GB2530350A - Method for testing a mirror device of a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle - Google Patents
Method for testing a mirror device of a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2530350A GB2530350A GB1419419.5A GB201419419A GB2530350A GB 2530350 A GB2530350 A GB 2530350A GB 201419419 A GB201419419 A GB 201419419A GB 2530350 A GB2530350 A GB 2530350A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- mirror
- electric current
- vehicle
- testing
- electric motor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
- G01R31/005—Testing of electric installations on transport means
- G01R31/006—Testing of electric installations on transport means on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
- B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
- B60R1/06—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior
- B60R1/062—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position
- B60R1/07—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position by electrically powered actuators
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R16/00—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for
- B60R16/02—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements
- B60R16/023—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
- B60R16/0231—Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle
- B60R16/0232—Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
- G01R31/34—Testing dynamo-electric machines
- G01R31/343—Testing dynamo-electric machines in operation
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)
Abstract
The electric current supplying the motor of an exterior rear-view mirror, for example a car wing mirror is monitored, the mirror being tested on the basis of the measured current. During the test, the mirror is moved by the electric motor between at least two positions. An error may be detected when the measured current exceeds a threshold value, for example when the current drawn is outside manufacturers specifications. In an embodiment, this is conducted by a testing module running an application which folds the mirror housing both out away and retracts toward the automobile body, while a digital multimeter measures current, which may be plotted 10 against time on XY axes, the resulting graph displayed for a user on a screen. The graphing then stops if the threshold current value is exceeded. The method reduces human involvement, removing the need for human actuation of a mirror toggle switch.
Description
Method for Testing a Mirror Device of a Vehicle, in particular a Passenger Vehicle The invention relates to a method for testing a mirror device of a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle.
Vehicles, in particular passenger vehicles, having mirror devices are well-known from the general prior art as well as from the series production of vehicles. Such a mirror device comprises at least one exterior rear-view mirror allowing, for example, the driver of the vehicle to see rearward without turning their head backwards. The mirror device further comprises at least one electric motor which is configured to move the exterior rear-view mirror between at least two positions. By means of the electric motor, for example, the driver of the vehicle can adjust the exterior rear-view mirror in a need-based manner so that the driver can see a desired part of the surroundings of the vehicle in the exterior rear-view mirror. The driver can adjust, i.e. move the exterior rear-view mirror by means of the electric motor in a particularly easy and comfortable way.
DE 691 12 663 T2 shows a multiplex control module and switch apparatus for use in automotive vehicles having selected power-operated accessories in the vehicle including at least one of door locks, power adjusted seats, power windows, interior lights, ignition switch and door key cylinder and including sensors for detecting the operative state of such accessories and of door ajar, ignition key presence and door handle movement operative upon actuation for providing sensor signals indicating a change of state of said sensors, and individual relay means operative upon receipt of relay-control signals to effect flow of current to said accessories, said module comprising: (a) means for housing said control module; (b) individual switch means operative upon user actuation for providing a switch signal indicating a desired change of state of one of said accessories., (c) circuit means, including microcomputer means connectable in the vehicle to a power bus and to a multiplex signal bus, said microcomputer means comprising multiplexer means for communicating by multiplexing via said signal bus using a plurality of signals including said sensor signals; said microcomputer means having an ASLEEP mode using reduced average system power, in which it is operative to periodically scan at a first predetermined repetition rate, including scanning of said sensor signals for the states of only predetermined ones less than all of said sensor signals, and including scanning to detect the states of said switch means, and including a powered-down interval; said microcomputer means having an ACTIVE more in which it is operative to scan said sensor signals for the state of all of said sensors and to scan for the state of said switch means, said microcomputer means in said ACTIVE mode being operative to generate said relay-control signals in accordance with predetermined algorithms in response to said switch means and said sensor signals; said microcomputer means being operative to go to said ASLEEP mode after a predetermined time interval of inactivity of all of said switch means; said microcomputer means having an AWAKE mode into which it goes when said vehicle ignition switch is sensor as being in an "ON" state and in which, in addition to the capabilities of the ACTIVE mode, control of certain ones of said accessories is also enabled, said microcomputer means returning to said ACTIVE mode after said ignition switch is sensed in an "OFF" state; wherein said microcomputer means is operative to provide said relay-control signals for operation of said accessories in response to a change of state of said input signal from at least one of said switch and sensor means.
Usually, testing mirror devices of vehicles is complicated and time-consuming since a particularly high human involvement is needed to test mirror devices.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method by means of which a mirror device of a vehicle can be tested in a particularly easy and time-efficient way.
This object is solved by a method having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.
The method according to the present invention serves for testing a mirror device of a vehicle, the mirror device comprising at least one exterior rear-view mirror and at least one electric motor configured to move the exterior rear-view mirror between at least two positions. The method comprises a first step of supplying electric current to the electric motor so as to effect at least one movement of the exterior rear-view mirror from one of the positions to the other position via the electric motor. The method comprises a second step of measuring the electric current supplied to the electric motor. Furthermore, the method according to the present invention comprises a third step of testing the mirror device on the basis of the measured electric current.
The method according to the present invention is a test sequence which, for example, can be executed automatically by software or a software tool which is, for example, stored in a memory of a testing module which is, for example, a portable testing unit such as a 0-tester. By means of the method according to the present invention, a particularly high accuracy in testing the mirror device can be realized with minimal human involvement compared to conventional test procedures in which a toggle switch to change polarity of the electric motor is used, wherein the toggle switch has to be actuated by human being and wherein no current monitoring capabilities are offered in the conventional test procedures. Furthermore, the method according to the present invention allows to perform an accurate in-house testing to find failures in, for example, field return mirror devices, and detailed results can be communicated with suppliers in order to rectify failures and ultimately improve the quality.
For example, in comparison with a switch matrix or similar, control by a desktop computer or laptop, to switch the polarity of the electric motor, the method according to the present invention can be executed particularly easily since a switch matrix or similar has to be properly engineered to eliminate the possibility of damaging the electric motor. For example, a digital multimeter can be used to measure or monitor the electric current so that the mirror device, in particular its operability, can be tested on the basis of the measured electric current.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the measured electric current is compared with at least one threshold value, wherein the mirror device is tested on the basis of the comparison. For example, an error of the mirror is determined when the measured electric current exceeds the threshold value. Thus, errors or failures of the mirror device can be detected particularly easily and time-efficiently.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a testing module is used to effect the supply of electric current to the electric motor and measure the electric current. For example, the testing module is a portable testing unit by means of which the method according to the present invention can be executed automatically with minimal human involvement.
In order to identify failures and errors of the mirror device particularly easily, in a further embodiment of the invention, a graph as a function of time is displayed on a display, the graph illustrating the measured electric current as a function of time. For example, the display is part of the testing module. A person testing the mirror device can compare the graph and, thus, the electric current with the threshold value particularly easily with the help of the graph so that errors and failures of the mirror device can be determined in a very time-efficient way.
Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respective indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.
The drawing shows in: Fig. la-c parts of a flowchart respectively, the flowchart illustrating a method for testing a mirror device of a vehicle; and Fig. 2 a graphical user interface of a software application by means of which the method can be executed automatically, the graphical user interface showing a graph illustrating a measured electric current as a function of time.
Fig. la-c show a flowchart for illustrating a method for testing a mirror device of a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle. The mirror device comprises at least one exterior rear-view mirror which allows the drivers of the vehicle to see rearward without turning their head rearwards. In other words, by means of the exterior rear-view mirror the driver of the vehicle can see a pad of the surroundings of the vehicle, the part being arranged behind the vehicle.
The mirror device further comprises an electric motor which is also referred to as a mirror motor, wherein the exterior rear-view mirror can be moved by means of the electric motor between at least two positions. For example, the exterior rear-view mirror can be pivoted about two axes by means of the electric motor, the axes extending perpendicularly in relation to each other. Thereby, the driver can adjust, i.e. move the exterior rear-view mirror in a need-based manner so that the driver can see a desired part of the surroundings of the vehicle in the exterior rear-view mirror. The method for testing the mirror device serves for determining or identifying errors and failures of the mirror device in a particularly easy and time-efficient way since human involvement in testing the mirror device can be kept particularly low. The method for testing the mirror device is implemented in a software or a software application which is, for example, stored in a memory of a mirror testing tool which is, for example, a portable testing module or testing unit such as a 0-tester. The testing module is operated by a person who is also referred to as a user who uses the testing module. The software, i.e. the method systematically measures an electric current while operating the electric motor so as to effect a so-called folding function of the exterior rear-view mirror. For example, the mirror device comprises a housing on which the exterior rear-view mirror is arranged. The housing and, thus, the exterior rear-view mirror can be folded in and out in relation to the body of the vehicle by means of the electric motor. On the basis of the measured electric current, the software can determine whether or not the operation of the folding function was executed within
predeterminable specifications.
The user begins by opening the software application which is also referred to as an application. The open application checks for availability of hardware which comprises electronic devices such as the electric motor. Preferably, the electric motor is a USB-CAN device which receives a signal via USB (Universal Serial Bus) from, typically, a desktop PC (Personal Computer) or laptop, and converts it to a CAN (Controller Area Network) message and transmits this message on a given CAN Bus.
A further electronic device of the hardware is, for example, a multimeter, in particular a digital multimeter, by means of which electric current can be measured. For example, the hardware of the vehicle is connected to a data bus in a form of a CAN-bus (CAN -Controller Area Network), the data bus being a networking means used to send and receive electronic messages from electronic control units (ECU).
For example, the hardware of the vehicle further comprises a door control module which is a control module, in particular an electronic control unit, located in a door, in particular a side door, of the vehicle, the door control module being capable of activating functions of the mirror device. For example, one of said functions is said folding function.
If the open application can connect to the hardware, the application will connect and update the user with messages in a status monitor. The status monitor is a section of the application that can update the user with information. If the hardware is not available, the application will notify the user with a message and close the application.
Once the application is open and connected to the hardware, the application waits for the user to begin communication. When the user selects "begin communication" from a menu bar, the application and a CAN hardware will send at least one message to the door control module to inform it that diagnostic requests will follow. The status monitor will update the user that the application has a communication channel with the door control module. The application once again awaits the user to select a "start test" button. Once this button is depressed, the application will retrieve data in fields "cycles" and "pause".
The application will begin by folding the housing and, thus, the exterior rear-view mirror out to initialize the test. In other words, by folding out the exterior rear-view mirror, the exterior rear-view mirror is moved or folded away from the body of the vehicle. After the exterior-rear-view mirror is folded out, the application pauses and, therein, uses the data variable in the "pause" field for time, in seconds, for interval, and, then, folds the exterior rear-view mirror in. By folding the exterior rear-view mirror in, the exterior rear-view mirror is moved or folded towards the body of the vehicle.
The application monitors, i.e. measures the electric current supplied to the electric motor to execute the folding function, and graphs it over time on an XV axis that is displayed on a screen for the user, the graph being shown in Fig. 2 and designated by 10.
In other words, the application folds the exterior rear-view mirror in and out by effecting a supply of electric current to the electric motor so as to effect movements of the exterior rear-view mirror from one of the positions to the other and back, wherein the exterior rear-view mirror is moved by means of the electric motor. Moreover, the application measures the electric current supplied to the electric motor to effect said movement of the exterior rear-view mirror. If the measured electric current exceeds specifications, i.e. at least one predeterminable threshold value, an error is flagged, the current monitoring and graphing stops, and the application prompts the user to continue or print the graph 10 to, for example, a PDF file and continue. If no errors occur, the application will continue the process, folding the exterior rear-view mirror in and out, until an error is flagged or number of cycles equal that of the variable in the data field "cycles".
List of reference signs graph
Claims (5)
- SPatent Claims A method for testing a mirror device of a vehicle comprising at least one exterior rear-view mirror and at least one electric motor configured to move the exterior rear-view mirror between at least two positions, the method comprising: -supplying electric current to the electric motor so as to effect at least one movement of the exterior rear-view mirror from one of the positions to the other position via the electric motor; -measuring the electric current supplied to the electric motor; and -testing the mirror device on the basis of the measured electric current.
- 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the measured electric current is compared with at least one threshold value, wherein the mirror device is tested on the basis of the comparison.
- 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that an error of the mirror is determined when the measured electric current exceeds the threshold value.
- 4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a testing module is used to effect the supply of electric current to the electric motor and measure the electric current.
- 5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a graph (10) as a function of time is displayed on a display, the graph (10) illustrating the measured electric current as a function of time.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1419419.5A GB2530350A (en) | 2014-10-31 | 2014-10-31 | Method for testing a mirror device of a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1419419.5A GB2530350A (en) | 2014-10-31 | 2014-10-31 | Method for testing a mirror device of a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201419419D0 GB201419419D0 (en) | 2014-12-17 |
| GB2530350A true GB2530350A (en) | 2016-03-23 |
Family
ID=52118510
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1419419.5A Withdrawn GB2530350A (en) | 2014-10-31 | 2014-10-31 | Method for testing a mirror device of a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2530350A (en) |
Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0443465A2 (en) * | 1990-02-20 | 1991-08-28 | Eaton Corporation | Multiplexing of accessories in a vehicle |
| WO1997043144A1 (en) * | 1996-05-15 | 1997-11-20 | Iku Holding Montfoort B.V. | Electrically operable pivoting actuator, and wing mirror having an electrically operable pivoting mechanism |
| DE19637631A1 (en) * | 1996-09-16 | 1998-04-02 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Arrangement for the detection of pinching situations in electrical drives |
| CN101097246A (en) * | 2006-06-28 | 2008-01-02 | 上海干巷汽车镜（集团）有限公司 | Durability testing device of rear-view mirror electric direction varying device |
| EP1908635A2 (en) * | 2006-10-04 | 2008-04-09 | Ichikoh Industries, Ltd. | Vehicle outside mirror device |
| US20120176072A1 (en) * | 2008-10-24 | 2012-07-12 | Foo Leng Leong | Determining stuck conditions for electric motors using inductive sensing |
| US20130179104A1 (en) * | 2012-01-09 | 2013-07-11 | GM Global Technology Operations LLC | Dc-motor and fuel pump faults and brush-wear prognosis |
| CN203629787U (en) * | 2013-12-19 | 2014-06-04 | 湖南海豹汽车零部件制造有限公司 | Integrated test bench of automobile rearview mirror. |
| CN203759110U (en) * | 2014-01-25 | 2014-08-06 | 湖南海豹汽车零部件制造有限公司 | Outer rearview mirror test machine |
-
2014
- 2014-10-31 GB GB1419419.5A patent/GB2530350A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0443465A2 (en) * | 1990-02-20 | 1991-08-28 | Eaton Corporation | Multiplexing of accessories in a vehicle |
| WO1997043144A1 (en) * | 1996-05-15 | 1997-11-20 | Iku Holding Montfoort B.V. | Electrically operable pivoting actuator, and wing mirror having an electrically operable pivoting mechanism |
| DE19637631A1 (en) * | 1996-09-16 | 1998-04-02 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Arrangement for the detection of pinching situations in electrical drives |
| CN101097246A (en) * | 2006-06-28 | 2008-01-02 | 上海干巷汽车镜（集团）有限公司 | Durability testing device of rear-view mirror electric direction varying device |
| EP1908635A2 (en) * | 2006-10-04 | 2008-04-09 | Ichikoh Industries, Ltd. | Vehicle outside mirror device |
| US20120176072A1 (en) * | 2008-10-24 | 2012-07-12 | Foo Leng Leong | Determining stuck conditions for electric motors using inductive sensing |
| US20130179104A1 (en) * | 2012-01-09 | 2013-07-11 | GM Global Technology Operations LLC | Dc-motor and fuel pump faults and brush-wear prognosis |
| CN203629787U (en) * | 2013-12-19 | 2014-06-04 | 湖南海豹汽车零部件制造有限公司 | Integrated test bench of automobile rearview mirror. |
| CN203759110U (en) * | 2014-01-25 | 2014-08-06 | 湖南海豹汽车零部件制造有限公司 | Outer rearview mirror test machine |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201419419D0 (en) | 2014-12-17 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |