ENHANCED VEHICLE ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140100738A1
• Filed: 10/08/2012
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Itatsu, Ryuji, Concas, Alessandro, Lopez, Francisco J., Boutell, Dante T., Nakamura, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 9,280,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33.4
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

The invention includes methods and devices for an improved onboard vehicle diagnostic system. The methods and devices provide for more detailed information and presentation of diagnostic and vehicle performance data for a user. In one example, real time diagnostic and trip system performance data is gathered and displayed relative to time for improved understanding of vehicle performance and operation by a user.

Claims

1. A method for providing vehicle system diagnostic data to a vehicle user, the method comprising:

monitoring a characteristic of a plurality of onboard vehicle systems defining a plurality of diagnostic data having a useful life subject to deterioration;

recording time having a starting time and an ending time defining a time period;

assigning at least a portion of the time period to at least one of the diagnostic data defining a time performance data;

selectively displaying diagnostic data to a user through a user visual display;

selectively displaying time performance data on the visual display including;

determining, by a processor receiving the diagnostic data, a system performance of one of the onboard vehicle systems through calculating a present useful remaining life of a vehicle system including comparing diagnostic data for the monitored characteristic from a present time in the time period versus diagnostic data for the monitored characteristic from a time in the time period prior to the present time and determining an amount of deterioration in the monitored characteristic; and

displaying a visual graphic depicting the calculated present remaining useful life of one of the vehicle systems including displaying a range of useful life having a first point and a second point, the present useful life positioned between the first and the second points visualizing the amount of deterioration and remaining useful life of the one of the vehicle systems.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of exporting one of the diagnostic data or time performance data to a separate electronic device remote from the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the monitoring of the characteristic of a plurality of onboard vehicle systems is performed by a vehicle onboard diagnostic system.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. A method for providing vehicle system diagnostic data to a vehicle user, the method comprising:

monitoring a characteristic of a plurality of onboard vehicle systems defining a plurality of diagnostic data having a useful life subject to deterioration;

recording time having a starting time and an ending time defining a time period;

assigning at least a portion of the time period to at least one of the diagnostic data defining a time performance data;

selectively displaying time performance data on visual display by determining, by a processor receiving the diagnostic data, a trip system performance of the one of the onboard vehicle systems through calculating the diagnostic data for a vehicle system for a predetermined portion of the time period; and

displaying a visual graphic through an user visual display depicting the calculated trip system performance of the vehicle system.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined portion of the time period is short and proximate a present time defining a real time trip system performance for that vehicle system.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined portion of the time period is defined by the last in time vehicle system start up and the last in time vehicle propulsion system shut down.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein calculating trip performance data for the predetermined time period portion comprises averaging the diagnostic data for the vehicle system over the predetermined time period.

9. (canceled)

10. A method for providing vehicle system diagnostic data to a vehicle user, the method comprising:

monitoring a characteristic of a plurality of onboard vehicle systems defining a plurality of diagnostic data;

recording time having a starting time and an ending time defining a time period;

assigning at least a portion of the time period to at least one of the diagnostic data defining a time performance data;

selectively displaying time performance data on an user visual display; and

wherein the step of displaying the time performance data further comprises the steps of;

selectively displaying a first level diagnostic graphic as one of a system normal graphic or a system malfunction graphic as determined by a processor responsive to the diagnostic data; and

selectively displaying a second level diagnostic graphic by one of a system normal graphic or a system malfunction graphic as determined by a processor responsive to the diagnostic data by tracking the reporting status of a sensor used for monitoring the vehicle system characteristic, and displaying one of a normal or malfunction graphic for the diagnostic data when the sensor reports the diagnostic data to the processor.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of displaying the sensor reporting status on the visual display corresponding to the tracking reporting status of the sensor.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)