JP2000131194A - Vehicle diagnostic program generating apparatus and vehicle diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the generation and correction of a vehicle diagnostic program by a method, wherein an interpreter language in which a procedure used frequently in a vehicle diagnosis is built in as a function is used as a program language and a diagnostic procedure program which corresponds to every diagnostic item is stored. SOLUTION: The so-called program resources, such as an established main program, a diagnostic procedure program or the like corresponding to each diagnostic item, are retained in a program storage part 13a in vehicle diagnostic program generating apparatus. When a program is generated, program resources are used. Then, labor is saved, and the program can be generated quickly. In addition, when a vehicle is diagnosed, an interpreter language in which a frequently used procedure is built in as a function is used as the program language, and the step numbers of programs are reduced. Therefore, the generation of troubles such as bugs, condition setting mistakes or the like can be suppressed, and description amount is reduced. As a result, program structure is simplified, the program is easily understood, and program generation and correction are facilitated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle diagnostic device for diagnosing an ECU (electronic control device) mounted on a vehicle and a device for creating a vehicle diagnostic program for operating the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a vehicle diagnostic program is created by:
A compiler language that has a higher program execution speed than an interpreted language is used. In this case, it is necessary to perform an operation (compile operation) of creating an executable program based on a program described in a compiler language (hereinafter, referred to as a source program). Therefore, in addition to an editor application for editing a source program, an application (compiler) for compiling work is required in addition to hardware for appropriately performing compiling work. When mounted, the vehicle diagnostic device may be enlarged. The vehicle diagnostic device is carried by a vehicle diagnostic worker, and is desired to be small and lightweight. Therefore, an executable program is created in advance by another device, and the created executable program is transferred to the vehicle diagnostic device, so that the vehicle diagnostic device is equipped with the above application and hardware necessary for appropriate compiling work. This eliminates the need to reduce the size and weight of the vehicle diagnostic device.

[0003]

By the way, when an executable program is transferred to the vehicle diagnostic apparatus, the program is executed for a vehicle or the like whose diagnostic result is known before actually performing the vehicle diagnosis. Checking the operation of the vehicle diagnostic program. If a program defect is found here, the executable program transferred to the vehicle diagnostic device cannot be directly modified, so the source program must be modified.

However, the creation of a vehicle diagnosis program is
Because we rely on programmers who are proficient in programming technology because we need to create it in a short time,
If a defect is found in the vehicle diagnosis program, it is necessary to notify the programmer of the defect and request correction. Therefore, it is difficult to immediately correct a defective portion, re-transfer the corrected vehicle diagnostic program, and check the operation again, and it takes a lot of time to correct the program.

An object of the present invention, which has been made in view of such a problem, is to provide a vehicle diagnostic program creating device and a vehicle diagnostic device that can easily create and modify a vehicle diagnostic program.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides editing means for editing a program,
A program storage unit for storing the program, a vehicle type information storage unit for storing information on each vehicle type to be diagnosed, a vehicle type information setting unit for updating information in the vehicle type information storage unit, An ECU information storage unit for storing information about various target ECUs;
ECU information setting means for updating information in the CU information storage unit, the main program created by the editing means, the vehicle type information of the diagnosis target read from the vehicle type information storage unit and the ECU information storage unit, and the ECU. In a vehicle diagnostic program creation device that creates a vehicle diagnostic program consisting of information, an interpreter language in which a procedure frequently used in vehicle diagnosis is incorporated as a function is used as a program language, and each diagnostic item is stored in the program storage unit. The diagnostic procedure program is stored.

[0007] If an interpreter language is used as a programming language, text that can be understood by those who are not familiar with the vehicle diagnosis program in the programming technique will be described. Therefore, a person who has knowledge of vehicle diagnosis, such as a vehicle diagnosis worker, can easily create a vehicle diagnosis program, and does not necessarily need to be proficient in programming technology.

Further, the inventor of the present invention has found that unlike diagnostic criteria such as comparison conditions determined for each vehicle type, the same diagnostic procedure is common even for different vehicle types, and that there are procedures frequently used in vehicle diagnostics. The present invention has been made by focusing on these points. That is, since the diagnostic procedure is common, a diagnostic procedure program corresponding to each diagnostic item is stored in the program storage unit as described above, and this is used to create a vehicle diagnostic program. It is not necessary to newly create a part relating to the procedure, thereby facilitating and speeding up the creation of the vehicle diagnostic program, and preventing the occurrence of a failure relating to the diagnostic procedure. Also, if an interpreter language in which procedures frequently used in vehicle diagnosis are incorporated as functions is used as a programming language, a series of frequently used procedures can be easily described using corresponding functions. The amount of program description is reduced. Therefore, the editing of the program becomes simpler, the creation and the speeding up of the vehicle diagnostic program can be facilitated, and the occurrence of troubles related to frequently used procedures can be prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, data communication is performed between an ECU mounted on a vehicle and the ECU and the ECU.
A vehicle diagnostic device for diagnosing a device controlled by a CU, comprising: communication means for performing data communication with an ECU mounted on a vehicle; and storage means for storing a vehicle diagnostic program. A vehicle diagnostic program written in a program language according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle diagnostic program is executed by executing a vehicle diagnostic program stored in the storage means. It is characterized by comprising analysis executing means for operating the vehicle diagnostic device based on the lexical analysis obtained by lexical analysis of the diagnostic program, and editing means for editing the vehicle diagnostic program.

If an interpreter language is used as a programming language, a vehicle diagnostic program described in text understandable to a vehicle diagnostic worker who is not proficient in programming technology will be stored in the storage means of the vehicle diagnostic device. Therefore, when a defect is found in the vehicle diagnosis program, the vehicle diagnosis program can be easily corrected by the editing means of the vehicle diagnosis device, and the compile work which is essential when using a compiler language is unnecessary. Therefore, it is possible to correct the vehicle diagnosis program immediately at the vehicle diagnosis site and check the operation again.

Further, according to the vehicle diagnostic program described in the program language according to the first aspect, the occurrence of problems related to diagnostic procedures and frequently used procedures is prevented. The time required for the correction work is reduced. In addition, since the types of troubles that occur are limited, even if there is a trouble, it is easy to find the trouble at the time of operation confirmation, and the correction work of the vehicle diagnosis program is facilitated and speeded up. Further, since procedures frequently used in vehicle diagnosis can be described simply by describing the corresponding functions, the amount of description of the vehicle diagnosis program is reduced, the occurrence of defects can be reduced, and defects can be easily found. This facilitates and speeds up the repair work.

Furthermore, since it is not necessary to install a large-capacity application such as a compiler required for compiling work in the storage means of the vehicle diagnostic apparatus, it is possible to prevent the apparatus from being enlarged due to an increase in the capacity of the storage means.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle diagnostic program creating device, and a vehicle diagnostic program created by the vehicle diagnostic program creating device 1 is a vehicle diagnostic device 2
ECU (electronic control unit) of the completed vehicle 3
Used for diagnosis.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle diagnostic program creation device 1 includes a main controller 11 having a CPU and a memory 11b, a hard disk 13 connected to the main controller 11 via an interface 12, and an input device. , A display 15 as display means, and an RS as an input / output interface for transferring data between external devices such as the vehicle diagnostic device 2.
232C interface connector 16.

The hard disk 13 stores a program storage unit 13a in which so-called program resources such as an established main program and a diagnostic procedure program corresponding to each diagnostic item are stored, and information on each type of vehicle to be diagnosed. A vehicle type information storage unit 13b and an ECU information storage unit 13c in which information on various ECUs to be diagnosed are stored are secured as storage areas. Further, the hard disk 13 causes the vehicle diagnostic program creation device 1 to function as an editing unit, a vehicle type information setting unit for updating information in the vehicle type information storage unit, and an ECU information setting unit for updating information in the ECU information storage unit. An editor (application) is installed, and a storage area for it is secured. The program storage unit 13a stores a communication procedure according to a predetermined communication protocol, which is a component of the communication unit, in addition to the above-described program.

When a main program is created by the vehicle diagnostic program creating apparatus 1 having such a configuration, FIG.
The procedure is as follows. First, the vehicle and the ECU to be diagnosed are registered with the keyboard 14 (S1), and the vehicle type information is called from the vehicle type information storage unit 13b and the ECU information is called from the ECU information storage unit 13c. These data are used at the time of vehicle diagnosis to determine whether the diagnosis target of the vehicle diagnosis program matches the actual diagnosis target. Next, the editor is started to set the contents of diagnosis to be executed by the vehicle diagnosis program (S2), and to set variables and their values used in the vehicle diagnosis program (S2).
3). These operations are repeated as necessary, and when the setting of the main program is completed (S4), the vehicle information, EC
The U information and the main program are converted into a text file (S5, S6), and transferred to the vehicle diagnosis device 2 as needed (S7).

The setting of the diagnosis contents (S2) is performed in a state where the editor is started and the setting screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. The setting screen is roughly composed of a left column L and a right column R. In the left column L, a list of diagnosis names N corresponding to the diagnosis procedure programs stored in the program storage unit 13a is displayed. In the column R, the steps of the diagnostic procedure corresponding to the diagnosis name N selected in the left column L are displayed. In FIG. 4, the steps of “diagnosis procedure” selected in the left column L are displayed in the right column R. The right column R further includes a number column R1 for displaying a step number, a step column R2 for displaying an actual description of each step constituting the main program, and a description in Japanese of the processing content of each step. And a comment field R3. For example, in Step 1 of the right column R shown in FIG. 4, “if (KEEP 2WBS WAIT FL =
= 1) ", and correspondingly," If [KEEP 2 WBS WAIT FL] is equal to [1] "is described in the comment field R3 on the right side.

Although the description contents (setting contents) of the program can be understood only from the step field R2, the contents of the program can be more easily recognized if the comment field R3 is provided. Even a person can easily edit and create a vehicle diagnosis program. The description in the comment column R3 is automatically created in correspondence with the description in the step column R2, but the description of the creation procedure is omitted.

When a main program is created by using the diagnostic procedure program stored in the program storage section 13a, the procedure shown in FIG. 5 is performed. Specifically, in a state where the main program is displayed in the right column R of the setting screen, first, the cursor in the step column R2 is moved to select a position for incorporating the diagnostic procedure program, that is, a setting position (S11). Subsequently, a file corresponding to the diagnostic procedure program to be set is selected from the left column L (S12) and set (S13). If all the settings are completed and "OK", the setting is completed. Otherwise, the same setting operation is repeated as necessary (S14). Although the diagnostic procedure program once set can be deleted, its description is omitted. As described above, if the program resources such as the diagnostic program procedure stored in the program storage unit 13a are used, the trouble of program creation can be saved correspondingly, and the vehicle diagnostic program can be created more quickly.

When the editing of the main program is performed not in accordance with the setting of the vehicle procedure program but in increments of steps, an icon (not shown) on a setting screen corresponding to "adding a procedure" is selected. The editing screen shown in FIG. 6A is displayed. On this editing screen, the editing content is set by selection. For example, to perform four arithmetic operations, select “four arithmetic operations” on the screen. Subsequently, a screen shown in FIG. 6B is displayed, and “+” is selected if addition processing is to be added. Then, the screen shown in FIG. 6C is displayed,
Select the two variables (symbol) to be added and the variable (symbol) to which the result of the addition is substituted (for example, select A and B as the two variables to be added and C as the variable to which the result of the addition is substituted) I do. Note that additional variables can be registered as needed. If there is no deficiency in the procedure created in this way, it is registered as a new step by setting it at a predetermined position.

To modify or delete an existing step in the main program, select "Modify procedure".
Is selected from the setting screen, and the editing content is selected on the screen displayed by the selection in the same manner as in the “adding procedure”, but the description thereof is omitted.

In the present embodiment, an interpreter language in which procedures frequently used in vehicle diagnosis are incorporated as built-in functions is used as a program language.

A frequently used procedure is "a procedure for calculating the absolute value of the sum of two variables". The procedure is
As shown in FIG. 7, in a normal interpreter language having functions for the four arithmetic operations and the square root operation, it is composed of three steps, but the "process of calculating the absolute value of the sum of two variables" is a built-in function. According to the interpreter language of the present embodiment incorporated as (Abs), it can be configured in one step. If the number of steps in the program can be reduced, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems such as bugs and condition setting errors that increase in incidence as the number of steps increases. In addition, if the amount of description is small, the program structure is simplified, understanding is easy, and program creation and modification are easy. Note that the frequency of use of procedures frequently used in vehicle diagnosis, such as the “procedure for calculating the absolute value of the sum of two variables” exemplified above, differs for each vehicle diagnosis program. The greater the number, the greater the effect of reducing the number of steps in the program and the effect of suppressing the occurrence of defects such as bugs and incorrect setting of conditions.

Next, the vehicle diagnostic device 2 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 8, the vehicle diagnostic apparatus 2 includes a main controller 21 having a CPU and a memory 21b, a hard disk 23 connected to the main controller 21 via an interface 22, and a keyboard 2 serving as an input unit.
4, a display 25 as a display means, and a connector 26 of an RS-232C interface as an input / output interface for performing data communication with an external device such as an ECU mounted on the vehicle 3. The hard disk 23 has a program storage unit 23a for storing a main program, an information storage unit 23b for storing information about a vehicle and an ECU, and an analysis for storing an analysis lexical obtained by lexical analysis of a vehicle diagnosis program. The data storage unit 23c is secured. The program storage unit 23a stores a communication procedure according to a predetermined communication protocol, which is a component of the communication unit. The vehicle diagnosis program is stored in the hard disk 23 through a medium such as a floppy disk or by data communication.

An interpreter (application) for causing the vehicle diagnostic device 2 to function as a lexical analyzer and an editor (application) for functioning as an editing device are installed in the hard disk 23, and a storage area for this is secured on the hard disk 23. ing. The interpreter of the present embodiment lexically analyzes a program described in an interpreter language in which procedures frequently used in vehicle diagnosis are incorporated as built-in functions. When using an interpreted language in which procedures frequently used in vehicle diagnosis are incorporated as functions, the amount of description in the main program is reduced, so that the lexical analysis time is shorter than when using an interpreted language in which the above functions are not incorporated. Shorter and shorter execution times.

As shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle diagnosis generally includes an initialization process and an actual vehicle diagnosis process.

In the initialization process, first, the main program is read from the program storage unit 23a into the memory 21b, and the information file is read from the information storage unit 23b as vehicle type information and ECU information (S31).
In step b, a so-called global variable used in vehicle diagnosis is read, and a storage area for storing the global variable is secured (S32). After that, the analysis result obtained by lexical analysis of the processing procedure described in the main program, which is text data, is stored in the analysis data storage unit 23c (S33), and the ECU information is stored in the ECU information defined for each ECU. The operating environment of the vehicle diagnostic device is set based on the operating environment.

In the actual vehicle diagnosis process, first, an ID is read from the ECU of the vehicle 3 to which the vehicle diagnosis device 2 is connected (S34), and the read ID is registered with the registered ID stored in the information storage unit 23b. Collation is performed (S35). Here, if the two IDs match, a predetermined global variable corresponding to the read ID is read from the information storage unit 23b and specifically set in an area for storing the global variable secured in the memory 21b (S36). ), A vehicle diagnosis is executed based on the analysis result stored in the analysis data storage unit 23c (S37). Since the vehicle diagnosis procedure itself is the same as the conventional one, the description thereof is omitted. The ECU I
If D does not match, an error message or the like is displayed on the display, and the vehicle diagnosis is terminated (S36). If the analysis result obtained in the initialization process is stored in the hard disk 23 and can be used, once the lexical analysis is performed, there is no need to perform the lexical analysis thereafter, and the vehicle diagnosis time is reduced.

By the way, the vehicle diagnostic program transferred to the vehicle diagnostic device 2 is checked before the actual vehicle diagnosis whether or not to execute a desired diagnosis in a desired procedure using a diagnosed vehicle or the like. . Here, if a defect such as a bug or a setting error is found, the operation of correcting and checking the operation again is repeated. When the compiler language is used, since the executable program cannot be modified, it is necessary to always return to the vehicle diagnostic program creating device 1 and modify the source program, which takes time. In particular, if a programmer is requested to create a vehicle diagnostic program, a large amount of time is required for correction. In this regard, if the interpreter language is used as in the present embodiment, the vehicle diagnostic program itself transferred to the vehicle diagnostic device 2 can be corrected, and the correction and the operation check can be quickly performed.

In addition, since the occurrence of malfunctions in the diagnostic procedures and frequently used procedures is prevented, the occurrence of malfunctions is reduced and the time required for corrective work is shortened. Moreover, if it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a defect with respect to a specific item of "frequently used procedure", the type of the defect that occurs can be limited, so that even if there is a defect, it is easy to find the defect at the time of operation check, The modification work of the vehicle diagnosis program is facilitated and speeded up. Furthermore, since procedures frequently used in vehicle diagnosis can be described simply by describing the corresponding functions, the amount of description of the vehicle diagnosis program is reduced, defects can be easily found, and correction work can be facilitated. Speed is achieved. Therefore, the vehicle diagnosis program that has performed the operation check can correct the vehicle diagnosis program easily and quickly, and the operation check can be immediately performed again.

Although the interpreter language of the above embodiment incorporates, as a function, a procedure frequently used in vehicle diagnosis, the interpreter language processes a screen layout for displaying a judgment result, data received from the ECU, and the like. If a series of procedures that perform processing that does not change even if the diagnosis target changes, such as procedures and processing procedures according to a predetermined communication protocol with the ECU, are handled as one function of the interpreted language, a function is selected. Thus, these processing procedures can be set. By doing so, even when a program is created for processing other than the vehicle diagnosis program, the content of the creation can be limited, and the occurrence of defects can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to more easily find and correct a defect.

[0032]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to edit a vehicle diagnostic program, such as creating or modifying a vehicle diagnostic program.
Not only the vehicle diagnosis program creation device but also the vehicle diagnosis device can be quickly executed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a vehicle diagnostic program creation device and a vehicle diagnostic device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle diagnostic program creation device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a main program.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a setting screen of a diagnostic procedure program.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a setting procedure of a diagnostic procedure program.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are diagrams showing a procedure for adding a program step;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an effect obtained by making a frequently used procedure a built-in function;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle diagnostic device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an actual vehicle diagnosis procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 vehicle diagnostic program creation device 2 vehicle diagnostic device 3 vehicle

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Ichiro Kono 1-10-1 Shinsayama, Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture Honda Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Aiba 1-10-1 Shinzayama, Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture Hong DA Engineering Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B076 DA02 DC02

Claims (2)

[Claims] An editing unit for editing a program, a program storage unit for storing the program, a vehicle type information storage unit for storing information about each vehicle type to be diagnosed, and a vehicle type information storage unit Vehicle type information setting means for updating information of the ECU, an ECU information storage section for storing information on various ECUs to be diagnosed, and ECU information setting means for updating the information of the ECU information storage section A vehicle diagnostic program creating apparatus for creating a vehicle diagnostic program including a main program created by the editing means and vehicle type information and ECU information to be diagnosed read from the vehicle type information storage unit and the ECU information storage unit. In Japan, an interpreter language in which procedures frequently used in vehicle diagnosis are incorporated as functions is called a programming language. Te used, vehicle diagnostic program creating apparatus characterized by having stored a diagnostic procedure program corresponding to each diagnostic item in the program storage unit. 2. A vehicle diagnostic device for performing data communication with an ECU mounted on a vehicle and diagnosing the ECU and a device controlled by the ECU, wherein the data is communicated with the ECU mounted on the vehicle. A communication unit for performing communication, and a storage unit for storing a vehicle diagnosis program, wherein the vehicle diagnosis program is executed by executing the vehicle diagnosis program stored in the storage unit. An analysis execution means for operating a vehicle diagnostic device based on an analysis lexical token obtained by lexically analyzing the vehicle diagnostic program, wherein the vehicle diagnostic program is described in a program language according to claim 1. Editing means for editing the program;
A vehicle diagnostic device comprising: