Automotive Diagnostic System

• US 20140005881A1
• Filed: 07/02/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carmen Hardesty
• Original Assignee: Carmen Hardesty
• Inventors: Hardesty, Carmen
• Granted Patent: US 8,838,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/32.8
• 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: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2829 Testing of circuits in sensor or actuator systems testing of apparatus for measuring electric or magnetic variables G01R35/00; testing of indicating or recording apparatus G01D; in airbag systems B60R21/0173; checking gas analysers G01N33/007; monitoring or fail-safe circuits for electromagnets H01F7/1844
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2848 using simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A system and method is presented for diagnosing problems in a sensor, a vehicle computer and a vehicle sensor wiring harness. The diagnostic system comprises a sensor simulator configured to be selectively coupled to the vehicle computer via a wiring harness during a diagnostic mode, and to eliminate and simulate a known good sensor to the vehicle computer by way of the vehicle sensor wiring harness directly connected therebetween. The system includes an external computer adapted to selectively couple the sensor simulator to the vehicle computer, and a user keypad and memory to receive and store user commands of a selected manufacturer'"'"'s make, model, year of vehicle, and the function type of the selected sensor, and to enable the user to select or adjust a typical operational value comprising one or more of a voltage, current or resistance operational range values of the selected sensor.

Claims

1. An automotive diagnostic system for diagnosing problems in a sensor system, a vehicle computer and a vehicle sensor wiring harness, wherein during normal vehicle operations the vehicle sensor wiring harness is coupled between the sensor and the vehicle computer, the automotive diagnostic system comprising:

a sensor simulator configured to be selectively coupled to the vehicle computer having the vehicle sensor wiring harness coupled therebetween during a diagnostic mode, the sensor simulator adapted to simulate an operation of the sensor system to the vehicle computer, and to physically replace the sensor system;

an external computer coupled to the sensor simulator and adapted for controlling the sensor simulator to selectively couple to the vehicle computer and to simulate the operation of the selected sensor;

a user keypad coupled to the external computer adapted to provide user inputs to the external computer; and

a memory coupled to the external computer, adapted to store user input data associated with a range of vehicle manufacturer'"'"'s makes, models, years, sensor function types, and one or more of a voltage, current, and resistance operational range values of the selected sensor to be simulated;

wherein the external computer, keypad and memory are adapted to receive and store user input data associated with a selected manufacturers make, model, year vehicle, and the function type of the selected sensor to be simulated using the sensor simulator, and to enable the user to select or adjust a typical operational value of the selected sensor; and

wherein the automotive diagnostic system is adapted to determine whether a problem exists in one or more of the sensor, vehicle computer, and the vehicle sensor wiring harness and to diagnose the problem.

2. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle sensor wiring harness comprises a computer-side connector for connection to the vehicle computer, a sensor-side connector for connection to the sensor system, and harness wiring connected therebetween, and wherein the sensor system comprises the simulated sensor, a sensor connector, and a sensor cable connected therebetween.

3. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the automotive diagnostic system is configured to:

a) diagnose that a problem exists in the selected sensor and that the vehicle computer and the vehicle sensor wiring harness are OK, by determining if the simulated operation of the selected sensor as presented to the vehicle computer indicates that the selected sensor is OK;

b) diagnose that a problem exists in the vehicle sensor wiring harness or in the vehicle computer, by determining if the simulated operation of the selected sensor as presented to the vehicle computer indicates that the selected sensor is not OK; and

c) diagnose that a problem exists in the vehicle computer, by determining if there is no change in the vehicle computer indications between the simulated operation of the selected sensor and no simulated operation of the selected sensor.

4. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 3, wherein the automotive diagnostic system of step (c) is further configured to diagnose and determine that a problem exists in the vehicle computer, if there is no change in the vehicle computer indication between the sensor being connected to the vehicle sensor wiring harness and the sensor being disconnected from the vehicle sensor wiring harness.

5. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 3, wherein a diagnostic scanner is either one of utilized by, or incorporated into the sensor simulator to provide the vehicle computer indication of the simulation in coordination with the automotive diagnostic system.

6. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 3, wherein the user provides the vehicle computer indication resulting from the sensor simulation to the automotive diagnostic system by one or more of a user input to the keypad after observation, or by choosing between two possible results displayed on a screen associated with the automotive diagnostic system.

7. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the automotive diagnostic system further comprises a user interface comprising

a display configured to display alphanumeric characters or graphics representing one or more voltage, current and resistance measurements, and sensor operational range values associated with the sensor, and

a plurality of pushbuttons for inputting and changing the sensor operational range values, for selecting one or more operational modes of the automotive diagnostic system, and for configuring one or more options of the automotive diagnostic system.

8. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the sensor simulator comprises:

at least one analog to digital (A/D) converter coupled to the external computer; and

at least one digital to analog (D/A) converter coupled to the external computer; and

at least one multiplexor configured to selectively couple the digital to analog (D/A) converter to one of a plurality of wires of the vehicle sensor wiring harness that is connected to the vehicle computer; and

at least one multiplexor configured to selectively couple the one of a plurality of wires of the vehicle sensor wiring harness that is connected to the vehicle computer, to the at least one analog to digital (A/D) converter.

9. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the simulated operation of the selected sensor comprises one or more of the voltage, current or resistance operational range values as presented to the vehicle computer.

10. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the sensor simulator further comprises a clamping circuit configured to shunt any noise, over-voltages and under-voltages on an I/O bus associated with the sensor simulator.

11. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the sensor simulator further comprises a clamping circuit configured to receive a simulated sensor signal from the external computer or a signal processor, and configured to shunt any noise, over-voltages or under-voltages on the simulated sensor signal to a supply voltage or a ground voltage associated with the automotive diagnostic system.

12. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the automotive diagnostic system is configured and operable to receive one or more initial parametric inputs associated with the selected sensor provided by the sensor or automotive manufacturer.

13. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 12, wherein the one or more initial parametric inputs provided by the manufacturer comprises one or more of a low limit and high limit voltage operational range value, a low limit and high limit current operational range value, a low limit and high limit resistance operational range value, a median voltage operational range value, a median current operational range value, a median resistance operational range value, a voltage signal, a current signal, a resistance signal, a voltage response time, a current response time, a resistance response time, a minimum and maximum supply voltage, a vehicle set-point temperature, a sensor and controller model number, a sensor and controller serial number, a manufacturing date, and a calibration temperature.

14. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the automotive diagnostic system is configured and operable to digitally and wirelessly communicate with one or more or a combination of wireless accessory modules, an RF transceiver, a router, a diagnostic scanner, a remote display, an alarm, an OBD2 compatible connector, an OBD2 compatible cable, and a sensor.

15. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, further comprising a supply voltage monitoring circuit,

wherein the automotive diagnostic system is configured to measure the supply voltage with the supply voltage monitoring circuit, and

wherein the supply voltage monitoring circuit is operable to provide an indication to the automotive diagnostic system if one of a supply voltage minimum and maximum conditions exists.

16. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the automotive diagnostic system is adapted to determine whether a problem exists in one or more of the sensor, vehicle computer, and the vehicle sensor wiring harness and to diagnose the respective problem.

17. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the selected sensor is a user selected sensor, selected by the user of the automotive diagnostic system.

18. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, comprising a sensor specific plug adapter which connects directly between a receptacle mounted on the sensor simulator and the vehicle sensor wiring harness, the sensor specific plug adapter configured to accommodate and interconnect a variety of vehicle sensor wiring harnesses and their respective pin configurations to a single pin configuration of the receptacle mounted on the sensor simulator.

19. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 1, further comprising one or more of an OBD2 connector and connection means to the vehicle computer and a diagnostic scanner module, configured to simulate or generate diagnostic scanner functions and controls to the vehicle computer, and to provide coordination and communications between the vehicle computer and the sensor simulator of the automotive diagnostic system, by way of the OBD2 connector and connection means to an OBD2 connector at the vehicle computer.

20. An automotive diagnostic system for a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor simulator, adapted to be selectively coupled during a diagnostic mode to;

a vehicle computer for the vehicle having a vehicle sensor wiring harness coupled between the sensor simulator and the vehicle computer;

an external computer adapted to control the sensor simulator to be selectively coupled to the vehicle computer by way of the vehicle sensor wiring harness and during the diagnostic mode to simulate the operation of a known good sensor without the sensor or any means of connection between the sensor and the automotive diagnostic system;

a user keypad coupled to the external computer, and adapted to receive user commands associated with a selected manufacturers make, model, year vehicle, and the function type of the sensor to be simulated by the sensor simulator, and to enable the user to select or adjust a typical operational value of the sensor; and

a memory device coupled to the external computer, and adapted to store a range of vehicle manufacturer'"'"'s makes, models, years, sensor function types, and voltage, current or resistance operational range values of the sensor to be simulated;

wherein during a typical vehicle operations mode the vehicle sensor wiring harness is coupled between the vehicle computer and a sensor which is to be simulated.

21. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 20, wherein the automotive diagnostic system further comprises a user interface comprising

a display configured to display alphanumeric characters or graphics, representing one or more voltage, current and resistance measurements, and sensor operational range values associated with the sensor, and

a plurality of pushbuttons for inputting and changing the sensor operational range values, for selecting one or more operational modes of the automotive diagnostic system, and for configuring one or more options of the automotive diagnostic system.

22. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 20, wherein the automotive diagnostic system further comprises a user interface comprising

a display configured to display alphanumeric characters or graphics, representing one or more of a vehicle manufacturer'"'"'s make, model, year, sensor function type, and one or more of a voltage, current or resistance operational range value of the sensor associated with the vehicle, and

a user keypad adapted to receive user commands associated with a selected manufacturers make, model, year vehicle, and the function type of the sensor to be simulated using the sensor simulator, and to enable the user to select or adjust a typical operational value of the sensor to be simulated.

23. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 20, wherein the automotive diagnostic system is further adapted to be selectively coupled during a sensor diagnostic mode, directly to a suspect sensor, to measure and evaluate the health of the sensor, and to provide sensor safety or failure prediction information based on a comparison between the measurements and evaluations of the suspect sensor and the respective stored data of the simulated sensor, thereby providing comparison data that may indicate marginal or changing sensor parameters to help maintain safe vehicle operations by avoiding an impending sensor failure.

24. The automotive diagnostic system of claim 20, wherein the automotive diagnostic system further comprises an at least two position switch configured to select between the simulated sensor output of the sensor simulator and the output of the suspect sensor, the switch further configured to provide the output selection to the vehicle computer by way of the vehicle sensor wiring harness.

25. A method of diagnosing problems in a suspect sensor, a vehicle sensor wiring harness and a vehicle computer of a vehicle without any connection to the sensor by replacing and simulating the operation of a known good sensor as a simulated sensor, using an automotive diagnostic system comprising a sensor simulator configured to be selectively coupled to the vehicle computer by way of the vehicle sensor wiring harness coupled therebetween during a diagnostic mode, the method comprising:

disconnecting the suspect sensor from the vehicle sensor wiring harness of the vehicle;

connecting the vehicle sensor wiring harness between the sensor simulator and the vehicle computer;

receiving user commands of one or more of a manufacturers make, model, year vehicle, and function type, and one or more voltage, current or resistance operational range values associated with the suspect sensor;

selecting or adjusting the sensor simulator to an operational range value for the known good sensor;

generating and outputting at least one of the one or more operational range values and a simulation from the sensor simulator to the vehicle computer by way of the vehicle sensor wiring harness during the diagnostic mode;

diagnosing that a problem exists in the suspect sensor and that the vehicle computer and the vehicle sensor wiring harness are OK, if it is determined that the simulated operation of the known good sensor as presented to the vehicle computer indicates that the simulated sensor is OK; and

diagnosing that a problem exists in the vehicle sensor wiring harness or in the vehicle computer, if it is determined that the simulated operation of the known good sensor as presented to the vehicle computer indicates that the simulated sensor is not OK.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising

diagnosing that a problem exists in the vehicle sensor wiring harness by first determining that the vehicle computer is ok, by using a diagnostic scanner tool to determine the acceptable operations of several functions or sensors not associated with the suspect sensor;

and then

determining if the simulated operation of the known good sensor as presented to the vehicle computer indicates that the simulated sensor is not OK.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising

storing a vehicle manufacturer'"'"'s make, model, year, sensor function type, and one or more of a voltage, current or resistance operational range value of the suspect sensor in a memory device coupled to an external computer.