Process for inspecting the components of a system in a motor vehicle

• US 6,401,049 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Ehmer, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSAI, CAROL S W
• Application Number:
  US09/254,358
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 702/58, 702/59, 702/62, 702/80, 702/108, 702/113-123, 702/145-149, 702/142, 702/182-185, 702/188, 702/FOR.103, 702/104, 702/124, 702/134, 702/135, 702/150, 702/151, 702/170, 702/171, 700/79, 700/81, 700/86-88, 711/115, 701/29-35
• US Class Current: 702/119
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/00 Testing of engines
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/05 by combined monitoring of two or more different engine parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A process of testing individual components of a system in an automotive vehicle, wherein the system comprises at least one software-operated controller and the controller is adapted to be connected to an input station, with software being adapted to be uploaded to the input station from the controller and a test software being uploaded from the input station to the controller prior to a check of the components of the system.

Claims

1. A process of testing the operability of the components of a system in an automotive vehicle, with the system comprising:

at least one software-operated controller of a vehicle adapted to be connected to an input station, wherein an operating software is uploaded from the controller to the input station for temporary storage, and wherein a test software is uploaded from the input station to the controller prior to a check for operability of the components of the system, wherein after completion of the check the operating software, through which the control or regulation of the system is accomplished, is re-loaded from the input station to the controller.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein after a connection between the controller and the input station is established, the test software is automatically uploaded in the controller.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein system-specific data is transmitted from the controller to the input station, and wherein the test software corresponding to the system-specific data is uploaded from the input station.

4. A process according to any claim 1, wherein upon completion of the check the operating software is automatically uploaded.

5. A process according to claim 3, wherein the operating software is uploaded only if the test conveys that no error is contained in the system.

6. A process according to claim 3, wherein a system-specific data is transmitted from the controller to the input station and that the operating software corresponding to the system-specific data is uploaded from the input station.

7. A process according to claim 1, wherein a data storage unit is provided in the controller in which data is stored during the test operation or upon completion thereof.

8. A process according to claim 7, wherein the data storage unit is a non-volatile data storage.

10. A process according to claim 1, wherein a documentation of all test steps is set up.

9. A process of testing the operability of the components of a system in an automotive vehicle, with the system comprising:

at least one software-operated controller adapted to be connected to an input station, wherein an operating software is uploaded from the controller to the input unit, and wherein a test software is upload from the input station to the controller prior to a check for operability of the components of the system, wherein after completion of the check the operating software, through which the control or regulation of the system is accomplished, is uploaded from the input station to the controller,

wherein response to the tolerances of the various components, sensors or other units determined during the check, susch parameters are stored in the controller upon which the operating software can rely and by means of which, during operation, an optimum adaptation to all components can be individually achieved.