Method for monitoring vehicle function components
First Claim
1. A method of operating a diagnostic device in a motor vehicle, the diagnostic device using a multiplicity of single test routines successively pending in a prescribed cyclic sequence, each of the multiplicity of single test routines being activated only in response to interrogatable start conditions specific to the test routine, the method comprising the steps of:
- retrievably storing in a memory an item of data information relating to whether a respective test routine has been performed at least once in a current operating phase of the diagnostic device;
prior to activating a test routine which is pending in accordance with the prescribed cyclic sequence, determining whether the pending test routine has already been performed at least once before, and determining whether at least one other test routine exists whose interrogatable start conditions are present and yet has not been performed, said determining steps being performed by retrieving appropriate stored data from the memory;
activating the pending test routine when it is determined that the pending test routine has not already been performed at least once and there is no other test routine existing having start conditions present which has not yet been performed; and
activating said at least one other test routine not yet performed when it is determined that the pending test routine has already been performed at least once before.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for monitoring vehicle function components using a diagnostic device taken along in the vehicle. A multiplicity of individual test routines are carried out, respectively, given the presence of start conditions specific to the test routine, in a fixed, cyclic sequence in order to obtain information on the presence or absence of a fault with respect to the relevant function components. Data relating to a first-time execution of a respective test routine is retrievably stored. With the aid of this data, before activation of a test routine pending according to a sequence provided it is determined given the presence of appropriate start conditions whether the test routine has already been performed at least once and whether at least one other activatable test routine exists which has not yet been performed. If no, the pending test routine is activated, otherwise, the test routine not yet performed is activated. This flexibility guarantees the presence of test results for each test routine in an operating time which is as short as possible.
44 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of operating a diagnostic device in a motor vehicle, the diagnostic device using a multiplicity of single test routines successively pending in a prescribed cyclic sequence, each of the multiplicity of single test routines being activated only in response to interrogatable start conditions specific to the test routine, the method comprising the steps of:
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retrievably storing in a memory an item of data information relating to whether a respective test routine has been performed at least once in a current operating phase of the diagnostic device; prior to activating a test routine which is pending in accordance with the prescribed cyclic sequence, determining whether the pending test routine has already been performed at least once before, and determining whether at least one other test routine exists whose interrogatable start conditions are present and yet has not been performed, said determining steps being performed by retrieving appropriate stored data from the memory; activating the pending test routine when it is determined that the pending test routine has not already been performed at least once and there is no other test routine existing having start conditions present which has not yet been performed; and activating said at least one other test routine not yet performed when it is determined that the pending test routine has already been performed at least once before. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification