Equipment service vehicle having on-board diagnostic system
First Claim
1. A diagnostic testing method for a military vehicle, the method comprising:
- (A) providing the military vehicle with an on-board diagnostic system comprising a test control module, an operator interface, a test interface module, a sensor, a plurality of vehicle subsystems and a network communication link, the sensor being connected to the test interface module, the test interface module being connected to the test control module and at least some of the plurality of vehicle subsystems by way of the network communication link;
(B) measuring a plurality of parameters that pertain to health and operation of the plurality of vehicle subsystems, including (1) measuring a speed of a crankshaft of an engine, (2) measuring cranking RPM of the engine, (3) measuring relative cylinder compression unbalance of the engine, (4) measuring a fuel pump supply pressure, (5) measuring a fuel pump return pressure, (6) measuring a voltage across a fuel solenoid, (7) measuring an air cleaner pressure drop, (8) measuring an outlet pressure of a turbocharger, (9) measuring an airbox pressure, (10) measuring an engine intake manifold vacuum, (11) measuring an engine intake manifold vacuum variation, (12) measuring an engine oil pressure, (13) measuring a pressure drop across an engine oil filter, (14) measuring an engine coolant temperature, (15) measuring a voltage at or near battery terminals, (16) measuring a voltage at or near engine starter terminals, (17) measuring a voltage drop introduced by a starter cable, (18) measuring a voltage present at or near a starter solenoid, (19) measuring a current through an engine starter motor, (20) measuring a peak initial starter current, (21) measuring a battery internal resistance, (22) measuring a starter circuit resistance, (23) measuring battery current, (24) measuring an output voltage of an alternator, and (25) measuring a voltage drop introduced by an alternator cable;
(C) displaying a menu of test options to an operator using the operator interface;
(D) receiving an operator input using the operator interface, the input being indicative of a menu selection made by the operator, the menu selection designating one of the measuring steps B(1)-B(25);
(E) displaying measurement results to the operator using the operator interface, the measurement results pertaining to a parameter measured during the designated one of the measuring steps B(1)-B(25), the parameter being one of the plurality of parameters; and
wherein the military vehicle is capable of travelling on unimproved terrain and through at least three feet of water; and
wherein one of the measuring steps B(1)-B(25) is performed using the sensor, wherein the test interface module receives a request for information from the test control module, wherein the test interface module acquires the health and operation information from the sensor and transmits the health and operation information to the test control module by way of the network communication link.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An equipment service vehicle comprises a network communication link, an engine system, a transmission system, and an operator interface. The engine system includes an engine and an electronic engine control system that is coupled to the engine and to the network communication link. The electronic engine control system controls the engine and transmits information pertaining to the health and operation of the engine on the network communication link. The transmission system includes a transmission and an electronic transmission control system. The electronic transmission control system controls the transmission and transmits information pertaining to the health and operation of the transmission on the network communication link. The operator interface is coupled to the network communication link. The operator interface includes a display that displays the health and operation information of the engine and the transmission to a human operator.
271 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A diagnostic testing method for a military vehicle, the method comprising:
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(A) providing the military vehicle with an on-board diagnostic system comprising a test control module, an operator interface, a test interface module, a sensor, a plurality of vehicle subsystems and a network communication link, the sensor being connected to the test interface module, the test interface module being connected to the test control module and at least some of the plurality of vehicle subsystems by way of the network communication link;
(B) measuring a plurality of parameters that pertain to health and operation of the plurality of vehicle subsystems, including (1) measuring a speed of a crankshaft of an engine, (2) measuring cranking RPM of the engine, (3) measuring relative cylinder compression unbalance of the engine, (4) measuring a fuel pump supply pressure, (5) measuring a fuel pump return pressure, (6) measuring a voltage across a fuel solenoid, (7) measuring an air cleaner pressure drop, (8) measuring an outlet pressure of a turbocharger, (9) measuring an airbox pressure, (10) measuring an engine intake manifold vacuum, (11) measuring an engine intake manifold vacuum variation, (12) measuring an engine oil pressure, (13) measuring a pressure drop across an engine oil filter, (14) measuring an engine coolant temperature, (15) measuring a voltage at or near battery terminals, (16) measuring a voltage at or near engine starter terminals, (17) measuring a voltage drop introduced by a starter cable, (18) measuring a voltage present at or near a starter solenoid, (19) measuring a current through an engine starter motor, (20) measuring a peak initial starter current, (21) measuring a battery internal resistance, (22) measuring a starter circuit resistance, (23) measuring battery current, (24) measuring an output voltage of an alternator, and (25) measuring a voltage drop introduced by an alternator cable;
(C) displaying a menu of test options to an operator using the operator interface;
(D) receiving an operator input using the operator interface, the input being indicative of a menu selection made by the operator, the menu selection designating one of the measuring steps B(1)-B(25);
(E) displaying measurement results to the operator using the operator interface, the measurement results pertaining to a parameter measured during the designated one of the measuring steps B(1)-B(25), the parameter being one of the plurality of parameters; and
wherein the military vehicle is capable of travelling on unimproved terrain and through at least three feet of water; and
wherein one of the measuring steps B(1)-B(25) is performed using the sensor, wherein the test interface module receives a request for information from the test control module, wherein the test interface module acquires the health and operation information from the sensor and transmits the health and operation information to the test control module by way of the network communication link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
producing fault codes and transmitting the fault codes on the network communication link, the producing and transmitting steps being performed by the electronic engine control system, and receiving the fault codes from the network communications link, interpreting the fault codes, and displaying the interpreted fault codes to the operator, the receiving, interpreting and displaying steps being performed by the test control module and the operator interface. -
6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting information pertaining to at least some of the plurality of parameters measured during the measuring steps B(1)-B(25) to a computer-implemented interactive electronic technical manual.
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7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the operator input is received before the parameter is measured.
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8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising prompting the operator to step through a test procedure, the prompting step being performed using the operator interface.
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9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising prompting the operator to take a vehicle-related action to alter an operating a point of the military vehicle, the prompting step being performed using the operator interface.
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10. An equipment service vehicle system comprising:
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(A) a network communication link;
(B) a plurality of vehicle subsystems;
(C) a sensor, the sensor being configured to obtain health and operation information for a vehicle device;
(D) an on-board diagnostic system including an on-board test control module and an on-board operator interface, the on-board operator interface displaying a plurality of test options to an operator and receiving a selection of a test from the operator, the test control module being connected to at least some of the plurality of vehicle subsystems by way of the network communication link, the on-board test control module transmitting a request for information pertaining to the health and operation of the vehicle device on the network communication link; and
(E) a test interface module, the test interface module being connected to the sensor, the test interface module being connected to the on-board test control module by way of the network communication link, the test interface module receiving the request for information pertaining to the health and operation of the vehicle device, the test interface module acquiring the requested information from the sensor and transmitting the requested information to the test control module; and
wherein the test control module receives health and operation information from one of the respective vehicle subsystem or the test interface module or both and wherein the operator interface displays results of the test to the operator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A diagnostic testing method to be executed by an on-board diagnostic system of an equipment service vehicle having a plurality of subsystems, the method comprising:
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displaying a plurality of test options to an operator using an on-board operator interface, the operator interface being connected to a test control module;
receiving an operator input using the operator interface, the input being indicative of a selection made by the operator, the selection indicating a test selected by the operator;
performing the selected test on the vehicle using a sensor or at least one of the plurality of vehicle subsystems or both, the plurality of subsystems being connected to the test control module by way of a network communication link, the sensor being configured to obtain health and operation information for a vehicle device, the sensor being connected to a test interface module that is connected to the network communication link;
acquiring health and operation information pertaining to results of the test from the at least one vehicle subsystem or from the test interface module using the sensor or from both;
transmitting the health and operation information from the test interface module or the at least one vehicle subsystem or both to the test control module by way of the network communication link; and
displaying the results of the test to the operator using the operator interface. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
producing fault codes and transmitting the fault codes on the network communication link, the producing and transmitting steps being performed by the electronic engine control system, and receiving the fault codes from the network communication link, interpreting the fault codes, and displaying the interpreted fault codes to the operator, the receiving, interpreting and displaying steps being performed by the a test control module and the operator interface. -
40. A method according to claim 37, further comprising storing the health and operation information of the vehicle subsystem in a data queue in the test control module, the data queue comprising a memory in which the information is stored such that newer information eventually replaces older information in the data queue.
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41. A method according to claim 40, further comprising detecting a severe vehicle malfunction and terminating the storing step upon detecting the severe vehicle malfunction.
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42. A method according to claim 30, wherein the operator interface and the test control module are provided as a single integrated unit.
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43. Method according to claim 30, wherein the sensor is a first sensor and wherein the test interface module is connected to at least one additional sensor.
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44. A method according to claim 30, wherein the test interface module is a separate unit from the sensor.
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45. A method according to claim 30, further comprising storing information in a computer-implemented vehicle maintenance record on-board the vehicle, the information comprising a descriptive log of maintenance activities performed with respect to the vehicle.
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46. A method according to claim 30, further comprising acquiring information pertaining to health and operation of vehicle subsystems or devices, including:
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(1) acquiring information pertaining to a speed of a crankshaft of an engine, (2) acquiring information pertaining to a cranking RPM of the engine, (3) acquiring information pertaining to a fuel pump supply pressure, (4) acquiring information pertaining to a fuel pump return pressure, (5) acquiring Information pertaining to an air cleaner pressure drop, (6) acquiring information pertaining to an outlet pressure of a turbocharger, (7) acquiring information pertaining to an airbox pressure, (8) acquiring information pertaining to an engine intake manifold vacuum, (9) acquiring information pertaining to an engine intake manifold vacuum variation, (10) acquiring information pertaining to an engine oil pressure, (11) acquiring information pertaining to a pressure drop across an engine oil filter, (12) acquiring information pertaining to an engine coolant temperature, (13) acquiring information pertaining to a voltage at or near battery terminals, (14) acquiring information pertaining to a voltage at or near engine starter terminals, (15) acquiring information pertaining to a voltage drop introduced by a starter cable, (16) acquiring information pertaining to a voltage present at or near a starter solenoid, (17) acquiring information pertaining to a current through an engine starter motor, (18) acquiring information pertaining to a peak initial starter current, (19) acquiring information pertaining to a battery internal resistance, (20) acquiring information pertaining to a starter circuit resistance, (21) acquiring information pertaining to battery current, (22) acquiring information pertaining to an output voltage of an alternator, and (23) acquiring information pertaining to a voltage drop introduced by an alternator cable.
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47. A method according to claim 30, wherein the test control module and the test interface module are provided as separate units.
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48. An equipment service vehicle comprising:
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(A) a network communication link;
(B) a plurality of vehicle subsystems including (1) a first vehicle subsystem, the first vehicle subsystem including an engine and an electronic engine control system that is coupled to the engine and to the network communication link, the electronic engine control system controlling the engine and transmitting data pertaining to the health and operation of the engine on the network communication link;
(2) a second vehicle subsystem, the second vehicle subsystem including a transmission and an electronic transmission control system, the electronic transmission control system controlling the transmission and transmitting data pertaining to the health and operation of the transmission on the network communication link;
(C) a plurality of additional vehicle subsystems;
(D) a sensor, the sensor being configured to obtain health and operation information for a vehicle device;
(E) an on-board test control module and an on-board operator interface, (1) wherein the on-board test control module and the operator interface in combination are (a) coupled to at least some of the plurality of vehicle subsystems by way of the network communication link, and (b) capable of performing diagnostic tests by acquiring, storing and displaying at least some of the information from the network communication link pertaining to the health and operation of the engine and the transmission, (2) wherein the operator interface displays a plurality of test options to an operator, (3) wherein the operator interface receives an operator input indicative of a selection made by the operator, the selection Indicating a test selected by the operator, and (4) wherein the on-board test control module transmits a request for information on the network communication link;
(F) a test interface module, the test interface module being connected to the sensor, the test interface module being connected to the on-board test control module by way of the network communication link, the test interface module receiving the request for information and transmitting the requested information to the test control module; and
wherein the test control module receives health and operation information from one of a respective vehicle subsystem or the test interface module or both and wherein the operator interface displays results of the test to the operator.
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Specification