System for communicating diagnostic information and related method

• US 7,932,818 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Guo, Sam Y
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US12/145,171
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 340/441, 340/518, 340/519, 340/521, 340/529, 340/531, 701/29, 701/35, 73/13.7, 73/13.8, 736/59, 736/60
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/00 Logic circuits, i.e. having at least two inputs acting on one output circuits for computer systems using fuzzy logic G06N7/02; Inverting circuits

Abstract

A method for transmitting diagnostic information that can include: selecting a frequency from a plurality of predetermined frequencies based on a first diagnostic condition; selecting a duty cycle from a plurality of predetermined duty cycles based on a second diagnostic condition; and generating a diagnostic signal that is transmitted over a single wire, the diagnostic signal being based on the selected frequency and the selected duty cycle. A system for communicating diagnostic information is also provided.

Claims

1. A system for reporting module diagnostic information, the system comprising:

a frequency source for providing at least two frequency signals, each of the at least two frequency signals being associated with a different frequency;

a frequency selector for selecting one of the at least two frequency signals according to a first diagnostic characteristic;

a duty cycle converter for generating at least two intermediate signals, each of the at least two intermediate signals having a frequency of the selected one of the at least two frequency signals, each of the at least two intermediate signals having a different duty cycle; and

a duty cycle selector for selecting one of the at least two intermediate signals based on a second diagnostic characteristic, the duty cycle selector outputting a resulting output signal indicative of the first and second diagnostic characteristics.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency selector is a first MUX.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the duty cycle selector is a second MUX.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the duty cycle selector is a MUX.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module that receives the resulting output signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the resulting output signal is transmitted the module over a single wire.

7. A system for reporting module diagnostic information, the system comprising:

a duty cycle generator for generating at least two intermediate signals, each of the intermediate signals having a different duty cycle;

a duty cycle selector for selecting one of the at least two intermediate signals according to a first diagnostic characteristic;

a frequency source receiving the selected one of the at least two intermediate signals, the frequency source generating a plurality of frequency signals, each of the frequency signals having a different frequency and a duty cycle associated with a duty cycle of the selected one of the at least two intermediate signals; and

a frequency selector for selecting one of the plurality of frequency signals according to a second diagnostic characteristic and outputting a resulting output signal indicative of the first and second diagnostic characteristics.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the frequency selector is a first MUX.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the duty cycle selector is a second MUX.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the duty cycle selector is a MUX.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising a module that receives the resulting output signal.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the resulting output signal is transmitted the module over a single wire.

13. A method for transmitting diagnostic information, the method comprising:

selecting a frequency from a plurality of predetermined frequencies based on a first diagnostic condition;

selecting a duty cycle from a plurality of predetermined duty cycles based on a second diagnostic condition; and

generating a diagnostic signal that is transmitted over a single wire, the diagnostic signal being based on the selected frequency and the selected duty cycle and being processed by a controller.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein generating the diagnostic signal includes:

transmitting a first intermediate signal to a duty cycle converter, the first intermediate signal having a frequency corresponding to the selected frequency;

generating a plurality of second intermediate signals, each of the second intermediate signals having a different duty cycle, and wherein one of the second intermediate signals has a duty cycle corresponding to the selected duty cycle; and

selecting the one of the second intermediate signals with the duty cycle that corresponds to the selected duty cycle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein prior to transmitting the first intermediate signal, the method further comprises:

generating a plurality of third intermediate signals, each of the third intermediate signals having a different frequency and wherein one of the third intermediate signals has a frequency corresponding to the selected frequency; and

selecting the one of the third intermediate signals with the frequency that corresponds to the selected frequency.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein selecting the one of the third intermediate signals includes operating a first MUX based on the first diagnostic condition.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting the one of the second intermediate signals includes operating a second MUX based on the second diagnostic condition.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein generating the diagnostic signal includes:

transmitting a first intermediate signal to a frequency converter, the first intermediate signal having a duty cycle corresponding to the selected duty cycle;

generating a plurality of second intermediate signals, each of the second intermediate signals having a different frequency, and wherein one of the second intermediate signals has a frequency corresponding to the selected frequency; and

selecting the one of the second intermediate signals with the frequency that corresponds to the selected frequency.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein prior to transmitting the first intermediate signal, the method further comprises:

generating a plurality of third intermediate signals, each of the third intermediate signals having a different duty cycle and wherein one of the third intermediate signals has a duty cycle corresponding to the selected duty cycle; and

selecting the one of the third intermediate signals with the duty cycle that corresponds to the selected duty cycle.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein selecting the one of the third intermediate signals includes operating a first MUX based on the first diagnostic condition.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein selecting the one of the second intermediate signals includes operating a second MUX based on the second diagnostic condition.