Fault code memory administrator with a driving cycle state machine concept

• US 7,660,662 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Groer, Frank S., Golub, Tomislav I.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US11/940,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20080162024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 701 29- 35, 701101-103, 701/111, 701/114, 701/115, 702182-187, 340/438, 340/439, 340/441
• US Class Current: 701/114
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0047 Controlling exhaust gas recirculation [EGR] temperature control with cooler in recirculation circuit F02M26/33
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method to operate an electronic controlled diesel engine to provide enhanced fault code administration responsive to the variable driving cycle.

Claims

1. A method to operate an electronically controlled internal combustion engine, said engine equipped with an electronic control unit (ECU) having memory resident therein;

said electronic control unit in electronic communication with sensors to receive data signals indicative of operating information from various vehicle systems during a drive cycle;

receiving data signals from at least one sensor indicative of at least one vehicle system operating condition;

determining whether said data signals are indicative of a vehicle system fault;

logging said fault in memory and activating a warning alert; and

resetting said warning alert upon initiation of a new drive cycle.

2. The method of claim 1, further including resetting said warning alert if said fault corrects itself.

3. The method of claim 1, further including resetting said warning alert when said fault condition is serviced.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said drive cycle is initiating engine ignition, operating said engine, and disengaging engine ignition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a data signal is indicative of a fault is made by comparing the data signal to engine operating values stored in tables in said ECU memory based upon a given engine speed or engine torque;

said fault indicated when said data signals are outside said values for a given engine speed or engine torque.

6. The method of claim 1, further including determining whether said fault exists for a predetermined time before logging into memory and activating said warning indicator.