Method for storing data concerning an operating fault of a device

• US 7,801,652 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Regnard de Lagny, Joseph, Belaid, Abdelmalik
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CUONG H
• Application Number:
  US12/097,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20080312787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35, 701/114, 701/109, 701/29, 702/127, 702 33- 35, 340/511, 700 28- 29
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• 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: F02D 41/2425 Particular ways of programming the data
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles

Abstract

A method for storing data concerning an operating fault of a device, wherein the recorded data include in particular a minimum value and a maximum value of a characteristic parameter of the operating mode of the device. The method includes an updating phase, performed when the fault occurs, which includes an operation that updates the minimum value and/or the maximum value based on the current value of the parameter. The updating phase may also include updating an occurrence number. The method may also include an initializing phase, during which a reference image of the parameters of the device is stored. The method is applicable in particular to the diagnosis of a vehicle engine-transmission unit.

Claims

1. A method of recording information, implemented by a computer including a processor that is programmed with instructions that cause the computer to record information in a nonvolatile memory concerning an operating fault of a device in a motor vehicle, wherein the recorded information includes a minimum value and a maximum value of a parameter characteristic of an operation of the device in the motor vehicle, the method comprising:

an updating phase, performed when the operating fault of the device in the motor vehicle occurs, the updating phase including;

replacing the minimum value of the parameter with a current value of the parameter in the nonvolatile memory, if the current value of the parameter is less than the minimum value, and

replacing the maximum value of the parameter with a current value of the parameter in the nonvolatile memory, if the current value is greater than the previously recorded maximum value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an initialization phase, performed on a first occurrence of the operating fault which includes one or more of:

first initializing a reference value of the parameter with the current value of the parameter,

second initializing the minimum value of the parameter and the maximum value of the parameter with the current value of the parameter,

repeating the first initializing and/or the second initializing for each parameter characteristic of the device in operation, and

initializing the number of occurrences.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the recording information is directed to an operating fault of a drive train of the motor vehicle.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameter is related to temperature.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameter is speed of an engine of the motor vehicle.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information that is recorded includes a number of occurrences of the fault since a last time the nonvolatile memory was erased.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method diagnoses operation of a regulation device used to regulate the speed of a motor vehicle about a set point speed.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the updating phase further comprises:

repeating the updating phase for each parameter characteristic of the device in operation.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the updating phase further comprises:

incrementing a number of occurrences of the fault.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the updating phase is repeated on each occurrence of the fault.