Fault reporting system for a motor vehicle

• US 7,038,578 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Will, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US10/399,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/449, 340/450, 340/451, 340/439, 340/440, 340/441, 340/453, 340/450.1, 340/450.2, 340/450.3, 340/452, 701 29- 35
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions

Abstract

A defect reporting system for a vehicle having at least one electronic control unit, includes a check-control module that is connected with the at least one control unit and receives a report from the latter. An indicating device is connected with the check-control module, for displaying at least one information as a function of the transmitted report. The at least one control unit is configured such that it can independently evaluate reporting conditions and, upon the occurrence of predetermined situations, can emit a corresponding malfunction report to the check-control module. A table in which the at least one information is stored for each report is accessible by the check-control module, whereby the at least one information assigned to the report can be read out and shown by way of the indicating device.

Claims

1. An operational status reporting system for a vehicle having at least one local electronic control unit for controlling operation of a vehicle system associated therewith, said reporting system comprising:

a check-control module which is connected via a data line with, and receives report information from, the at least one local control unit which is associated with said vehicle system; and

an indicating device which is connected with the check-control module for displaying at least one message as a function of the report information;

wherein,

the at least one local control unit is situated separate from the check-control module, and contains a further unit for performing processing for diagnostic testing of said vehicle system independently of the check-control module, and, in the presence of predetermined conditions, emitting a corresponding diagnostic report to the check-control module;

hardware and software for performing diagnostic testing are situated solely in said local control unit;

a table is provided in which message information is stored, including at least one message for each diagnostic report; and

the check-control module is connected with the table, and reads the at least one message assigned to the diagnostic report out of the table and displays it via the indicating device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the reports are transmitted in a defined data format.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the data format contains a data format identifier and a report information.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the table has stored therein at least one of:

texts, graphic information, control light activations and reporting action for each report.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a memory in which the table is stored in a machine-readable form.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the table can be read into the memory.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the memory is integrated in the check-control module.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the memory and the check-control module are integrated in a vehicle instrument cluster.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a memory in which the table and a program controlling the check-control module are jointly stored.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the table and the program can jointly be read into the memory.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the table is prepared by means of a data bank.

12. A method for reporting operational status information in a vehicle having a plurality of local control units for controlling operation of associated vehicle systems, and a check-control module which is coupled via a data communication link with the local control units, said method comprising:

a local control unit associated with a particular vehicle system, and situated separate from the check-control module, performing diagnostic processing of operating information characterizing operation of a said particular system, for diagnostic testing of said particular system, independently of said check-control module, to detect occurrence of predetermined conditions indicative of a particular operational status of said particular vehicle system;

upon detection of said predetermined conditions, said local control unit sending a corresponding diagnostic report indicating said operational status to said check-control module via said data communication link;

providing a table that is coupled to said check-control module, said table having stored therein message information regarding said operational status, that is accessible as a function of content of said diagnostic report;

the check-control module reading at least one message information from said table based on information contained in said diagnostic report; and

displaying said least one message information;

wherein, for performing said diagnostic processing, said local control unit uses hardware and software which are situated in said local control unit, and not in said check-control module.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said report is transmitted in a format that includes a data format identifier and report information.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said data format identifier is common to reports sent by all local control units, and identifies said report as an operational status report.

15. An operational status reporting system for a vehicle having a plurality of local control units for controlling operation of vehicle systems associated therewith, said system comprising:

a check-control module coupled via a data communication link with each of said local control units;

processing means associated with each respective local control unit, for performing diagnostic processing of operating information characterizing operation of a vehicle system associated therewith, to diagnose occurrence of predetermined conditions indicative of a particular operational status of said vehicle system, independently of the check-control module, and upon occurrence of said predetermined conditions, sending a corresponding diagnostic report to said check-control module via said data communication link;

a memory coupled in data communication with said check-control module, and having stored therein a table containing message information that is accessible by said check-control module as a function of content of said diagnostic report; and

a display device for displaying a message read from said memory by said check-control unit;

wherein,

each local control unit is associated with a different vehicle system, and is situated separate from the check-control module; and

hardware and software for performing said diagnostic processing are situated in said local control unit, and not in said check-control module.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said report is transmitted in a format that includes a data format identifier and report information.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said data format identifier is common to reports sent by all local control units, and identifies said report as an operational status report.

18. An operational status reporting system for a vehicle having at least one local electronic control unit for controlling operation of a vehicle system associated therewith, said reporting system comprising:

a check-control module which is connected via a digital data communication link with, and receives defect report information from, the at least one local control unit, which is associated with said vehicle system; and

an indicating device which communicates with the check-control module for displaying at least one message as a function of the defect report information;

wherein,

the at least one local control unit is situated separate from the check-control module, and includes a processor performing diagnostic processing of status data which characterize operation of said vehicle system, independently of the check-control module, using stored criteria applicable to the at least one local control unit, and upon detection of the presence of predetermined conditions based on said stored criteria, emits a corresponding defect report to the check-control module; and

the check-control module reads at least one message assigned to the defect report out of a table and displays it via the indicating device;

wherein hardware and software for performing said diagnostic processing, as well as said stored criteria, are situated in said local control unit, and not in said check-control module.

19. A vehicle system comprising:

a plurality of self-evaluating local control units, each of which is associated with and controls operation of a respective vehicle system; and

a check-control unit coupled via a digital data communication link with said self-evaluating local control units via a data bus;

wherein,

each of said self-evaluating local control units is situated separate from the check-control module, and has a processor for receiving and evaluating status data which characterize operational parameters of the respective vehicle system associated therewith;

said processor analyzes said status data and determines an operating condition of said vehicle system, based on stored operational criteria, independently of the check-control module, using hardware and software contained in said local control unit, and not in the check-control module;

when said processor determines that a defect exists in said vehicle system, the self-evaluating local control unit of which it is a part sends a defect report to said check-control unit via said data bus, said defect report indicating a nature of said defect determined by said processor; and

as a function of said defect report, said check-control unit causes a message to be displayed on a display unit, said message providing information regarding said defect.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said report is transmitted in a format that includes a data format identifier and report information.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said data format identifier is common to reports sent by all local control units, and identifies said report as an operational status report.