JP2005315235A - Inspection device for on-vehicle failure diagnosis system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inspection device for an on-vehicle failure diagnosis system not requiring exclusive harness for inspection. <P>SOLUTION: The inspection device 1 for the on-vehicle failure system stores data correlating a terminal number of a connector 4 with content of signal for each vehicle type and signal pattern of each signal in a memory 13 as a determination reference of each signal. When the device is connected to a harness 3 connecting ECM and vehicle each part, CPU 12 determines the content of signals of a plurality of signal lines of the harness 3 based on the determination reference stored in the memory 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection device for an on-vehicle failure diagnosis system.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a so-called self-diagnosis system that attaches a self-diagnosis to the state of the vehicle and warns a driver of a problem is attached to the automobile. Such an automobile self-diagnosis system is referred to as an on-board diagnosis (OBD system) system (for example, Patent Document 1).

  By the way, this OBD system is a device that detects various malfunctions of the vehicle and informs the driver of it, so that it is required to operate reliably. For this reason, the inspection of the OBD system requires an inspection in a state where the OBD system is mounted on the vehicle and the vehicle is operating.

  Conventionally, for inspection of an OBD system, while the vehicle is in operation, signals supplied from sensors from various parts of the vehicle are processed and supplied to the OBD system in the same way as when a failure occurs. However, the OBD system is tested to see if it responds correctly. For this reason, in the inspection of the OBD system in a state where it is mounted on a vehicle, a signal processing device for processing a signal is attached to a harness in which various signal lines connected to the OBD system are bundled, and a signal from each sensor is received. After processing, it is input to the OBD system for inspection.

  In the inspection of such a conventional OBD system, not all signals are simultaneously processed for a plurality of signal lines, but signals are sent from the signal processing apparatus at various timings and only for specific signals. To process the original signal. For this reason, when the signal processing apparatus is connected to a plurality of signal lines, it is necessary to surely know what the signal content of the signal line to be processed is.

Therefore, a dedicated harness for connecting a signal processing apparatus and a harness originally connected to the OBD system is manufactured and used so that a plurality of signal lines correspond to signals to be processed by the signal processing apparatus.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 20003-22330

  However, how to bundle a plurality of signal lines bundled in a harness connecting the OBD system and each part of the vehicle differs depending on the vehicle type. This means that, for example, a signal line connecting an engine control module (hereinafter referred to as ECM) that performs the main operation of the OBD system and each part sensor is at a different position in the harness depending on the vehicle type. For this reason, when inspecting the OBD system, it is necessary to create a dedicated harness for the vehicle to be inspected and connect the signal processing apparatus using the dedicated harness.

  In addition, recent vehicles have a large number of signal lines, and when making dedicated harnesses, making the signal route correct for each vehicle type itself takes a lot of work time and also checks after completion. It is a tough work. Also, depending on the vehicle model, the signal line may differ depending on whether optional accessories are installed. In such a case, even if a special harness for inspection made for that vehicle model in advance cannot be used, In some cases, it was a very time-consuming task, such as modifying the dedicated harness on the spot or re-creating from scratch.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an inspection device for an on-vehicle failure diagnosis system that does not require a dedicated harness when in-vehicle inspection of the on-vehicle failure diagnosis system is performed.

  The purpose is to determine what is the signal coming to each of the plurality of signal lines connected by the connection means, and the connection means for connecting to the plurality of signal lines connected to the vehicle-mounted fault diagnosis system. A determination criterion storage means for storing a determination criterion for determination; a determination means for determining what the signal coming to the signal line is based on the determination criterion stored in the determination criterion storage means; It is achieved by an inspection device for an on-vehicle type fault diagnosis system characterized by having

  According to the present invention, since the signal contents coming to the plurality of signal lines connected to the OBD system are determined based on the determination criterion, a dedicated harness for determining and connecting each of the plurality of signal lines is manufactured. The inspection of the in-vehicle failure diagnosis system can be started simply by connecting the inspection apparatus of the present invention to a plurality of connection lines. Accordingly, preparation work such as production and correction of a dedicated harness for inspection can be omitted, and the time required for advance preparation can be greatly shortened.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram around the ECM when the inspection device for the in-vehicle type failure diagnosis system of the present invention is attached, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the inspection device for the in-vehicle type failure diagnosis system of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an inspection device (hereinafter referred to as an OBD inspection device) 1 of this in-vehicle type failure diagnosis system is inserted between an ECM 2 and a harness 3 for connecting each part of the vehicle. The harness 3 is one in which a plurality of signal lines 3a are bundled and a connector is attached.

  When the OBD inspection apparatus 1 is mounted, it is attached by connecting the OBD inspection apparatus 1 with the connectors 4 and 5. For this reason, the connectors 4 and 5 are connected to the connector 4a attached to the harness 3 coming from each part of the vehicle and the input side connector 4b provided in the OBD inspection apparatus 1, and to the output side connector 5a provided in the OBD inspection apparatus 1. The ECM connector 5b is connected. Here, the input side connector 4b serves as a connection means.

  In a normal state where the OBD inspection apparatus 1 is not attached, the connectors 4a and 5b are directly connected.

  Further, the OBD inspection apparatus 1 can perform communication for diagnostic control with the ECM 2 via some signal lines of the harness 3. This is defined by the conventional diagnostic protocol of ECM2, and the vehicle type information possessed by ECM2 can be acquired. For this communication, for example, signals such as CAN (Controller Area Network) and DDL (Diagnostic Data Link) are used. Since the CAN signal line 7 is usually bundled together with the harness 3, the CAN signal can be acquired by connecting the harness 3.

  The ECM 2 is connected to the meter panel 6 and outputs various alarms to the meter panel 6. Therefore, although the ECM 2 and the meter panel 6 substantially constitute an OBD system, the self-diagnosis function itself for diagnosing the state of each part of the vehicle exists in the ECM 2. Note that an ECM having such a self-diagnosis function is also referred to as ECCS, ECU, or the like as having the same function.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the OBD inspection apparatus 1 includes an analog / digital converter 11 provided on the signal input side from the harness 3, a CPU 12 that performs signal discrimination and signal processing, which will be described later, and each input signal line. A memory 13 that stores a discrimination criterion of a signal necessary for discriminating whether or not there is a digital / analog converter 14 provided on the output side in order to output a processed signal or an input signal .

  The CPU 12 is a discriminating means that discriminates the signal from each signal line input according to the procedure described later according to the discriminating criteria stored in the memory 13 and only when it is discriminated that the signal is a processing instruction. Then, a process of processing and outputting the input signal is executed. The processing instruction is an instruction for processing a signal so that some trouble occurs with respect to a normal signal input from each part of the vehicle for the inspection of the OBD system, and at various timings. It is issued for at least one of the signals from each part of the vehicle. This processing instruction may be stored in the memory 13 in advance, or an instruction may be given from the outside during the inspection.

  The memory 13 is a discrimination criterion storage means, and stores two discrimination criteria in this embodiment.

  The first determination criterion is table data in which each signal arrangement for each connector terminal number of the harness 3 connected to the ECM 2 is associated with the vehicle code read from the ECM 2.

  Each ECM 2 stores a vehicle code on which the ECM 2 is mounted. The OBD inspection apparatus 1 acquires the vehicle code from the ECM 2 via the CAN signal line 7, and thereby the terminal number of the harness 3 connected thereto, that is, the harness 3 connected to the OBD inspection apparatus 1. Determine what the signal line is for each terminal number.

  What each signal for each terminal number of the harness 3 connected to the ECM 2 is explained is a maintenance manual for each vehicle on which the ECM 2 is mounted, that is, for each vehicle type identified by the vehicle code, and for explaining the vehicle. Since it is described in a data book such as a book, data should be created based on it.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of vehicle information that can be known from the vehicle code, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal number array of a harness connector connected to the ECM 2, and FIG. 5 is a type that can be seen from the vehicle information. It is drawing which shows an example of the table data which matched each connector terminal number and signal content separately.

  The vehicle code is read from ECM2. This vehicle code is a unique number or code assigned to each vehicle, for example, for identifying each vehicle including the equipment of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 3, the ECM 2 is installed from this vehicle code. You can find information about the vehicle model, engine type, destination, transmission type, equipment, etc. Then, it can be seen from these vehicle information how the signals coming to each signal line of the harness connected to the ECM 2 used for the vehicle are allocated. Here, it is set as the types 1-4 as the terminal allocation. In FIG. 3, ACC is an abbreviation for adaptive cruise control, and TCS is an abbreviation for traction control system.

  And if this type of terminal allocation is known, as shown in FIG. 5, by referring to the table data in which the terminal number of the harness connector shown in FIG. 4 is associated with the signal content of each terminal number, finally, From the vehicle code acquired from the ECM2, it is possible to determine which signal is coming to each signal line of the harness connected to the ECM2.

  Therefore, as a first discrimination criterion, a data table in which a signal array is associated with a terminal number of a harness connector from a vehicle code as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 is stored. Of course, it is good also as a data table which can understand the signal arrangement | sequence for every terminal number of a harness connector directly from a vehicle type code | cord | chord.

  Needless to say, the vehicle type information and terminal arrangements shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and signals input thereto are merely examples, and various signals are used in actual vehicles.

  The second discrimination criterion is a signal pattern in a normal state stored for each signal. The OBD inspection apparatus 1 determines what kind of signal the signal input to the OBD inspection apparatus 1 is by comparing the input signal pattern with a signal pattern serving as a determination criterion.

  Such a signal pattern is also normal based on what the normal signal pattern of each signal is described in the data manual such as the maintenance manual and the manual explaining the vehicle. A signal pattern of each signal at the time is created and stored as a second discrimination criterion.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a normal signal pattern.

  FIG. 6 (a) shows a normal waveform when the air flow sensor is idling, and the fluctuation fluctuates roughly between 2.2 and 3V. FIG. 6B shows a normal waveform when the O2 sensor # 1 is idling, and irregularly varies between a lower limit of 0.1 to 0.4 V and an upper limit of 0.6 to 0.9 V. FIG. 6C shows a normal waveform after the warm-up operation of the ignition signal # 1, and pulse vibration of about 0.1 V is regularly output. FIG. 6D shows a normal waveform at the time of idling of injection # 1, and a periodic pulse signal is output.

  For the signal pattern that is actually stored, for example, for signals that fluctuate irregularly as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, their fluctuation voltage ranges are stored as signal patterns and are actually input. Compared to the voltage value range of the signal. On the other hand, for a regular signal as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the voltage value and period of the signal are stored as a signal pattern, and the voltage value and period of the actually input signal are stored. Compare. Further, a regular signal may be discriminated by using a technique such as pattern matching (matching images) by storing the signal waveform itself as shown in the figure as a signal pattern.

  Therefore, the CPU 12 determines what each signal is based on these two determination criteria, and then processes the signal for which a processing instruction has been issued.

  The memory 13 is preferably a high-speed memory such as a RAM. However, when storing a signal pattern as a signal waveform itself as image information, for example, a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive is further stored as a discrimination reference. It may be used as a means. In addition, as the discrimination criterion storage means, for example, by storing various vehicle discrimination criteria in a data server that becomes a larger-scale storage device using a network, for example, appropriately communicates with the data server, Necessary vehicle discrimination criteria may be called into the memory for use.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an inspection procedure by the OBD inspection apparatus.

  In the inspection of the OBD system, first, the OBD inspection apparatus 1 is attached in the middle of the harness 3 connected to the ECM 2 as shown in FIG. Start inspection.

  In the OBD inspection apparatus 1, first, the CPU 12 acquires a vehicle code from the ECM 2 (S1).

  Subsequently, the CPU 12 collates the acquired vehicle code with the vehicle code in the memory 13, and what is the signal coming to each terminal of the connector 4 of the harness 3 connected from the vehicle code in the memory 13. Is discriminated (S2). This discrimination is called primary discrimination.

  Subsequently, the CPU 12 obtains what is a signal for which a processing instruction for performing an inspection stored in advance in the memory 13 is issued (S3).

  Subsequently, the CPU 12 selects a signal for which a processing instruction is obtained from the result of the primary discrimination, and compares the input of the selected signal with the signal pattern of the selected signal in the memory 13 ( S4) It is determined whether or not the selected signal is a signal for which a machining instruction has been issued (S5). This step of S4 and S5 is called secondary discrimination.

  If the CPU 12 determines that the signal selected in the secondary discrimination is a signal for which a machining instruction has been issued, the CPU 12 performs a predetermined machining on the selected signal and outputs the selected signal (S6).

  On the other hand, when it is determined in the secondary discrimination that the selected signal is not a signal for which a processing instruction has been issued, that is, the selected signal does not match the signal pattern stored in the memory 13 as that signal. Outputs the input signal as it is without processing it (S7). Then, an error such as a signal mismatch is output and the process ends. Here, the error output may be output when the OBD inspection apparatus 1 itself is equipped with a display or the like, and when there is a separate OBD apparatus (described later), the OBD is output. Or transmit to the device through CAN. Further, it may be stored in the memory 13 so that an error can be taken out later.

  If there are a plurality of signals for which processing instructions have been issued, the processing from step S3 to S7 is performed for all the signals for which processing instructions have been issued, that is, until the inspection is completed (S8). It will be executed repeatedly.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, after the determination based on the first determination criterion, the determination based on the second determination criterion is normally performed based on the first determination criterion, that is, the connector that can be recognized from the vehicle code. Although it is possible to determine what the signal coming to each terminal is based on the signal arrangement of the terminals, this inspection is performed with the engine running, so it should not be processed while the engine is running. In order not to process the signal, the determination is performed twice based on different determination criteria.

  In addition, the signal for which a processing instruction is issued by such double determination, that is, the signal to be diagnosed is different from the signal actually processed, and the reliability of the inspection itself is impaired. Can also prevent.

  Further, by performing discrimination based on the signal pattern used as the secondary discrimination, even if the signal itself is a signal for which a desired processing instruction has been issued, there is actually an abnormality in the vehicle at the time of diagnosis of the OBD system. In such a case, the signal pattern will not match. In such a case, an error report is made without processing the signal for which a processing instruction has been issued, so only the OBD system is diagnosed reliably in the vehicle operating state. can do.

  As a result, in the present embodiment, the signal reaching the OBD system can be processed after reliably determining what the signal is, so that the reliability of the ODB inspection can be increased. Moreover, in this embodiment, since this OBD inspection apparatus is inserted using the connector of the harness connected to the ECM that works as an OBD system, a software instruction such as a processing instruction is given as a prior work. Other than that, it is only necessary to attach the OBD inspection apparatus to the harness as an actual work, and a very simple work is sufficient.

  Although the embodiment to which the present invention is applied has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment.

  For example, the block diagram shown in FIG. 1 only shows the mounting position of the OBD inspection apparatus for the purpose of explaining the present embodiment. It is not necessary to install. For example, it suffices that only the wiring is drawn from a part of the harness and connected so as to interpose the input and output of the OBD inspection apparatus.

  In the above-described processing procedure, after determining the signal coming from the vehicle code at each terminal in step S2, the processing instruction is acquired in step S3. Instead, the processing instruction is first issued. After acquisition, only the signal coming from the vehicle code to the terminal for which a processing instruction has been issued may be subjected to primary determination. In this case, a signal for which no processing instruction is issued is output as it is to the terminal of the output connector corresponding to the input terminal number of the input connector.

  In the above embodiment, the OBD system that displays a warning on the meter panel in the vehicle has been described as an example. However, in addition to this, the OBD system that performs various in-vehicle diagnosis through CAN can be used in the same manner. Can do. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, in a vehicle system in which the ECM 2, the meter panel 4, and various other equipment (control unit (C / U) 102) are connected using CAN, 7 is a system in which a portable ODB tool 8 is connected by a diagnostic connector 9 to acquire information from the ECM 2 through the CAN and diagnose the state of the vehicle. Even when such an attached OBD tool 8 is used, a signal to be diagnosed can be obtained by connecting the OBD inspection apparatus 1 according to the present invention between harnesses connecting the ECM 2 and each part of the vehicle, as in the above-described embodiment. Only can be identified and processed reliably. Then, in addition to the inspection of the OBD system by visual inspection of the meter panel, it is possible to inspect whether the OBD is operating reliably by the diagnostic tool.

  When the OBD tool 8 is separately connected as described above, a signal processing instruction is output from the separately attached OBD tool 8 and a signal to be processed is instructed to the OBD inspection apparatus 1 through the CAN. The OBD inspection apparatus 1 Instead of step S3, a processing signal may be selected in response to the instruction.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the terminal arrangement of the harness and the double determination of the signal pattern are performed, but each signal can be determined even by the determination by either one. Therefore, even when only one of such determinations is made, it is possible to greatly simplify preparations without producing a dedicated harness as in the prior art.

  Such an OBD inspection apparatus to which the present invention is suitable is particularly suitable when, for example, a vehicle model for annually inspecting an OBD system is designated by the California Air Resources Board (ARB). This is because it is difficult to create a harness for inspection that can be applied to all vehicle types at an unknown stage until an inspection vehicle type is specified. If a dedicated harness is manufactured as in the past, a lot of time is spent alone, and the inspection is slowed down. By using the OBD inspection apparatus of the present invention, a maintenance manual for a vehicle type sold in advance or Since the manuals are stored in the database, the OBD system diagnosis can be performed immediately after receiving the designation simply by storing the correspondence table data and signal pattern of the vehicle code and terminal arrangement in the storage unit. Work can be performed. In addition, even if the data about the vehicle specified in advance is not in the OBD inspection apparatus of the present invention, it is only necessary to create a database from software such as a maintenance manual or a manual and put it in. Such time can be greatly reduced.

It is a block diagram around ECM when the OBD inspection device of the present invention is attached. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an OBD inspection apparatus. It is drawing which shows an example of the vehicle information known from a vehicle code. It is drawing which shows an example of the terminal number arrangement | sequence of the harness connector connected to ECM. It is drawing which shows an example of the table data which matched each connector terminal number and the signal content according to the type known from vehicle information. It is drawing which shows the example of the signal pattern at the time of normal. It is a flowchart which shows the test | inspection procedure by an OBD test | inspection apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the connection in the case of the vehicle diagnosis using a portable ODB tool.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... OBD inspection device,
2 ... ECM,
3. Harness,
4, 5 ... Connector,
6 ... Meter panel,
11 ... analog / digital converter,
12 ... CPU,
13 ... Memory,
14: Digital / analog converter.

Claims (5)

Connection means for connecting to a plurality of signal lines connected to the vehicle-mounted fault diagnosis system;
Discrimination criterion storage means for storing discrimination criteria for discriminating what is the signal coming to each of the plurality of signal lines connected by the connection means;
Discriminating means for discriminating what the signal coming to the signal line is based on the discrimination criterion stored in the discrimination criterion storage means;
An inspection apparatus for an on-vehicle failure diagnosis system, comprising: The discrimination criterion stored in the discrimination criterion storage means is correspondence data in which the terminal number of the connection means is associated with the signal content coming to each signal line,
2. The inspection apparatus for an on-vehicle failure diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein the determination means determines the signal content of the signal line from the terminal number in the connection means based on the correspondence data. The discrimination criteria stored in the discrimination criteria storage means are signal patterns corresponding to the signal contents of the signal lines,
2. The inspection apparatus for an in-vehicle fault diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein the determining means determines the signal content of the signal line by comparing the signal pattern and a signal coming to the signal line. The discrimination criteria stored in the discrimination criteria storage means include correspondence data in which the terminal number of the connection means is associated with the signal content coming to each signal line, and the signal of the signal coming to the signal line Pattern,
The discrimination means discriminates the signal content of the signal line from the terminal number in the connection means based on the correspondence data, and the discriminated signal content matches the signal pattern stored in the discrimination reference storage means. The in-vehicle fault diagnosis system inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not to perform the determination is determined.   5. The vehicle-mounted fault diagnosis according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines a signal content of at least one signal line selected separately from the plurality of signal lines. System inspection device.

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