Diagnosis system for a motor vehicle

• US 4,926,330 A
• Filed: 11/30/1988
• Issued: 05/15/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Abe, Kunihiro, Kobayashi, Tomoya
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Application Number:
  US07/278,796
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 364/431.1, 364/551.01, 364/431.11, 364/424.03, 364/424.04, 73/116, 73/117.3, 73/119 R, 73/117.2, 371/20
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/08 Safety, indicating or supervising devices thermal insulation F02B77/11; rendering engines inoperative or idling F02D17/04; dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P11/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/22 Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing

Abstract

A system for diagnosing a motor vehicle has a diagnosis device including a computer having a central processing unit and a memory, the memory having a plurality of programs for diagnosing an electronic control system for controlling an engine. Terminals are provided on a case of the diagnosis device for receiving analog signals from elements of the vehicle. An analog of digital converter is provided in the diagnosis device connected with the terminals for converting an analog signal to a digital signal, thereby monitoring the elements of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for diagnosing a motor vehicle and an electronic control system for controlling an engine mounted on the vehicle, the control system having sensors for detecting operating conditions of the engine, comprising:

a diagnosis device including a case and a computer having a central processing unit and a memory storing a plurality of programs for diagnosing the electronic control system disposed in said case;

a connector connecting the computer to the electronic control system;

the diagnosis device including a keyboard for inputting a diagnosis mode and a tester mode;

means comprising terminals provided on the case of the diagnosis device for receiving an analog signal from a part of an electric system of the vehicle other than the electronic control system which controls the engine;

a converter disposed in said case for converting the analog signal received at the terminals to a digital signal and for applying the converted digital signal to the computer;

the computer including;

determining means for determining whether the diagnosis mode for diagnosing the electronic control system which controls the engine or the tester mode for testing the part of the electric system of the vehicle other than the electronic control system which controls the engine, which part produces the analog signal, is input through the keyboard and for producing a diagnosis mode signal or a tester mode signal in dependency on the determination;

data demand means responsive to the diagnosis mode signal for applying a data demand signal to the electronic control system;

data receiving means for receiving data from the electronic control system; and

receiving means responsive to the tester mode signal for receiving said analog signal from the vehicle through the terminals and applying the analog signal to the converter for diagnosing the analog signal; and

display means on the diagnosis device for displaying received data in a form of diagnosis data for both the tester mode and the diagnosis mode.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising probes connected to the terminals.