On board diagnostics (obd)

• US 20060224283A1
• Filed: 02/11/2004
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricardo UK Limited (Ricardo PLC)
• Original Assignee: Ricardo UK Limited (Ricardo PLC)
• Inventors: Ormerod, Michael John, Fussey, Peter Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/545,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20060224283A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/041 Built in Test Equipment [BITE]
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/702 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0235 in relation with the state of the exhaust gas treating apparatus control of exhaust gas treating apparatus per se F01N
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1495 Detection of abnormalities in the air/fuel ratio feedback system
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for on board diagnostics for a system, comprising carrying out one or more diagnostic steps with respect to one or more functions of the system. An electronic horizon system, which provides information relating to prospective system-influencing factors, is used to determine the optimum conditions in which to carry out at least one of the diagnostic steps.

Claims

1. A method of on board diagnostics for a system, the method comprising carrying out one or more diagnostic steps with respect to one or more functions of the system, wherein the method comprises using an electronic horizon system to determine the optimum conditions in which to carry out at least one of the diagnostic steps.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the system is a vehicular system.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the diagnostic steps relate to the emissions from the system.

12. A computer program comprising code for performing the steps of claim 1 when said program is run on a computer or a microprocessor.

2. A method of on board diagnostics for a system, the method comprising carrying out one or more diagnostic steps with respect to one or more functions of the system, wherein the method comprises using information relating to prospective system-influencing factors to determine the optimum conditions in which to carry out at least one of the diagnostic steps.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the electronic horizon or the information relating to prospective system-influencing factors relates to the prospective journey to be undertaken by the vehicle.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the electronic horizon or the information relating to prospective system-influencing factors comprises information on at least one of the following:

the direction of the road ahead;

the gradient of the road ahead;

road condition;

traffic loading;

accidents;

weather conditions;

number of lanes; and

class of road.

14. A method according to claim 2 wherein the system is a vehicular system.

15. A method according to claim 2 wherein the diagnostic steps relate to the emissions from the system.

19. A computer program comprising code for performing the steps of claim 2 when said program is run on a computer or a microprocessor.

7. An on board diagnostics apparatus for a system, the apparatus being arranged to carry out one or more diagnostic steps with respect to one or more functions of the system, wherein the apparatus is arranged to use an electronic horizon system to determine the optimum conditions in which to carry out at least one of the diagnostic steps.

9. An Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the system is a vehicular system.

10. An Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the electronic horizon or the information relating to prospective system-influencing factors relates to the prospective journey to be undertaken by the vehicle.

11. An Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the electronic horizon or the information relating to prospective system-influencing factors comprises information on at least one of the following:

the direction of the road ahead;

the gradient of the road ahead;

road condition;

traffic loading;

accidents;

weather conditions;

number of lanes; and

class of road.

8. An on board diagnostics apparatus for a system, the apparatus being arranged to carry out one or more diagnostic steps with respect to one or more functions of the system, wherein the apparatus is arranged to use information relating to prospective system-influencing factors to determine the optimum conditions in which to carry out at least one of the diagnostic steps.

16. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the system is a vehicular system.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the electronic horizon or the information relating to prospective system-influencing factors relates to the prospective journey to be undertaken by the vehicle.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the electronic horizon or the information relating to prospective system-influencing factors comprises information on at least one of the following:

the direction of the road ahead;

the gradient of the road ahead;

road condition;

traffic loading;

accidents;

weather conditions;

number of lanes; and

class of road.

13. (canceled)