Diagnosis system for a motor vehicle

• US 5,003,477 A
• Filed: 02/02/1989
• Issued: 03/26/1991
• 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: Abe, Kunihiro, Sakamoto, Masanori, Kobayashi, Tomoya
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/306,869
• Time in Patent Office: 782 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: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/22 Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• 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 for diagnosing a motor vehicle has a diagnosis device including a computer having a central processing unit and an input/output interface, a first connector for connecting the input/output interface to the control system. A memory cartridge is detachably connected to the diagnosis device through a second connector. First auxiliary terminals are provided on the first connector for connecting the diagnosis device with the control system, and second auxiliary terminals are provided on the second connector. The first auxiliary terminals are connected with the second auxiliary terminals through communication lines provided in the diagnosis device, and the second auxiliary terminals are connected with the input/output interface through communication lines provided in the memory cartridge.

Claims

1. A system for diagnosing an electronic control system for controlling an engine mounted on a vehicle, comprising:

a diagnosis device including a computer having a control unit, an input/output interface, a first connector for connecting the input/output interface to the control system, a second connector, and display means for displaying results of diagnosis;

a memory cartridge detachably connected to the diagnosis device through the second connector and having a memory storing a plurality of programs for diagnosing the electronic system;

first auxiliary terminals provided on the first connector for connecting the diagnosis device with the control system;

second auxiliary terminals provided on the second connector for connecting the diagnosis device with the cartridge;

communication lines provided in the diagnosis device for connecting the first auxiliary terminals with the second auxiliary terminals to couple signals between said memory cartridge and said control system of the engine, said memory cartridge applying signals to both said engine control system and said diagnosis device to conform a test procedure of said engine control system with a test procedure of said diagnostic device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the memory cartridge has an input/output interface.

3. In a diagnosis system for an electronic control system mounted on a motor vehicle having sensing means including switches for detecting operating conditions of the vehicle, means for storing output data from said sensing means and providing control data for controlling the vehicle, diagnosis means responsive to said at least one of said control and output data for diagnosing said at least one data and for providing diagnosis data, display means for displaying said diagnosis data, a keyboard for inputting a mode code of a diagnosis mode into said diagnosis means, a detachable memory cartridge detachably connected to said diagnosis means for storing a plurality of programs for diagnosing said at least one data, connecting means for connecting said diagnosis means 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:

an input/output interface provided in said diagnosis means to transmit said data signals between said diagnosis means and said detachable memory cartridge;

a first communication line provided in said diagnosis means for connecting said electronic control system with said input/output interface;

a second communication line provided in said detachable memory cartridge for connecting said diagnosis means with said detachable memory cartridge;

said connecting means comprising;

a first connector interposed between said electronic control system and said diagnosis means for connecting said first communication line with said electronic control system; and

a second connector interposed between said diagnosis means and said detachable memory cartridge for connecting said second communication line with said input/output interface so as to be able to transmit additional data of said different types of data signals without changing said detachable memory cartridge.