JP2000283892A - Signal interchanging device for failure diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To verify the operation and non-operation of a specific vehicle-mounted failure diagnostic device by connecting a plurality of vehicle-mounted (on-board) failure diagnostic devices with different protocols to a failure diagnostic device outside a vehicle (off-board). SOLUTION: A device 1 comprises a first connector 2 at a signal input/output part that is connected to a failure diagnostic circuit Cg, and a second connector 31 that is connected to a conversion part 1A, and an off-board failure diagnostic device Db. The conversion part 1A comprises a first signal conversion means 46, a signal input/output circuit switching means 10, a signal-controlling device 20, an information-processing device 25, and a second signal conversion means 30. The conversion means 46 comprises first and second signal conversion devices 4 and 6, and each of them is connected to the characteristic on-board failure diagnostic circuit Cg via the first connector 2. The signal-controlling device 20 performs control for communicating with the off-board failure diagnostic device Dg and the on-board failure diagnostic circuit Cg. The second signal- conversion means 30 converts data required for communication between the signal control device 20 and the off-board failure diagnostic device Dg.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a signal compatibility for a failure diagnosis device of a vehicle electronic control system for connecting a plurality of on-board failure diagnosis devices having different communication protocols (protocols) mounted on a vehicle to the off-board failure diagnosis device. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional on-vehicle failure diagnosis apparatuses, so-called on-board failure diagnosis apparatuses, have determined communication protocols (protocols) optimally for each control apparatus without considering signal compatibility from the background of development. In recent years, for example, in an in-vehicle LAN, a communication protocol has been determined because it is necessary to aggregate or exchange information signals of respective control devices. However, this protocol is still unified at present, as seen in the ISO CAN standardization stage and the Japanese standardization study stage, except for the proposal for the enactment of the SAE (American Society of Automotive Engineers) standard J1850 in the United States. is not. Therefore, most of the fault diagnosis devices currently mounted on vehicles are compatible with any of these protocols, but as a result, the physical layer (electrical specification) of the protocol and communication differs for each automobile company. And, in the in-vehicle failure diagnosis device uniquely made in this way, the difference from the communication control command of another protocol is corrected by a program recorded in a built-in ROM, RAM, or the like to ensure compatibility. Although it is possible, the built-in program cannot cope with the difference in the specification of the electrical conditions such as the voltage, current value, and impedance specified in each protocol.

[0003] Under such circumstances, a maintenance shop needs to have a plurality of off-board failure diagnosis devices corresponding to each vehicle-mounted failure diagnosis device in order to facilitate troubleshooting work and shorten the work time.

The applicant of the present invention has disclosed Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-59282.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 11 (1995) discloses a technique for determining whether a diagnostic program transmitted to a ram of an in-vehicle failure diagnostic apparatus is out of standard, but has no direct relation to the present invention.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and a plurality of fault diagnosis devices manufactured according to each protocol are combined into one off-board fault diagnosis device, for example. It is another object of the present invention to provide a signal compatible device for a failure diagnosis device of a vehicle electronic control system which can be diagnosed by a general-purpose personal computer.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a signal interchangeable device for a failure diagnosis device of a vehicle electronic control system, comprising: a plurality of on-board failure diagnosis devices having different communication protocols (protocols) mounted on a vehicle; In a signal compatible device for a failure diagnosis device of a vehicle electronic control system to be connected to a device, a first connector connected to the plurality of on-board failure diagnosis devices, and a second connector connected to an off-board failure diagnosis device. A first signal conversion means comprising a plurality of signal conversion devices for converting a signal into a predetermined format between the first connector and the second connector; a plurality of communication means; and controlling the communication means. Signal control means comprising communication control means and voltage detection means connected to the first connector; ROM (ROM) and ram (ROM) connected to the communication control means AM), a second signal converting means interposed between one of the communication means and the second connector, and another one of the communication means and the first A signal input / output circuit switching means interposed between the signal conversion means, and a conversion unit.

[0007] By means of the signal compatible device of the present invention, a plurality of on-board (on-board) fault diagnostic devices having different protocols are connected to an off-board (off-board) fault diagnostic device, and first, the operation of a specific on-vehicle fault diagnostic device is started. , Confirm the non-operation, convert the signal from the operating fault diagnostic device to a compatible signal, and diagnose with the off-board fault diagnostic device.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a signal interchangeable device 1 for a failure diagnosis device of a vehicle electronic control system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a signal compatible device (hereinafter abbreviated as signal compatible device) 1 for a failure diagnosis device of a vehicle electronic control system, and FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of its operation.

In FIG. 1, a signal compatible device 1 includes a first connector 2 of a signal input / output unit connected to a failure diagnostic circuit Cg, which is a failure diagnostic device on the vehicle side, and a predetermined signal in the signal compatible device 1. The main configuration includes a conversion unit 1A that converts the data into a format and a second connector 31 that is connected to the off-board failure diagnosis device Dg. The off-board failure diagnosis device Dg may be based on a general-purpose personal computer.

The first connector 2 is a connection means for matching a connector of a communication circuit bus on the vehicle side, and includes a plurality of on-board failure diagnosis circuits connected to the bus, for example, a failure diagnosis circuit relating to electronic control of engine operation, ABS.・ ASR
It has a connection function with a failure diagnosis circuit and the like related to equal braking start.

The conversion unit 1A includes a first signal conversion unit 46.
Signal input / output circuit switching means 10 and signal control device 20
, An information processing device 25, and a second signal conversion unit 30. The first signal conversion means 46 includes a first signal conversion device 4 and a second signal conversion device 6,
Each is connected via a first connector 2 to a unique on-board failure diagnosis circuit Cg. In FIG. 1, the first signal conversion device 4 is connected to a first failure diagnosis circuit Cg1, and the second signal conversion device 6 is connected to a second failure diagnosis circuit Cg2. Then, the level of the voltage, the current, and the like are increased and decreased as necessary to make them uniform. In addition,
The above-described signal conversion device includes first and second
Although the signal converters 4 and 6 described above are used, it is appropriate that the number is equal to the number of the failure diagnosis circuits Cg.

The signal input / output circuit switching means 10 includes first and second signal conversion devices 4 and 6 in the first signal conversion means 46.
Has a function of a switch for connecting any one of them to the control device 20.

The main function of the signal control device 20 is communication control for communication with the off-board failure diagnosis device Dg and the on-board failure diagnosis circuit Cg. That is, the first communication unit 21 is configured to communicate between the communication control unit 24 and the on-board failure diagnosis circuit Cg according to a control command of the communication control unit 24. The second communication unit 23 is configured to communicate between the communication control unit 24 and the off-board failure diagnosis device Dg according to a control command from the communication control unit 24.

The communication control means 24 controls the first and second communication means 21 and 23 to perform communication, and also transmits signals input from the first and second communication means 21 and 23 to an information management device. 25 is used to analyze data signals, control commands, and the like, change the specifications as necessary, and provide compatibility as communication signals. Further, the voltage detection means 22 has a function of determining whether or not the on-board failure diagnosis circuit Cg is operating via the first connector 2 based on the presence or absence of a voltage.

The information management device 25 includes a ROM 28 and a RAM
The ROM 28 understands a control command and a data signal input to the signal control device 20, and a program for compiling a predetermined format, comparison data required by the program, and a procedure required for transmission and reception of the signal. , Etc. are built in and configured as a center of the conversion unit 1A. RAM
Reference numeral 29 has functions such as data storage during arithmetic processing for operating the communication control means 24 and data input / output when necessary.

The second signal conversion means 30 has a digital signal conversion function for converting data required for communication between the signal control device 20 and the off-board failure diagnosis device Dg. For example, if the diagnostic device Dg has the communication specification RS-232
In the case of C (communication of ± 15 V), the signal is converted into a digital signal of 0 to 5 V that can be understood by a computer.

The first connector 2 and the first connector 2
Of the first connector 2 and the second signal conversion device 6 are connected to the second communication line 5 via the first communication line 3.
, The first and second signal converters 4 and 6 and the signal input / output circuit switching means 10 are connected via communication lines 7 and 8, respectively. Also, the voltage detecting means 22 and the first
Is connected via a wire 22a for supplying electric power from the vehicle side. Communication control means 2
4 is a RAM 29 via a signal line 26 in a ROM 28.
Are connected via a signal line 27. The signal conversion means 30 is connected to the second communication means 24 via a signal line 23a and to the second connector 31 via a signal line 30a.

The operation of the signal interchangeable device 1 for a failure diagnosis device for a vehicle electronic control system having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S1, the off-board failure diagnosis device Dg determines whether the on-board failure diagnosis circuit Cg1 connected to the first communication line 3 is alive or not, or whether the second communication line 5 Is inquired as to whether or not the on-board failure diagnosis circuit Cg2 connected to the device is operating. In step S2, it is confirmed whether or not the inquiry instruction in step S1 is an instruction relating to the first communication line 3. If it is an instruction to confirm the operation of the on-board failure diagnosis circuit Cg1 via the first communication line 3, the process proceeds to step S3. If NO, go to step S6.

In step S3, execution of a test on the first communication line 3 is determined. Then, in step S4,
It is determined whether or not the first communication line 3 has a predetermined voltage.
That is, it is checked whether the failure diagnosis circuit Cg1 connected to the signal line 3 is operating. If YES with voltage, the process proceeds to step S5. If there is no voltage, the process goes to step S12 to notify the off-board failure diagnostic device Dg that the signal line 3 is inactive and therefore the diagnosis is impossible.

In step S5, input / output through the signal line 3 as a diagnostic line is enabled. That is, the signal input / output switching means 10 is switched to open the first communication line 3 and set the communication start timing. Next, in step S6, notification data, which is a signal indicating that the signal line 3 is opened and communication is performed, is selected and set. Then, in step S11, the off-board failure diagnostic device Dg is notified that communication from the first communication line 3 is possible, that is, the first communication line 3 is operating and data transmission is possible. .

On the other hand, in step S6, which is NO in step S2, it is confirmed whether or not the instruction is for the second communication line 5. If it is an instruction to confirm the operation of the on-board failure diagnosis circuit Cg2 via the second communication line 5, the process proceeds to step S7. If NO, the process goes to step S12 to notify the off-board failure diagnostic device Dg that the diagnosis is impossible.

In step S7, execution of a test on the second communication line 5 is determined. Then, in step S8,
It is determined whether the second communication line 5 has a predetermined voltage.
That is, the failure diagnosis circuit Cg2 connected to the second communication line 5
Check if is working. If there is a voltage, the process proceeds to step S9. If there is no voltage, the second communication line 5 is not operated in step S12, and therefore, the diagnosis is notified to the off-board failure diagnosis device Dg that the diagnosis is not possible. In step S9, input / output via the second communication line 5 is enabled as a diagnostic line. That is, the signal input / output switching means 10 is switched to open the second communication line 5 and set the communication start timing. Next, in step S10, the notification data, which is a signal for opening the second communication line 5 and performing communication, is selected and set. Then, in step S11, the off-board failure diagnostic device Dg is notified that communication from the second communication line 5 is possible, that is, the second communication line 5 is operating and data transmission is possible. .

As described above, whether the specific on-board failure diagnosis circuit Cg is operating can be confirmed from the off-board failure diagnosis device Dg. Then, data can be obtained from the on-board failure diagnosis circuit Cg which can be diagnosed, and diagnosis can be performed from the outside.

[0025]

The effects of the present invention will be described below.

According to the signal interchangeable device for a fault diagnosis device of a vehicle electronic control system of the present invention, a plurality of fault diagnosis devices having different protocols mounted on a vehicle (on-board) are connected to a fault diagnosis device outside the vehicle (off-board). The operation and non-operation of a specific in-vehicle failure diagnosis device can be confirmed. Alternatively, it is possible to confirm whether or not the specific in-vehicle failure diagnosis device is in-vehicle. Then, the signal from the operating fault diagnostic device can be converted into a compatible signal and diagnosed by one off-board fault diagnostic device, thereby facilitating the troubleshooting work and shortening the working time. I can do it. Therefore, only one off-board failure diagnosis device is required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a signal interchangeable device for a failure diagnosis device of a vehicle electronic control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Dg ··· Out-of-vehicle (off-board) fault diagnosis device Cg ··· In-vehicle (on-board) fault diagnosis device and generic name of circuit 1 ... Signal compatible device for fault diagnosis device 1A .... Conversion unit 2 ... First connector 3 1st communication line 4 1st signal conversion device 5 2nd communication line 6 2nd signal conversion device 7, 8 ... communication line 10 ... signal Input / output circuit switching means 20 ... Signal control device 21 ... First communication means 22 ... Voltage detecting means 22a ... Wire 23 ... Second communication means 24 ... Communication control means 25 ... -Information processing devices 26, 27, 23a, 30a-Signal lines 28-ROM (ROM) 29-RAM (RAM) 30-Second signal conversion means 31-Second connector 46 ... First signal conversion means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A signal interchangeable device for a vehicle electronic control system for connecting a plurality of on-board failure diagnosis devices mounted on a vehicle having different communication protocols to an off-board failure diagnosis device, the plurality of on-board failure diagnosis devices comprising: A first connector connected to the diagnostic device, a second connector connected to the off-board failure diagnostic device, a first connector and a second connector.
A first signal conversion means which is provided between the first and second connectors and converts a signal into a predetermined format; a plurality of communication means; a communication control means for controlling the communication means; A signal control unit including a voltage detection unit connected to the connector; an information management device including a ROM and a RAM connected to the communication control unit;
A second signal conversion unit interposed between one of the communication units and the second connector; and a signal input unit interposed between the other one of the communication units and the first signal conversion unit. A signal conversion device for a fault diagnosis device of a vehicle electronic control system, comprising: a conversion unit configured to include an output circuit switching unit;