Diagnostic method and system for electrical system in a truck
First Claim
1. In an electronic control system for a truck comprising a plurality of electronic control units connected to an electrical wiring system and coupled together via a data link, a method for diagnosing electrical problems comprising:
- receiving voltage parameters reported by the electrical control units via the data link at a plurality of times, where the voltage parameters represent a measured electrical potential at a predetermined location in the electrical wiring of the truck;
storing the voltage parameters;
monitoring for events reported by one or more of the electronic control units on the data link; and
in response to a reported event, recording voltage parameters reported by the electrical control units at about the time the event occurred such that voltages applied to the electronic control units at about the time the event occurred can be reviewed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A diagnostic method and system in a truck monitors voltages reported by electrical control units in a truck via a shared communication path called the data link. When a data logging unit on the data link detects an event, it persistently stores monitored data measured during a period that may span before and after the event occurred. The voltages measured and reported by electrical control units during this period are used to diagnose electrical wiring problems or other electrical problems in the electrical control units.
141 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In an electronic control system for a truck comprising a plurality of electronic control units connected to an electrical wiring system and coupled together via a data link, a method for diagnosing electrical problems comprising:
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receiving voltage parameters reported by the electrical control units via the data link at a plurality of times, where the voltage parameters represent a measured electrical potential at a predetermined location in the electrical wiring of the truck; storing the voltage parameters; monitoring for events reported by one or more of the electronic control units on the data link; and in response to a reported event, recording voltage parameters reported by the electrical control units at about the time the event occurred such that voltages applied to the electronic control units at about the time the event occurred can be reviewed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A diagnostic system on a vehicle for monitoring and diagnosing electrical problems in an electrical wiring harness on the vehicle, the system comprising:
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a data link; a plurality of electronic control units interconnected through the data link, the electronic control units programmed to report voltage parameters to the data link at predefined intervals, wherein the voltage parameters represent a measured electrical potential at a predetermined location in the electrical wiring harness of the vehicle and the electrical wiring harness couples the plurality of electronic control units to a vehicle battery; and a data logging unit in communication with the data link, the data logging unit being operable to read the voltage parameters from the data link and operable to record the voltage parameters in response to the occurrence of an event such that the voltage parameters reported by the electronic control units at about the time the predefined event occurred can be used in diagnosing an electrical problem. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A diagnostic system on a truck for monitoring and diagnosing electrical problems in a wiring harness on the truck, the system comprising:
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a serial communication data link; a plurality of electronic control units interconnected through the serial communication data link, the electronic control units programmed to broadcast one or more predefined parameters including a voltage parameter on the serial communication data link at predefined intervals, wherein the voltage parameters represent a measured electrical potential at a predetermined location in the wiring harness of the truck, and wherein the electrical wiring harness couples the plurality of electronic control units to a vehicle battery; and a data logging unit in communication with the data link, the data logging unit being operable to read the voltage parameters from the data link and operable to record the voltage parameters in response to any one of a predefined and user defined event so that the voltage parameters reported by the electronic control units at about the time the predefined event occurred can be used in diagnosing an electrical problem. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification