Diagnosis system for a motor vehicle

• US 4,996,643 A
• Filed: 02/02/1989
• Issued: 02/26/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Masanori, Kobayashi, Tomoya, Abe, Kunihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Application Number:
  US07/306,892
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 364/431.01, 364/551.01, 73/116, 73/117.2, 73/117.3, 73/119 R, 73/119 A
• US Class Current: 701/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44542 Retargetable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

An electronic control system mounted on a motor vehicle has an identification code representing the type of the vehicle. A control unit provided in a diagnosis device selects a diagnosis program for diagnosing the control system from a plurality of diagnosis programs in accordance with the identification code. A keyboard is provided for inputting another identification code. The control unit responds to the other identification code input with the keyboard for selecting the diagnosis program.

Claims

1. In a diagnosis system for an electronic control system mounted on a motor vehicle having sensing means for detecting operating conditions of the vehicle and for producing input data, and means for storing an identification code corresponding to type of the vehicle and for storing the input data from said sensing means and for providing control data for controlling the vehicle, the diagnosis system being responsive to at least one of said data for diagnosing said at least one of said data and for providing diagnosis data, the diagnosis system comprising display means for displaying said diagnosis data, and a keyboard for inputting a code into said diagnosis system and for producing a corresponding code signal, a detachable memory cartridge detachably connected to said diagnosis system for storing a plurality of programs to diagnose said at least one data, connecting means for connecting said diagnosis system with said electronic control system and said detachable memory cartridge which have different types of data signals being transmitted in response to a demand signal, the improvement in the diagnosis system which comprises:

data converting means responsive to said diagnosis data for converting said diagnosis data and for producing a corresponding driving signal for display of the converted diagnosis data on said display means;

keyboard interpreting means responsive to the code signal corresponding to a vehicle type code inputted into said keyboard for generating a corresponding type code signal; and

type code determining means responsive to said type code signal and said identification code, respectively, for retrieving a corresponding of said programs for the diagnosing.

2. A system for diagnosing an electronic control system, which includes sensors, mounted on a motor vehicle, the electronic control system containing therein an identification code representing type of the vehicle, the diagnosing system comprising

a diagnosis device including a computer having a central processing unit and a memory, the memory having a plurality of diagnosis programs for diagnosing the electronic control system, and display means for indicating results of diagnosis;

connecting means for connecting the computer to the electronic control system;

the central processing unit for determining if there exists a corresponding diagnosis program corresponding to the identification code for diagnosing said electronic control system among said plurality of diagnosis programs in said memory;

the diagnosis device includes input means for manually inputting another identification code corresponding to another suitable diagnosis program of said plurality of diagnosis programs for diagnosing said electronic control system in the event said first-mentioned corresponding diagnosis program is determined by said central processing unit not to exist among said plurality of diagnosis programs in said memory; and

the central processing unit for responding to said identification code from said electronic control system or to said another identification code input manually for selecting for the diagnosing said diagnosis program corresponding to said identification code from said electronic control system or said another suitable diagnosis program corresponding to said another identification code, respectively.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein

said input means is a keyboard.

4. A method for diagnosing an electronic control system which includes sensors mounted on a motor vehicle, the electronic control system containing an identification code representing type of the vehicle, the diagnosing system comprising a diagnosis device including a computer having a central processing unit and a memory, the memory having a plurality of diagnosis programs for diagnosing the electronic control system, and display means for indicating results of diagnosis, the method comprising the steps of

detecting an identification code signal corresponding to the vehicle type and to the corresponding identification code from the memory in the electronic control system;

the computer determining if a diagnosis program exists or does not exist in said plurality of diagnosis programs corresponding to said identification code signal;

if said diagnosis program does not exist, selecting and inputting another identification code signal corresponding to another suitable diagnosis program of said plurality of diagnosis programs for diagnosing said electronic control system; and

the computer selecting for the diagnosing the diagnosis program of said plurality of diagnosis programs corresponding to said identification code signal or corresponding to said another identification code signal, respectively, for the diagnosing of the electronic control system.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of

initially applying an identification code demand signal to the electronic control system, and wherein

said step of detecting the identification code signal corresponding to the vehicle type and identification code from the memory in the electronic control system occurs in response to said identification code demand signal.