JP2008024208A - Vehicular diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular diagnostic device having a simple constitution which is capable of reliably operating the function of a drive recorder. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular diagnostic device comprises a vehicular diagnostic device body having the drive recorder function, an auxiliary connection cable which is an accessory used when operating the drive recorder, interposed between the vehicular diagnostic device body and a diagonal connector, connected to a cigar socket of a vehicle to supply the power to the vehicular diagnostic device body from the cigar socket, and a start control means for starting the drive recorder synchronously with the start of the vehicle by repeatedly executing the communication initialization via the diagonostic connector. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle diagnostic apparatus including a drive recorder that records vehicle state information when a vehicle is traveling.

A vehicle diagnosis apparatus used for vehicle failure diagnosis is usually used by being connected to a diagnosis connector provided in the vehicle, and the diagnosis information such as engine operation information is transmitted from the vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) via the diagnosis connector. It is configured to collect information and diagnose a fault (see, for example, Patent Document 1). It has also been proposed to detect the engine speed from a voltage fluctuation (pulsation component) of a power supply voltage applied to the cigar socket, so-called accessory power supply (ACC power supply) (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-20461 A JP 2004-359127 A

  Incidentally, it has been proposed to incorporate a drive recorder that acquires and records vehicle state information during travel of the vehicle through the diagnostic connector in the vehicle diagnostic apparatus described above. However, the vehicle diagnosis apparatus is exclusively configured to operate with power supplied from a diagnostic connector. Further, the power supply voltage (B power supply) is directly supplied to the diagnosis connector from a battery mounted on the vehicle in accordance with OBD (on-board diagnosis) regulations. Therefore, when the vehicle diagnostic device is connected to the diagnostic connector and the power is turned on (on) and then the engine is started by operating the ignition key of the vehicle, the drive recorder does not operate due to the time difference. Problems may occur.

  That is, in a vehicle before OBD regulation, a main power source (M power source) accompanying an ignition key operation is supplied to the diagnosis connector, and the vehicle diagnostic apparatus operates by receiving this M power source. As shown in Fig. 4, the engine is turned on simultaneously with the start of the engine. However, in a vehicle in which battery power (B power) is supplied to the diagnostic connector in accordance with the OBD regulation, power is always supplied to the vehicle diagnostic device. Therefore, as shown in FIG. After the device is turned on (on), the diagnostic information cannot be obtained from the diagnostic connector until the vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) is actuated when the engine is started. Then, the vehicle diagnosis apparatus may recognize this as a communication error and may stop the function of the drive recorder.

  In this regard, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is conceivable that the vehicle diagnostic apparatus is powered on from the cigar socket so that the vehicle diagnostic apparatus is powered on (on) and the engine start timing in the vehicle is matched. However, the power source obtained from the cigar socket is an accessory power source (ACC power source) as described above, which is different from the engine start timing at which the electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle operates, thus completely eliminating the above-mentioned problems. It is not possible.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and its purpose is to ensure that the function of the drive recorder is activated even when the start timing of the engine in the vehicle is delayed from when the power is turned on. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle diagnostic apparatus having a simple configuration.

In order to achieve the above-described object, a vehicle diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes:
<a> A vehicle diagnostic device main body connected to a diagnosis connector provided in the vehicle and used for failure diagnosis of the vehicle,
<b> A drive recorder incorporated in the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body and acquiring and recording vehicle state information during travel of the vehicle via the diagnostic connector and its control means;
<c> An accessory used when operating the drive recorder, and is interposed between the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body and the diagnosis connector, and replaces the power supply line from the diagnosis connector with the vehicle. An auxiliary connection cable that is connected to the cigar socket and supplies power to the vehicle diagnostic apparatus body from the cigar socket,
<d> Included in the drive recorder control means is a start control means for repeatedly executing a communication initialization process via the diagnostic connector and starting the drive recorder in synchronism with the start of the vehicle. It is a feature.

  Preferably, the activation control unit is configured to restart the communication initialization process after a predetermined time when the communication initialization process via the diagnostic connector fails. Further, the connection of the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body to the diagnosis connector is performed using a connection cable having a connector plug having a structure paired with the diagnosis connector, and the auxiliary connection cable is connected to the diagnosis connector. The connector comprises a connector of the same standard, a connector plug having a structure paired with the diagnostic connector connected to the connector except for the power supply line, and a cigar plug connected to the power supply line of the connector. , Used in connection with the connection cable.

  According to the vehicle diagnostic apparatus having the above-described configuration, the vehicle diagnostic apparatus body is connected to the diagnosis connector and the cigar socket using the auxiliary connection cord, so that the vehicle diagnostic apparatus body is connected to the accessory power supply (ACC power supply) in conjunction with the operation of the ignition key. In general, the vehicle diagnostic device main body can be operated at substantially the same timing as the vehicle-side electronic control unit (ECU) by starting the engine. As a result, in the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body, it is possible to detect communication information from the electronic control unit (ECU) at the time of communication initialization via the diagnosis connector, so that the drive recorder is operated and the diagnosis connector is connected via the diagnosis connector. The acquired diagnosis information can be recorded reliably.

  Further, when the ignition key is stopped with the accessory power source selected, and then the engine is started by turning on the ignition key, the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body side receives the electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle. Until the communication information is detected, the communication initialization process described above is repeatedly executed, and the function of the drive recorder is not suspended as a result of the occurrence of a communication error at the time of activation. Accordingly, the diagnosis information from the electronic control unit (ECU) can be sequentially recorded on the drive recorder by the activation of the electronic control unit (ECU) accompanying the start of the engine.

  Therefore, when operating the drive recorder incorporated in the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body, simply and securely connecting the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body to the diagnostic connector and cigar socket using the auxiliary connection cord described above. The drive recorder can be operated in conjunction with the engine start. Further, when the function of the drive recorder is not used, it is only necessary to directly connect the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body to the diagnostic connector, so that the handling property is not hindered. In other words, regardless of whether the vehicle is an OBD-regulated vehicle or not, the vehicle diagnostic device itself is connected to the vehicle, and the drive recorder is reliably operated in conjunction with the engine start of the vehicle simply by turning on the power. Can be made.

Hereinafter, a vehicle diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
This vehicle diagnostic apparatus is used by being connected to a diagnostic connector provided in the vehicle. Basically, a diagnostic such as the engine speed is transmitted from the vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) via the diagnostic connector. It is configured to acquire information, analyze the information, and diagnose a failure. In particular, this vehicle diagnostic apparatus has a drive recorder function that automatically records various diagnostic information during the traveling of the vehicle and uses it for subsequent information analysis by a computer or the like.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, where 10 is a vehicle to be diagnosed, 20 is a vehicle diagnostic device body connected to the diagnostic connector 11 of the vehicle 10, and 30 is an accessory of the vehicle diagnostic device body 20. There is an auxiliary connection cable. The vehicle 10 incorporates an electronic control unit (ECU) 12 that controls various functions of the vehicle 10 such as an engine and an automatic transmission. Diag information required by the electronic control unit (ECU) 12 is An external output is made via the connector 11. The diagnostic connector 11 is directly supplied with power (B power) from a battery (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 10.

  The electronic control unit (ECU) 12 is supplied with main power (M power) via the ignition key switch 13 when the ignition key switch 13 is operated to the ON position to operate the engine. Operate. Further, by operating the ignition key switch 13 to the accessory [ACC] position, the accessory power source [ACC power source] is supplied to the audio device (not shown) and the cigar socket 14 via the ignition key switch 13. These functions are generally provided in the vehicle 10, and further detailed description thereof is omitted.

  On the other hand, the vehicle diagnostic device includes a vehicle diagnostic device main body 20 that forms a main part thereof, and a connection cable 21 for connecting the vehicle diagnostic device main body 20 to the diagnostic connector 11. The connection cable 21 is provided with a connector plug 22 having a structure that is paired with the diagnostic connector 11 at the tip thereof, and is connected to the diagnostic connector 11 by connecting the connector plug 22 to the diagnostic connector 11. Power is supplied via the cable 21 and diagnostic information is acquired from the electronic control unit (ECU) 12 via the diagnostic connector 11 and the connection cable 21.

  That is, the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body 20 is mainly composed of a microprocessor (MPU) 23 having a communication function via the connection cable 21 and a data analysis processing function, and further an internal power source for driving the microprocessor (MPU) 23. 24, a drive recorder 25 composed of a semiconductor memory, and a control unit 26 thereof. In particular, the control unit 26 repeatedly executes communication initialization processing with the electronic control unit (ECU) 12 as will be described later when collecting diagnostic information during travel of the vehicle 10 using the drive recorder 25. Thus, an activation control function for operating the drive recorder 25 in conjunction with the start of the engine in the vehicle 10, that is, in conjunction with the start-up (activation) of the electronic control unit (ECU) 12 accompanying the start of the engine. It has been incorporated.

  The internal power supply 24 is provided with a power switch 24a. The internal power supply 24 generates power by receiving power supplied from the vehicle 10 via the above-described diagnostic connector 11 by turning on the power switch 24a (power-on). The internal power is generated by the microprocessor ( MPU) 23 and the like are operated to operate the vehicle diagnostic apparatus body 20. Further, if the power switch 24a is set to an on (power on) state in advance, the internal power source 24 operates when power is supplied from the vehicle 10 to operate the vehicle diagnostic apparatus body 20. In the figure, reference numeral 27 denotes a connector for connecting the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body 20 to a computer (not shown). The computer acquires the recording information of the drive recorder 25 and the like through this connector 27.

  On the other hand, the auxiliary connection cable 30 which is an accessory of the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body 20 is provided with a connector 31 having the same standard as the diagnostic connector 11 at one end and the diagnostic connector at the other end as shown in a schematic configuration in FIG. A connector plug 32 having a structure paired with the connector 11 is provided and a cigar plug 33 is provided. The connector plug 32 is the connector 31 except for its power line, and the cigar plug 33 is connected to the power supply line of the connector 31. The cigar plug 33 is connected to a cigar socket 14 provided in the vehicle 11, and guides the accessory power source (ACC power source) from the cigar socket 14 to the connector 31 instead of the diagnostic connector 11. Take a role.

  That is, the connector 31 and the connector plug 32 provided at both ends of the auxiliary connection cable 30 are connected to each other by cutting only the power line between them, and the power line of the connector 31 is connected to the cigar plug 33. ing. By connecting the connector plug 22 of the connection cable 21 to the connector 31 of the auxiliary connection cable 30, the auxiliary connection cable 30 is used as an extension part of the connection cable 21. The connector plug 32 of the auxiliary connection cable 30 is connected to the diagnostic connector 11 of the vehicle 10, and the cigar plug 33 is connected to the cigar socket 14 of the vehicle 10, so that the vehicle diagnostic apparatus body 20 is connected to the auxiliary connection cable 30. It is connected to the vehicle 10 via. The vehicle diagnostic device main body 20 operates by receiving an accessory power supply (ACC power supply) from the cigar socket 14 and acquires diagnostic information from the electronic control unit (ECU) 12 via the diagnostic connector 11.

  Thus, when the vehicle diagnostic apparatus body 20 is connected to the vehicle 10 via the auxiliary connection cable 30 as described above, the ignition key switch 13 of the vehicle 10 is moved from the locked (off) position all at once as shown in FIG. When the operation is performed to the ON (ON) position, the accessory power (ACC power) is supplied to the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body 20 via the cigar socket 14 when the key switch 13 passes the accessory (ACC) position. When the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body 20 starts to operate by the supply of the accessory power supply (ACC power supply), the engine of the vehicle 10 is started almost simultaneously, and the electronic control unit (ECU) 12 is operated (starts up) accordingly. The microprocessor (MPU) 23 of the diagnostic apparatus main body 20 executes the communication initialization process with the electronic control unit (ECU) 12 of the vehicle 10 without any problem, and operates the drive recorder 25. As a result, the drive recorder 25 acquires diagnostic information from the electronic control unit (ECU) 12 via the diagnostic connector 11 and records it.

  The control unit 26 in the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body 20 uses the drive recorder 25 to collect diagnostic information when the vehicle 10 is traveling, for example, according to the procedure shown in FIG. The communication initialization process is repeatedly executed. Specifically, communication initialization processing (negotiation) is executed with the electronic control unit (ECU) 12 [Step S1], and after confirming that no communication error occurs [Step S2], the drive recorder 25 is operated. [Step S3]. If a communication error has occurred and the communication initialization process (negotiation) has failed (Step S2), the drive recorder 25 is not paused and a certain time Td (eg, 3 seconds) is awaited [Step S4. The communication initialization process (negotiation) described above is activated again. If the enter key is operated before the predetermined time Td has elapsed [step S5], it is determined that this is a manual termination command, and the drive recorder 25 is forcibly terminated [step S6]. ].

  That is, when the drive diagnostic mode is set to operate the drive recorder 25 and the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body 20 is activated with the supply of the accessory power supply (ACC power supply), the operation timing is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, by repeatedly executing the communication initialization process every certain time Td, recording of diagnostic information by the drive recorder 25 is started in conjunction with the rise of the electronic control unit (ECU) 12 in the vehicle 10. Yes. Therefore, even if the ignition key switch 13 described above is operated to the accessory (ACC) position and then the key switch 13 is operated to the on (ON) position after a certain period of time, the drive recorder 25 is operated. Without stopping, the diagnostic information from the electronic control unit (ECU) 12 is acquired in conjunction with the start of the engine, and this is recorded. Therefore, the drive recorder 25 incorporated in the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body 20 can be reliably operated.

  In particular, when using the drive recorder function of the vehicle diagnostic device, the vehicle diagnostic device main body 20 is connected to the diagnostic connector 11 of the vehicle 10 and is mounted on the vehicle 10 with its power switch 24a turned on. It is more reasonable to operate the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body 20 only when the vehicle 10 travels using the accessory power supply (ACC power supply) than to always operate the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body 20 by the battery power supply (B power supply). And there is no wasteful consumption of battery energy. Therefore, the role played by the auxiliary connection cable 30 is very useful, and it is only necessary to prepare the auxiliary connection cable 30 as an accessory of the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body 20, so that the apparatus cost does not increase so much. An effect is produced. In addition, there is an effect that the drive recorder function can be reliably operated regardless of whether the vehicle is an OBD-regulated vehicle.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, it is also useful to determine that the communication initialization process is executed only for a period of one minute or less after the power is supplied. The auxiliary connection cable 30 is sufficient if it has a length that can reasonably connect the diagnostic connector 11 and the cigar socket 14. In addition, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.

The figure which shows embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structural example of an auxiliary | assistant connection cable. The figure which shows the operation | movement timing of the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body with respect to operation of the ignition key switch in a vehicle. The figure which shows the process sequence of repeating the communication initialization process in a control part. The figure which shows the operation | movement timing of the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body with respect to operation of the ignition key switch in a vehicle. The figure which shows the difference in operation | movement of the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body by the difference in the power supply supplied from a diagnostic connector.

Explanation of symbols

10 Vehicle 11 Diagnostic Connector 12 Electronic Control Unit (ECU)
13 Ignition key switch 14 Cigar socket (ACC power supply)
20 Vehicle Diagnostic Device Main Body 21 Connection Cable 22 Connector Plug 23 Microprocessor (MPU)
24 Internal power supply 25 Drive recorder 26 Start control unit 30 Auxiliary connection cable 31 Connector 32 Connector plug 33 Cigar plug

Claims (3)

A vehicle diagnostic device main body connected to a diagnosis connector provided in the vehicle and used for fault diagnosis of the vehicle;
A drive recorder incorporated in the vehicle diagnostic device main body and acquiring and recording vehicle state information during travel of the vehicle via the diagnostic connector and its control means;
An accessory used when operating the drive recorder, and is inserted between the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body and the diagnostic connector, and instead of a power supply line from the diagnostic connector, a cigar socket of the vehicle An auxiliary connection cable that is connected to the cigar socket and supplies power to the vehicle diagnostic apparatus body,
And a startup control unit that is incorporated in the control unit of the drive recorder, repeatedly executes communication initialization processing via the diagnostic connector, and starts the drive recorder in synchronization with the start of the vehicle. Vehicle diagnostic device.   The vehicle diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the activation control unit restarts the communication initialization process after a predetermined time when the communication initialization process via the diagnostic connector fails. The connection of the vehicle diagnostic apparatus main body to the diagnostic connector is performed using a connection cable including a connector plug having a structure paired with the diagnostic connector,
The auxiliary connection cable is connected to a connector having the same standard as the diagnostic connector, a connector plug having a structure paired with the diagnostic connector connected to the connector except for the power supply line, and the power supply line of the connector. The vehicle diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cigar plug and connected to the connection cable.

Images