vehicle requires immediate repair, or whether the repair can be scheduled at a later time.

Claims

1. A computer-based real time diagnostic system to prevent damage to a vehicle caused by continuing to operate the vehicle after a malfunction is detected, comprising:

a vehicle data bus interface to receive first throttle position data generated while the vehicle is operating;

a processor arranged to detect an anomaly in the first throttle position data in real time;

upon detection of the anomaly in the first throttle position data, the processor arranged to direct a request for second throttle position data, the second throttle position data not automatically passed across the vehicle data bus interface;

a first-in, first-out ring buffer arranged to store operational data, the operational data including the first throttle position data and the second throttle position data; and

a data link to convey in real time the operational data and fault code data associated with the detection of the anomaly in the first throttle position data to a remote computing device, wherein the remote computing device is arranged, based on the operational data and fault code data, to;

diagnose a cause of the anomaly in the first throttle position data;

assign a priority to the cause of the anomaly; and

communicate an indication of the priority to the vehicle via the data link.

2. A computer-based real time diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the remote computing device is further arranged to:

communicate, from the remote computing device to the vehicle via the data link, a direction to change logic used by the processor to determine what represents an anomaly in the first throttle position data.

3. A computer-based real time diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the indication of the priority from the remote computing device includes a recommendation to an operator of the vehicle that continued operation of the vehicle may occur.

4. A computer-based real time diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the remote computing device is further arranged to:

communicate, from the remote computing device to the vehicle via the data link, instructions to proceed with a scheduled route.

5. A computer-based real time diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the indication of the priority from the remote computing device includes a recommendation to an operator of the vehicle that continued operation of the vehicle does not occur.

6. A computer-based real time diagnostic system according to claim 5, wherein the remote computing device is further arranged to:

communicate, from the remote computing device to the vehicle via the data link, instructions to proceed to a designated repair facility.

7. A computer-based real time diagnostic system according to claim 6, wherein the remote computing device is further arranged to:

automatically schedule a repair of the vehicle.

8. A computer-based real time diagnostic system according to claim 7, wherein the remote computing device is further arranged to:

automatically order parts associated with the repair of the vehicle.

9. A computer-based real time diagnostic system according to claim 1, comprising:

a user input arranged to enable an operator of the vehicle to trigger a transmission of at least some of the operational data in the first-in, first-out ring buffer to the remote computing device.

10. A computer-based real time diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the operational data conveyed to the remote computing device via the data link is a reconfigurable amount of operational data.

11. A computer-based real time diagnostic method to prevent damage to a vehicle caused by continuing to operate the vehicle after a malfunction is detected, comprising:

providing a vehicle data bus interface to receive first throttle position data while the vehicle is operating;

detecting an anomaly in the first throttle position data in real time;

upon detection of the anomaly in the first throttle position data, requesting second throttle position data, the second throttle position data not automatically passed across the vehicle data bus interface;

storing operational data in a first-in, first-out ring buffer, the operational data including the first throttle position data and the second throttle position data;

conveying to a remote computing device in real time, via a wireless data link, the operational data and fault code data associated with the detection of the anomaly in the first throttle position data;

based on the operational data and fault code data, diagnosing a cause of the anomaly in the first throttle position data;

assigning a priority to the cause of the anomaly; and

communicating, from the remote computing device to the vehicle via the wireless data link, an indication of the assigned priority.

12. A computer-based real time diagnostic method according to claim 11, comprising:

based on the assigned priority, communicating, from the remote computing device to the vehicle via the wireless data link, a direction to change at least one parameter associated with the operational data stored in the first-in, first-out ring buffer; and

communicating, from the remote computing device to the vehicle via the wireless data link, instructions to proceed to a designated repair facility.

13. A computer-based real time diagnostic method according to claim 11, comprising:

accepting a user input from an operator of the vehicle;

based on the user input, transmitting at least some of the operational data in the first-in, first-out ring buffer to the remote computing device.

14. A computer-based real time diagnostic method according to claim 11, wherein the operational data conveyed to the remote computing device via the wireless data link is a reconfigurable amount of operational data.

15. A computer-based real time diagnostic method according to claim 14, comprising:

communicating, from the remote computing device to the vehicle via the wireless data link, instructions to proceed to a designated repair facility.

16. A vehicle-based diagnostic device, comprising:

a vehicle data bus interface to pass first throttle position data to an onboard vehicle-based diagnostic unit while the vehicle is operating;

at least one memory, the at least one memory having a first-in, first-out ring buffer arranged therein;

a processor coupled to the vehicle based interface and the at least one memory, the processor arranged to detect an anomaly in the first throttle position data in real time, and upon detection of the anomaly in the first throttle position data, the processor arranged to direct a request for second throttle position data, the second throttle position data not automatically passed across the vehicle data bus interface; and

a wireless data link, wireless data link arranged to;

communicate, in real time and upon an occurrence of at least one processor-detected anomaly, performance data stored in the first-in, first-out ring buffer, the performance data including operational data passed across the vehicle data bus interface and fault code data associated with the occurrence of the at least one processor-detected anomaly; and

receive, in real time, information associated with a diagnosed cause of the at least one processor-detected anomaly;

receive, in real time, a priority value assigned to the at least one processor-detected anomaly; and

receive, in real time, a direction to modify logic used by the processor to determine what represents the at least one processor-detected anomaly.

17. A vehicle-based diagnostic device according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle data bus interface is arranged to pass engine fuel supply data while the vehicle is operating, wherein the processor is arranged to detect an anomaly in the engine fuel supply data in real time, wherein the wireless data link arranged to receive, in real time, information associated with an engine control unit malfunction.

18. A vehicle-based diagnostic device according to claim 16, wherein the wireless data link is arranged to receive, in real time, a direction updating how much performance data should be communicated after the occurrence of at least one processor-detected anomaly.

19. A vehicle-based diagnostic device according to claim 18, wherein less than all of the performance data in the first-in, first-out ring buffer is communicated upon the occurrence of the at least one processor-detected anomaly.

20. A vehicle-based diagnostic device according to claim 16, comprising:

at least one user input arranged to trigger communication of at least some performance data in the first-in, first-out ring buffer via the wireless data link.