Vehicle diagnostic system

• US 7,409,275 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2007
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ohsuga, Minoru, Kanekawa, Nobuyasu, Takaku, Yutaka, Hoshino, Masatoshi, Iihoshi, Yoichi, Sakurai, Kohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen; Lin B.
• Application Number:
  US11/698,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 701 29- 34, 340/438, 340/439
• US Class Current: 701/31
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0267 Fault communication, e.g. human machine interface [HMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle diagnostic system comprising an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment, a radio communication means for transmitting a vehicle diagnostic information to a telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle or for communicating between the vehicle and the telecommunication equipment located outside the vehicle and for transmitting a communication diagnostic signal to the electronic control unit and receiving a response signal to the communication diagnostic signal, and a communication line for connecting the electronic control unit and the radio communication means wherein the response signal is utilized to determine if the communication line is properly functional.

Claims

1. A vehicle diagnostic system comprising:

an electronic control unit for controlling and monitoring vehicle equipment;

a radio communication means for communicating between the electronic control unit on said vehicle and a telecommunication equipment, and for transmitting a communication diagnostic signal to said electronic control unit, and for receiving a response signal according to said communication diagnostic signal from the electronic control unit, the telecommunication equipment being outside the vehicle and receiving a communication from the radio communication means;

a communication line for connecting said electronic control unit and said radio communication means,

wherein at least the communication diagnostic signal is communicated to said electronic control unit through said communication line, and

wherein said radio communication means transmits said communication diagnostic signal to said electronic control unit as necessary and in response, said electronic control unit sends back the response signal to said radio communication means; and

said radio communication means utilizes the response signal to determine whether or not the communicating through said communication line is being performed normally.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein if said communication line is determined not to be properly functional a notification signal is transmitted to said telecommunication equipment by said radio communication means.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said notification signal is returned back to said radio communication means by said telecommunication equipment and compared to said transmitted notification signal to determine if said radio communication means is properly functional.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein if said communication line is determined not to be properly functional a notification signal is transmitted to a vehicle operator by said radio communication means.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein if said communication line is determined not to be properly functional for a predetermined period of time said system disables said vehicle from operation.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication line is a serial communication circuit.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said radio communication means is included in an on-vehicle information equipment.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said radio communication means is included in a cellular phone.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said radio communication means is included in a vehicle anti-theft system.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said vehicle anti-theft system utilizes an ignition key as said radio communication means.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said radio communication means is included in a keyless engine starting system.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said keyless engine starting system utilizes an ignition key as said radio communication means.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said radio communication means is included in a radar device.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said radio communication means is capable of connecting to an external scan-tool connector.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said radio communication means is provided in an engine compartment of a vehicle.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said system utilizes a harness which connects said electronic control unit to said vehicle equipment as an antenna for transmitting a notification signal.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said telecommunication equipment is located on a road.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said system complies with an On Board Diagnosis III system.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication is transmitted through the internet.