Diagnostic device for monitoring a sub-system in a motor vehicle

• US 6,622,070 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Reiser, Peter, Wacker, Heinrich, Burner, Erwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US09/423,395
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/31, 701/32, 701/33, 701/36, 701/35, 731/16, 731/173, 731/181, 731/19.A, 340/439, 340/825.69, 340/438
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2206 controlling the operation of burners control of burners in general F23N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/224 automatic operation, e.g. control circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/221 to test buses, lines or interfaces, e.g. stuck-at or open line faults
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation

Abstract

The invention relates to an on-board or off-board diagnostic device (1) enabling a vehicle manufacturer or the like (“clients”) to carry out a client diagnosis (N) or to monitor a motor vehicle sub-system (2) manufactured by a special supplier, using the vehicles'"'"'s data collection line (3) or data bus and comprising an electronic control device allocated to said sub-system (2) which is connected to an operating unit (5) for instance, by means of a line (HS). According to the invention, a specially coded signal (S) is fed into the electronic control device (4) in order to switch from client diagnosis mode (N) to special supplier diagnosis mode (U) so as to provide extended or modified sub-system (2) data on an already existing line (HS).

Claims

1. A motor vehicle diagnosis device for a customer diagnosis of a partial system manufactured by a special manufacturer and for a special manufacturer diagnosis of said partial system, the motor vehicle having a vehicle data bus, the partial system having an electronic control device associated with the partial system, a partial system control line and an operating device for operating and for switching on and off the partial system via said system control line, the special manufacturer diagnosis being activated by a specifically coded signal fed into to the electronic control device for locking the customer diagnosis and switching over from said special manufacturer diagnosis for the purpose of making available expanded or changed data information on the partial system.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said partial system is a motor vehicle heater operated in an engine-independent manner.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said system control line is one of a control line with a switch-on line for the partial system or another partial system line.

4. The device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said coded signal is defined by rapid on/off switching sequences, which do not affect an off switching function of the partial system electronic control device.

5. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said coded signal includes defined voltage levels, which do not correspond to control signals for a normal function of the partial system electronic control device.

6. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the switch over between the customer diagnosis and said manufacturer diagnosis takes place in a single-wire system.

7. The device in accordance with claim 6, wherein said single-wire system is a K line of a vehicle data bus.

8. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the switch over between the customer diagnosis and said manufacturer diagnosis takes in a multiple-line system, especially a CAN bus.

9. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a separation of said system control line from said operating device is brought about by unplugging a plug connecting said system control line to said operating device and by installing at least one adapter plug and a separation of said vehicle data collection line from said partial system is brought about by unplugging a plug connecting said vehicle data collection line from said partial system.

10. A motor vehicle on-board or off-board diagnostic system, the system comprising:

a motor vehicle having a vehicle data bus used for customer diagnosis;

a partial system having an electronic control device, said partial system being manufactured by a special manufacturer or by the motor vehicle manufacturer, said partial system being connected to said vehicle data bus;

a partial system control line connected to said electronic control device;

an operating device connected to said partial system control device via said partial system control line and for switching on and off the partial system via said partial system control line;

a testing device connectable to said partial system control line for sending a signal to said electronic control device via said partial system control line for switching over from said customer diagnosis to said manufacturer diagnosis for the purpose of making available expanded or changed data information on the partial system.

11. The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said partial system is a motor vehicle heater operated in an engine-independent manner.

12. The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the system control line is one of a control line with a switch-on line for the partial stem or another partial system line.

13. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said coded signal is defined by rapid on/off switching sequences, which do not affect an off switching function of the partial system electronic control device.

14. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said coded signal includes defined voltage levels, which do not compromise the formal function of the partial system at the customer or at the user.

15. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the switch over between the customer diagnosis and said manufacturer diagnosis takes place in a single-wire system.

16. The system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said single-wire system is a K line of a vehicle data bus.

17. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the switch over between the customer diagnosis and said manufacturer diagnosis takes in a multiple-line system, especially a CAN bus.

18. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein a separation of said system control line from said operating device is brought about by unplugging a plug connecting said system control line to said operating device and by installing at least one adapter plug and a separation of said vehicle data collection line from said partial system is brought about by unplugging a plug connecting said vehicle data collection line from said partial system.

19. A motor vehicle on-board or off-board diagnostic method for a customer diagnosis or a special manufacturer diagnosis for checking a partial system manufactured by a special manufacturer or by the motor vehicle manufacturer, the method comprising the steps of:

using a motor vehicle having a data collection line or a vehicle data bus;

providing a partial system having an electronic control device associated with the partial system;

connecting the partial system to an operating device via a system control line;

providing a manufacture diagnosis using the vehicle data bus;

providing a specially coded signal and feeding the signal into the electronic control device on the system control line for switching electronic control device over from said customer diagnosis to said special manufacturer diagnosis.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19, wherein said partial system is a motor vehicle heater operated in an engine-independent manner.