EP1376094A2 - Method and device for diagnosing components of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for testing motor vehicle components in which: vehicle fault specific data are input; a fault detection process is carried out; if a fault is detected, a fault test is carried out; an abort signal is generated for a further fault test if input data are incorrect, while if not fault data are output; if no fault condition is detected, a further test is carried out with an input test signal returning the processing to the fault test stage, while if not the method is ended. The invention also relates to a corresponding testing device for method implementation.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for testing components of a vehicle. Such components can in particular networked component systems of the vehicle, the networking z. B. can be provided via a CAN bus, MOST or D2B bus can.

An inspection of the components of vehicles for possible errors On the one hand, the vehicle manufacturer carries out a final acceptance test or final inspection, such inspection or diagnostic procedures are also carried out in the workshop for customer complaints or regular Service investigations.

With conventional test procedures and test devices usually an individual check of the respective components. in this connection can a test device also be connected to an internal data bus, e.g. B. the CAN bus to Readout of some components can be connected via the bus system.

DE 198 50 990 A1 describes a control unit for motor vehicles with connection means for its connection with a diagnostic test device, data relevant to the operation of the diagnostic test device, in particular Data storage or documentation information, stored in the control unit are and via the connecting means to the diagnostic test device and / or one Computers for controlling the diagnostic test device are transferable. This enables the diagnostic test device or a computer controlling it can be used without the use of additional paper files or floppy disks. The relevant information, especially factory information, are stored in the control unit and can be via a z. B. serial interface be read from the diagnostic tester.

DE 44 00 079 A1 describes a method for testing electronic ones Control devices and a control device for the use of such Method, wherein in the control unit a program module for testing the Control unit is stored, which is processed during the test. During the test, a microcomputer of the test device receives test commands from an external test device that has a serial interface with the control unit connected is. The control unit sends data, in particular, during the test Measurement results and test results, to the external test device, that evaluates and displays them.

However, such test methods and test devices only allow a complex inspection or diagnosis of the individual components, especially without considering the effects of networking of the individual components and the resulting errors. Farther such test methods are usually difficult to use and enable just a fully automated test or a manual test of individual components through complex initialization of individual test routines.

The inventive method according to claim 1 and the inventive Device according to claim 15, in contrast, in particular the advantage that a reliable detection of the presence of possible Errors in the individual components as well as in the networked component system and a detailed examination of the errors is possible. Here is a low level of operating effort is required, although advantageously manual checking of individual components is possible.

The vehicle data can be entered manually using a keyboard or another input device, e.g. B. a barcode scanner Workshop personnel during a service inspection or during the removal in Manufacturer plant can be entered. The vehicle data can e.g. B. the chassis number, Equipment etc. include. In the subsequent error detection is in particular an actual-target comparison of the vehicle data entered recognized with the stored vehicle data or in the vehicle Vehicle data carried out, hereinafter the software / hardware versions of the Components and configurations queried and the stored data the error memory of the components. The individual components are used individually as well as in the networked component system or overall system checked. All errors found here - which also z. B. Deviations between stored vehicle data and entered Can include vehicle data - are then recognized as an error, where detailed check routines are carried out in the event of an error the operator and if there is no fault the possibility of input by outputting a corresponding display signal a test signal for detailed manual testing in the test routines is given.

According to the invention, fault data determined in the vehicle components saved. This can be particularly the case in the faulty Control devices assigned to components take place. The storage can in particular take place in such a way that subsequent falsification of the Data is not possible, e.g. B. by storing in a programmable Read only memory (PROM). Below are the errors, in particular also the probable location of defective components in the vehicle displayed and the operator has the option of manual configuration the system, e.g. B. also partially automatically. To the test routines are advantageously erased and - if no manual termination is desired - the procedure again to the Error detection step reset. If a manual termination is desired is, a remote data transmission, z. B. an online connection, to a central control and storage device, e.g. B. one Manufacturer's hotline, created to transmit the determined error data and, if necessary, to retrieve data to correct the errors. By a subsequent storage of the processes and the data obtained in the process This error data can be accessed later by the vehicle.

Fig. 1

ein Fahrzeug mit einer angeschlossenen Prüfvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

ein Flussdiagramm der erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

The invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings of an embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

a vehicle with a connected test device;

Fig. 2

a flowchart of the inventive method.

A vehicle 1 has a control device 2, for. B. the engine control unit, on that via a data bus system, e.g. B. a CAN bus 3, with vehicle components 4 is connected. The control device 2, the data bus system 3 and the vehicle components 4 form a networked component system. A test device 5 is sent to the control device via data lines 6 2 connected. For this purpose, the test device 5 z. B. also have a CAN bus interface 7; alternatively, the data lines 6 can also be connected directly. With the test device5, Test method according to the invention carried out, an online data connection via an internet interface 8 and an internet 9 to a central one Database 10 is created. The central database 10 takes data from a plurality of test devices 7, whereby an overall system 11 is formed that continuously records data.

In the test method according to the invention shown in FIG. 2, in Step S1 started the diagnostic process. It can be especially in the Final acceptance after the manufacture of the vehicle or when checking in a workshop, e.g. B. during a regular examination at service intervals or in the event of complaints by a customer. In the following Step S2 becomes a self-test of the test device 5 including the programs and test routines stored in it. This will ensuring the required functions. following are in step S3 from z. B. the workshop personnel input data in the Test device 5 entered manually, for. B. via keyboard or a barcode reader. The input data concern the relevant vehicle data including Equipment data. The logbook can be used for specification of the vehicle in which the installed components and whose changes are entered.

It is subsequently determined in steps S4 to S6 whether an error occurs is present. For this purpose, it is first checked in the routine of step S4 whether the Input data match the data stored or recognized in the vehicle. You can then output the scope of the equipment and components of the vehicle. In step S5 the test device and the stored test programs the software and Hardware status of the connected components 4 in the networked component system checked, including the configurations of each Components 4. The data stored in the components are read out and stored in the test device 5. This takes place in step S5 an individual test of the components. Then in step S6 Components checked in the networked component system. Through this Can step through the networking or interaction of the individual Components occurring errors are recognized that are not directly errors of the individual components 4 are. A communication test between all components 4 in the networked component system. at several networked systems, in particular a first networked system of the equipment components or interior components, a second System of operating components or required for driving Components and functions and a third system of safety-relevant Components, the individual networked systems are checked separately. Then in step S6 the components and functionalities displayed.

If an error is detected in steps S4 to S6, the Decision step S7 initiates the test steps S10 to S15. Becomes If no fault is detected, a manual jump into the test sequences is made in step S8 S10 to S15 enables; This can be done in particular by the workshop staff in the event of customer complaints. If a manual check is desired or in the case of reworking in the manufacturing plant, that will The method is set to step S10.

In step S10, the one required for the fault case identified in each case Check routine carried out. Through the test sequences provided here a possible error can be localized precisely. The test takes place both on the individual components 4 as well as on the networked component system. In step S11, the results of the test are subsequently shown in a Vehicle component, e.g. B. assigned to the faulty component Control device 2, stored. The storage can in particular by a read-only memory, e.g. B. a PROM, done by unauthorized persons cannot be easily reset. This will result in warranty cases enables the manufacturer to check and rectify the cause. In step S12, the errors determined, in particular those in step S10 determined error data of the components 4, as display data, for. B. for Displayed on a display of the test device 5. Here are further details on the errors and possible sources of error are given. following the operator or in step S13 based on detailed information determine the exact error. Here, the fault location in the vehicle z. B. represented graphically on a display. In step S14 can subsequently the operator configured the individual systems manually or partially automatically become. Thereafter, the current error data are shown in step S15 the fault memories of the components or the control devices 2 of the Components 4 deleted. In step S16 it is then queried whether a manual termination is desired or not. If no manual termination is desired the process is reset to step S4 to again to make an error detection. The loop of steps S4 to S6 and S10 to S15 are thus carried out until no error occurs in step S7 is recognized or in step S16 - z. B. in an unrecoverable Error - a manual termination by the user is desired. If in Step S16 if a manual termination is desired, a connection is made in step S17 manufactured with the database 10 via the Internet 9. Here are the error data is transmitted to the database 10 for further processing, where appropriate, a response from the central control and storage device 9 to correct the error. The database 10 collects thus errors in a variety of test procedures, causing an extensive Error collection and accurate statistical evaluation is made possible. In The error data recorded in the vehicle are then printed out in step S19 and stored in the vehicle and the entries in the fault memory deleted. If no manual check is desired in step S9, then in step S18 the fault memories in the components are also deleted and proceeded to step S19. The method is ended in step S20.

Claims (17)

Method for diagnosing components of a vehicle, in which a) vehicle-specific input data of the vehicle to be examined are entered (S2), b) an error detection (S3, S4, S5, S6) is carried out to determine an error, c) in the event that an error is determined in b), an error check (S10, S11, S12, S13, S14, S15) is carried out, in which error data is determined and stored in at least one vehicle component, display data for rectifying the error are output, and subsequently a request signal for an abort is output (S16), wherein c1) in the event that no termination signal is subsequently input, the method to b) is reset, and c2) in the event that an abort signal is input, the error data are output (S17) and the method is subsequently ended (S20), d) in the event that no fault case is determined in b), a request signal is output for an additional check (S8), wherein d1) in the event that a test signal is subsequently input, the method for c) is set and d2) in the event that no test signal is subsequently input, the method is subsequently ended (S20). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that before the input step a), a self-test of a test device used, preferably with an update request by means of remote data transmission, is carried out. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the software and / or hardware status of the components is checked in the error detection section (b) (S5). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the error detection section b) the input data are compared with stored component data (S4). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the fault detection section b) the connected components are checked in the networked component system. Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that functionalities of the checked components in the overall system and the type of components in the networked component system are displayed in the fault detection section b) (S6). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that various test sequences for checking the individual components and the components in the networked component system are carried out during the error check (S10). A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the error data determined in the test sequences in components, for. B. a ROM of a control device assigned to a defective component. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the error data are displayed, preferably specifying possible sources of error (S12). Method according to Claim 9, characterized in that instruction data for recognizing and eliminating the error or errors is subsequently output (S13). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that error memories in the components are deleted at the end of the error check (S15). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when an abort signal is input, the error data are transmitted to an external database (10) by remote data transmission, preferably via the Internet. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the event that no test signal is input, error memory in the components is deleted (S18) and the method is subsequently ended (S20). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that before the method is ended, the detected error data are stored in the vehicle, preferably a central storage device of the vehicle, and entries in the error memory are deleted (S19). Test device (5) for performing a method according to one of the previous claims. Test device according to claim 15, characterized in that it has a data interface (7) for connection to a vehicle component, preferably a control device (2) of the vehicle, and a data interface (8) for remote data transmission of the error data, preferably via the Internet. System of several test devices according to claim 16 and one central database (10) for recording by remote data transmission transmitted error data.

Images