Method and apparatus for measuring and accumulating critical automobile warranty statistical data

• US 6,366,199 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Welles, Kenneth Brakeley, Osborn, Brock Estel, Hershey, John Erik, Van Stralen, Nick Andrew, Irving, Russell Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/497,937
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 701/29, 701/30, 701/31, 701/33, 701/34, 701/35
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00585 Means for monitoring, testing or servicing the air-conditioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A system is provided for monitoring operating parameters relating to vehicle usage and using the operating parameter information to derive warranty statistical data. In one embodiment, an operating parameter monitoring unit includes a microprocessor and a sensor interface mounted within a housing. The sensor interface includes a number of leads for receiving sensor input signals from sensors that monitor various vehicle operating parameters. The microprocessor receives parameter information via the sensor interface that is indicative of various input sensor signals and stores corresponding parameter information in memory. The stored parameter information can be accessed via a data interface such as a data port or a RF interface.

Claims

1. A method for use in measuring and accumulating warranty statistical data, comprising the steps of:

mounting an electronics unit on a vehicle, said electronics unit including a first sensor for monitoring a first operating parameter, a processor for receiving input information regarding said monitored first operating parameter and processing said input information to yield processed operating parameter information and a memory for storing at least a portion of said processed operating parameter information;

accessing said electronics unit to download said stored processed operating parameter information for use by an external processing system; and

using said external processing system to derive warranty statistical data, wherein said using comprises applying a statistical tool to said processed operating parameter information to derive a mathematical model for characterizing said processed operating parameter information.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of mounting comprises attaching said electronics unit to a surface of said vehicle and positioning said first sensor so as to monitor said first operating parameter.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of accessing comprises interfacing a cable terminal with an output port of said electronics unit.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of accessing comprises establishing communication between said electronics unit and a wireless communications unit.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mathematical model comprises a repairable system model.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing said mathematical model to empirical data.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electronics unit further comprises a second sensor for monitoring a second operation parameter and said method further comprises:

monitoring the first operating parameter during a first time period to obtain first parameter information; and

monitoring the second operating parameter during a second time period to obtain second parameter information;

where the first and second time periods overlap; and

said step of using comprises analyzing said first parameter information in conjunction with said second parameter information to obtain said warranty statistical data.

8. A system for monitoring one or more operating parameters related to vehicle wear and deriving warranty statistical data therefrom, comprising:

a vehicle operating parameter monitoring unit that monitors one or more operating parameters of a vehicle; and

a warranty statistical data processor, coupled to the vehicle operating parameter monitoring unit, that uses the one or more operating parameters to generate auto warranty statistical data for the vehicle, wherein the warranty statistical data processor applies a statistical tool to the one or more monitored operating parameters to derive a mathematical model that characterizes the parameters.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle operating parameter monitoring unit comprises a plurality of sensors that measure vehicle operating parameters.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle operating parameter monitoring unit comprises a data interface that communicates the one or more monitored operating parameters to the warranty statistical data processor.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the mathematical model comprises a repairable system model.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the warranty statistical data processor uses the repairable system model to generate predictive wear information and maintenance information for the vehicle.