Diagnosis system for motor vehicle

• US 5,056,023 A
• Filed: 10/18/1989
• Issued: 10/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Abe, Kunihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/423,779
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.01, 364/424.03, 364/424.04, 364/550, 364/551.01, 364/431.01, 364/431.04, 364/431.12, 73/117.2, 73/117.3, 340/438, 340/439, 340/459
• US Class Current: 701/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

There is disclosed a diagnosis system for a motor vehicle, and comprising a plurality of and various electronic control units mounted on the vehicle, and a diagnosis unit connected to the control units and for diagnosing troubles occurring in the several control units. The system further comprises a plurality of communication circuits provided in the diagnosis unit corresponding to every communication systems of the control units, a communication bus provided to connect the control units in parallel to the diagnosis unit, and one external connector for connecting the bus to the diagnosis unit. Accordingly, it is possible for the system to respond to every trouble of the control unit despite different communication systems, without changing connectors, and providing a plurality of communication buses.

Claims

1. A diagnosis system for a motor vehicle, having sensing means for sensing operating conditions of the vehicle as input data, a plurality of electronic control units being responsive to the input data from the sensing means for providing output data for controlling the vehicle, independently, a diagnosis unit for sending a demand signal demanding specific data of the input and output data to the electronic control units for diagnosing the specific data and connecting means provided with a bus and a connector for connecting the diagnosis unit to the electronic control units in parallel to communicate bidirectionally, comprising:

a clock signal line connecting the diagnosis unit to at least one of the electronic control units to transmit a clock signal therebetween;

first communication means for transmitting the demand signal and the specific data between the diagnosis unit and said at least one of the electronic control units in a clock synchronous communication in synchronous to said clock signal;

second communication means for transmitting the demand signal and the specific data in a start-stop synchronous communication through the connecting means between the diagnosis unit and the other of the electronic control units;

a keyboard for inputting into the diagnosis unit a diagnosis mode designating an unit to be accessed of the electronic control units; and

interpretation means for interpretating said designated unit from said diagnosis mode and for selecting one of said first and second communication means matching said designated unit so as to perform every diagnosis item dependent on different communication types at one time without disconnecting the connector.

2. The diagnosis system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said demand signal comprises a control unit specifying code identifying said designated electronic control unit, whereby each of the electronic control units enable to decide the identification of the demand signal.

3. The diagnosis system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the diagnosis unit comprises:

calculating means for calculating a physical value of said specific data transmitted through said communication means; and

display means for displaying said physical value.

4. The diagnosis system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the diagnosis unit comprises:

a detachable memory cartridge detachably connected to the diagnosis unit for storing said control unit specifying code and a plurality of programs to diagnosis said specific data.

5. The diagnosis system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one of the electronic control units comprises:

synchronous means connected to said second communication means through said clock signal line for synchronizing the reception of the demand signal and the transmission of the specific data with said clock signal.

6. The diagnosis system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the electronic control units comprises:

interpretation means for interpreting the content of the demand signal; and

pickup means for picking up the specific data corresponding to the content of the demand signal from the input and output data stored in each of the electronic control units.

7. The diagnosis system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electronic control units represent at least two of an engine electronic control unit, a transmission electronic control unit, a brake electronic control unit and a cruise electronic control unit.