Closed loop customer vibration screening and resolution process
First Claim
1. A method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration comprising the steps of:
- coupling a vehicle to a vibration analyzer, said vibration analyzer has access to vehicle data;
driving said vehicle with a vehicle owner;
detecting said vehicle vibration generated while said vehicle is operating, wherein said vehicle vibration is objectionable to said vehicle owner;
determining a cause of said vehicle vibration as a function of said vehicle data;
repairing said vehicle to correct said vehicle vibration based upon said cause; and
verifying that said vehicle vibration has been repaired with said vehicle owner.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration begins by interviewing a vehicle owner concerning an objectionable vehicle vibration. The dealer then connects a vibration analyzer to the vehicle with the objectionable vibration through an OBD-II connector. This allows the vibration analyzer to monitor engine rpm, engine type, vehicle speed, vehicle type, and tire size. The dealer then drives the vehicle at a full range of speeds in a controlled sequence with the vehicle owner to reproduce the objectionable vehicle vibration. While the vehicle is driven, the vibration analyzer detects any vehicle vibration generated. The vibration analyzer then compares the vehicle vibration in conjunction with engine rpm, engine type, vehicle speed, vehicle type, and tire size when the vehicle owner identifies the objectionable vibration. The vibration analyzer then determines a probably cause for the vehicle vibration and generates a cause report. The dealer uses the cause report to correct the objectionable vehicle vibration. After repairing the vehicle, the dealer verifies that the vehicle vibration is gone with the vehicle owner. The cause report is then sent to a NVH engineer where it is analyzed to provide feedback to the vibration analyzer and design engineers.
17 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration comprising the steps of:
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coupling a vehicle to a vibration analyzer, said vibration analyzer has access to vehicle data;
driving said vehicle with a vehicle owner;
detecting said vehicle vibration generated while said vehicle is operating, wherein said vehicle vibration is objectionable to said vehicle owner;
determining a cause of said vehicle vibration as a function of said vehicle data;
repairing said vehicle to correct said vehicle vibration based upon said cause; and
verifying that said vehicle vibration has been repaired with said vehicle owner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
connecting said vibration analyzer to a vehicle OBD-II connector, through which vibration analyzer has access to engine rpm, engine type, vehicle speed, vehicle type, and tire size; and
coupling an accelerometer to said vehicle, said accelerometer generates a vibration signal and is coupled to said vibration analyzer.
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3. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 2, wherein the step of determining a cause comprises determining at least one cause of said vehicle vibration as a function of said engine rpm, engine type, vehicle speed, vehicle type, tire size and said vibration signal where said vehicle vibration is objectionable to said vehicle owner.
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4. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of generating a cause report, wherein said cause report includes said engine rpm, engine type, vehicle speed, vehicle type, tire size and said vibration signal where said vehicle vibration is objectionable to said vehicle owner.
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5. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of driving comprises operating said vehicle at a full range of speeds in a controlled sequence.
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6. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of interviewing said vehicle owner regarding said vehicle vibration.
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7. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a cause report as a function of said cause, said cause report includes vehicle owner comments, said vehicle data, and said cause.
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8. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of storing said cause report on a networked computer.
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9. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited n claim 8, further comprising the step of reading aid cause report from said networked computer.
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10. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 9, wherein said networked computer is coupled to an Intranet.
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11. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 9, wherein said networked computer is coupled to an Internet.
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12. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of analyzing said cause report to provide feedback to said vibration analyzer and design engineers.
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13. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of coupling said vehicle to a repair vibration analyzer to verify that said vehicle vibration has been repaired.
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14. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of decoupling said vehicle from said vibration analyzer.
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15. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of decoupling comprises:
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disconnecting said vibration analyzer from a vehicle OBD-II connector; and
decoupling an accelerometer from said vehicle.
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16. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of storing a confirmation of repair on a networked computer.
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17. The method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of transferring said cause to a NVH engineer.
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18. A method of incorporating customer feedback into correcting vehicle vibration comprising the steps of:
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interviewing a vehicle owner regarding said vehicle vibration;
connecting a vibration analyzer to a vehicle OBD-II connector, through which said vibration analyzer has access to engine rpm, engine type, vehicle speed, vehicle type, and tire size;
coupling an accelerometer to said vehicle, said accelerometer generates a vibration signal;
driving said vehicle at a full range of speeds in a controlled sequence with said vehicle owner to reproduce said vehicle vibration;
detecting said vehicle vibration generated while said vehicle is operating as a function of said vibration signal;
relating said vehicle vibration in conjunction with said engine rpm, engine type, vehicle speed, vehicle type, and tire size to vehicle vibration objectionable to said vehicle owner;
determining a cause of said vehicle vibration as a function of said engine rpm, engine type, vehicle speed, vehicle type, and tire size where said vehicle vibration is objectionable to said vehicle owner;
generating a cause report, wherein said cause report includes vehicle owner comments, said engine rpm, engine type, vehicle speed, vehicle type, tire size and said vibration signal where said vehicle vibration is objectionable to said vehicle owner;
storing said cause report on a networked computer;
reading said cause report from said networked computer;
repairing said vehicle to correct said vehicle vibration based upon said cause report;
verifying that said vehicle vibration has been repaired with said vehicle owner;
storing a confirmation of repair on said networked computer; and
transferring said cause report to a NVH engineer; and
analyzing said cause report to provide feedback to said vibration analyzer and design engineers.
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Specification