JPH10264741A - Vehicular data storage device and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To store learned values in an non-erasable state even when a battery is removed. SOLUTION: Learned values gained by a transmission computer 22 or the like through learning control are fed to a multi-display computer 2 at every predetermined time and are written onto a DVD 16 by a DVD device 14. When a battery is removed for the inspection of the vehicle, etc., the learned values in the transmission computer 2 or the like are erased but the learned values stored on the DVD 16 are not. Once the battery is installed again, the learned values are read from the DVD 16, are fed to the transmission computer 22 or the like, and used in learning control. For storing more learned values, etc., the above processes are greatly advantageous in terms of cost over enlargement of the EEPROM of the transmission computer 22, etc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicular data storage device and system having a non-volatile storage means for storing vehicle data obtained by a travel-related control device for controlling an engine, a transmission and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of learning control have been performed in order to enhance control of an on-vehicle apparatus and to respond to a request from a user for an improvement in a quality level and a stable quality over time. The learning control is performed for various in-vehicle devices such as an engine and a transmission.

[0003] An automatic transmission will be described as an example. Each transmission has individual differences, and each part is worn due to long-term use. It is required to prevent the occurrence of a shift shock due to individual differences and wear. Therefore, the transmission control device
A shift program and a part of data used in the program are changed based on the detection results of various sensors, so that shift shock is suppressed and a smooth shift is performed.

Further, in recent automatic transmissions, in addition to gear shift control, various controls such as lock-up slip control, driver pointing control, and climbing and descending slope control are performed. The lock-up slip control is a control for slipping or locking a lock-up clutch provided in parallel with a torque converter of a transmission. With this control, the torque transmission rates from the engine to the transmission and from the transmission to the engine are increased, and fuel efficiency is improved. In the driver-oriented control, the operation pattern of the driver's accelerator or the like is analyzed, and the transmission and the like are controlled so as to match the driver's orientation. Further, in the uphill / downhill control, it is detected that the vehicle is traveling on an uphill or downhill, and the shift line map of the transmission is automatically changed so as to be suitable for uphill / downhill travel.

[0005] Even in such control, learning control is appropriately performed. For example, in driver-oriented control, a shift line map of a transmission is changed as learning control in accordance with a driver's accelerator operation pattern.

[0006] The learning value obtained in the learning control is stored in the storage means of each control device. By the way, when a battery is removed in a vehicle inspection or the like, current supply to the control device is cut off. At this time, the learning value that is desired to be prevented from disappearing is stored in a special ROM such as an EEPROM provided in the control device. For example, in a data storage device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-26858, a learning value for engine control is stored in a non-volatile memory provided in the engine control device.

[0007]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The control of on-vehicle driving is becoming more sophisticated and complicated, and the demand for quality is increasing, so that more learning control is performed, and the learning value obtained by the learning control is increased. The amount of data is increasing.
However, the EEP conventionally used for storing learning values
A special ROM such as a ROM is expensive, and it is practically difficult to increase the storage capacity of the ROM in view of cost restrictions. Actually, EEPRO for storing the current learning value
The capacity of M is on the order of several bytes, and increasing it will dramatically increase the cost. Therefore, it is desired that more learning values can be stored without being erased even when the battery is removed, without increasing the cost.

[0008] In addition to the learning value, there is an increasing amount of vehicle data that is acquired by the control device and that needs to maintain the stored state even when the current supply to the control device is cut off. For example, conventionally, in order to improve the maintainability of a vehicle, a control device for controlling an engine, a transmission, and the like has a diagnosis function. What is the diagnosis function?
This is a function for diagnosing whether the state of the device to be controlled and the communication state with this device are normal. When a failure is detected, the details of the failure are stored. Then, in response to a predetermined operation by the maintenance operator, the failure content is displayed on an instrument panel or the like in the vehicle interior. If the failure information is deleted when the battery is removed, the failure information cannot be used in the subsequent maintenance work. Therefore, it is desirable that the failure information can be stored in a state that is not erased even when the battery is removed, and it is desirable to realize such a configuration at low cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to store a large amount of vehicle data in a state where current is not erased even when the current supply to the control device is cut off. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle data storage device and a storage system that do not cause an increase in size and cost.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1) The vehicle data storage device of the present invention includes a nonvolatile storage unit that stores vehicle data acquired by a travel-related control device that controls the travel of the vehicle. It is a digital video disc that can be played. Here, the travel-related control device is a control device that controls the vehicle travel as described above, and includes, for example, an engine control device, a transmission control device, a transfer control device, a suspension control device, a brake control device, and the like. is there. The vehicle data stored in the digital video disc is, for example, a learning value obtained by learning control. Further, for example, the vehicle data stored in the digital video disk is failure information obtained by diagnosing a state of a control target.

According to the present invention, by using a digital video disk as the non-volatile storage means for vehicle data, a large amount of vehicle data obtained by the travel-related control device is erased even when the current supply to the control device is cut off. It can be stored in a state where it is not stored, and the occurrence of insufficient storage capacity is avoided.

In the above description, a digital video disk can be provided in the travel-related control device, but it is preferable to use a disk provided in another device as the storage means of the present invention. Examples of the other device include a navigation device. The navigation device requires a storage means for storing a large amount of map data, and is going to adopt a readable and writable digital video disc as this storage means. The vehicle data can be stored in a partial area of a disk as map data storage means.

(2) A vehicle data storage system according to the present invention is a system for storing vehicle data acquired by a travel-related control device for controlling the travel of a vehicle, wherein the travel-related control device and A media-related device for a vehicle compartment is provided so as to be able to communicate. The travel-related control device has a communication circuit that sends the obtained vehicle data to a media-related device. The media-related device is a nonvolatile storage unit that stores the vehicle data transmitted from the travel-related control device together with information used to provide media information to a user, and the nonvolatile storage unit stores the vehicle data. A communication circuit for transmitting vehicle data to the vehicle travel related control device.

Here, the running-related control device is a control device for controlling the running of the vehicle as described above, and includes, for example, an engine control device, a transmission control device, a transfer control device, a suspension control device, and a brake control device. Device.

On the other hand, a media-related device is a device that allows a driver to drive comfortably and easily. Therefore, the media-related device is not a device directly involved in running the vehicle, such as a control target of the travel-related control device. The media-related device is, for example, a navigation device, and is, for example, a multimedia system in which an audio device and a navigation device are integrated.

According to the present invention, vehicle data is sent to the media-related device and stored in the non-volatile storage together with information used to provide media information to the user. For example, a navigation device requires storage means for storing a large amount of map data, and a readable and writable digital video disc is being used as the storage means. Vehicle data can be written in a partial area of the map data storage disk. The vehicle data is sent back to the travel-related control device when the battery is removed during maintenance work, for example.

As described above, according to the present invention, the vehicle data is stored in the storage device using the non-volatile storage device of the media-related device. Therefore, more vehicle data can be stored in a state where it is not deleted even if the current supply in the vehicle is cut off, without increasing the cost of the travel-related control device.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as embodiments) will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the vehicle data storage system of the present invention is configured by the travel-related control device and the multi-display system. The multi-display system corresponds to the media-related device of the present invention. Further, a digital video disk (hereinafter, referred to as DVD, the same in the drawings) provided in the multimedia system corresponds to a nonvolatile storage unit of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration. As is well known, the multi-display system 1
This is a system that enables operation and output display (television, navigation, etc.) of various in-vehicle devices using one screen. The multi-display 4 is connected to the multi-display computer 2. The multi-display 4 has a liquid crystal panel and operation switches around the panel. A switch frame is displayed on the liquid crystal panel as appropriate,
A touch switch is set in the frame. Therefore, the liquid crystal panel functions not only as an output device for television images or the like, but also as an input device operated by a user. A video signal is sent from the multi-display computer 2 to the multi-display 4. Signals corresponding to various switch operations are input from the multi-display 4 to the multi-display computer 2.

The multi-display computer 2 is connected to various types of equipment for vehicle interior equipment. That is,
The multi-display computer 2 is connected to an audio system 6 having an audio tuner, a TV tuner, a music DVD device, an audio speaker, and the like. Also connected are an air conditioning system 8 for in-vehicle air conditioning, a telephone computer 10 for controlling functions of a cellular phone such as a cellular phone, and a GPS (global positioning system) device 12 for receiving signals from GPS satellites and detecting the current position. I have. Note that the multi-display computer 2 has a function related to navigation, that is, a route setting function to a destination and a guidance function by screen display and voice output.

Further, the multi-display computer 2 is connected to a DVD device 14 for map / learning value / diagnosis (hereinafter simply referred to as the DVD device 14). The DVD device 14 can read and write data from and to the mounted DVD 16.
Map data obtained by the multi-display computer 2 using a car phone or the like is written. In addition, learning values sent from the various traveling-related control devices 20 to 34 are written, and information on the diagnosis results of the various in-vehicle devices is written.

The multi-display computer 2
Are connected to computers 20 to 34 which are running-related control devices for controlling the running of the vehicle. That is, the multi-display computer 2 includes an engine computer 20 for controlling the engine, a transmission computer 22 for controlling the automatic transmission, a transfer computer 24 for controlling the distribution of torque to each wheel, a differential computer 26, and preventing the wheels from spinning. (Vehicle Stability Control, the same applies in the following description and drawings) which controls the wheel computer by controlling the ABS computer 28, the engine computer 20 and the ABS computer 28 in a stable direction. , A suspension computer 32 for controlling the characteristics of the suspension, a 4WD computer 34 for controlling the four-wheel drive system, and the like.

A learning control program is incorporated in part or all of these computers, and learning control is executed. For example, the engine computer 20 incorporates a learning control program related to fuel injection control.
Further, the transmission computer 22 incorporates a learning control program relating to shift control, lock-up slip control, and driver-oriented control, and the transfer computer 24 incorporates a learning control program relating to transfer control. These learning control programs are written in the ROM in the control device. The learning values obtained by executing these learning control programs are held in memories in the respective computers.
However, if the battery is removed at vehicle inspection or the like and the current supply to each computer is cut off, the learning value in the memory disappears. A well-known configuration may be adopted as each learning control program and a configuration for executing the learning control program, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

These various computers are connected to the multi-display computer 2 via a communication circuit and, if necessary, to each other via a communication circuit. For example, FIG. 2 shows an engine computer 20 and a transmission computer 22, an engine E controlled by them, and an automatic transmission A. The accelerator computer operation amount, the engine speed, the intake air amount, the intake air temperature, the throttle opening, the vehicle speed, the engine water temperature, the on / off state of the brake switch, and the like are input to the engine computer 20. Information on the state and the like is input, and various information is also input from other in-vehicle computers. The engine computer 20 comprehensively determines such information,
It controls the fuel injection amount and ignition timing, and determines the throttle opening to control the throttle actuator. Similarly, the transmission computer 22 stores the throttle opening, the vehicle speed, the engine water temperature, the on / off state of the brake switch, the shift position, the operation of the pattern select switch, the operation of the overdrive set switch, the operation of the overdrive set switch, and the rotation speed of the predetermined clutch in the transmission by the C0 sensor. Detection value, transmission oil temperature,
In addition, the state of the manual mode switch, the sport mode switch, the constant speed shift switch, and the like are input, control information is also input from the engine computer 20, and various information is input from other in-vehicle computers. The transmission computer 22 comprehensively determines such information and outputs control signals to various solenoids S1, S2,... Provided in a hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic control device A1 of the automatic transmission A. The engine computer 20 and the transmission computer 22 execute a learning control program in these controls. Further, each computer outputs various types of input information and information such as the state of the engine and the automatic transmission to the multi-display computer 2. The same applies to other computers connected to the multi-display computer 2.

The multi-display computer 2 has a diagnosis function, determines whether or not a failure (failure) has occurred in a connected device in the system, and detects the content of the failure. The multi-display computer 2 uses a communication line with each of the computers 20 to 34 to determine whether or not a failure has occurred in a system including each of the computers, and detects the content of the failure.
For example, the solenoid No. 3 of the hydraulic control device of the automatic transmission
A specific failure content such as a failure (see FIG. 2) is detected. Multi-display computer 2
Determines the failure of each communication line. The multi-display computer 2 is provided with the failure determination function itself. Alternatively, the multi-display computer 2 has functions of other computers such as the engine computer 20 and the transmission computer 22. Alternatively, another computer may make a failure determination and send the result to the multi-display computer 2 via the communication circuit. The information may be sent to the multimedia computer 2 only when the other computer detects the occurrence of the failure. Therefore, since a well-known method may be used for each of the fail determination methods, description thereof will be omitted.

Further, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 1, information on various switch operations and output signals of sensors are input to the multi-display computer 2. For example, it is connected to an ignition switch, a parking brake switch, a steering position sensor, and a speed sensor. The multi-display computer 2 displays these input signals on the multi-display 4 in response to a request from a maintenance worker.

The multi-display computer 2
Are connected to a diagnosis terminal 36. A box-shaped diagnosis connector is provided in an engine room of the vehicle, and a diagnosis terminal 36 is provided in the connector. The diagnosis terminal 36 functions as a kind of switch for maintenance. When the maintenance operator opens the plastic lid of the diagnosis connector and short-circuits the diagnosis terminal 36, the short-circuit connection is detected by the multi-display computer 2.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the multi-display 4. FIG. 4 shows a screen displayed on the multi-display 4, and FIG. 5 is a list of screen display contents. As shown in FIG. 3, a liquid crystal panel 4 as a display screen
Above 0, a clock, a display for displaying the outside air temperature and the room temperature, and various switches for operating the air conditioner are provided. An air conditioner 4 is provided on both sides of the liquid crystal panel 40.
2. Image quality 44, audio 46, television 48, power train 50, current location 52, destination setting 54, menu 5
6 are provided. FIG.
As shown in the upper left part of the figure, the liquid crystal panel 40 displays the previous screen (the screen when the ignition switch was previously turned off) as the initial screen when the ignition switch is turned on. The display on the liquid crystal panel 40 is switched by the multi-display computer 2 according to the operation of each of the switches 42 to 56 described above.

For example, when the destination setting switch 54 is pressed, the multi-display computer 2 causes the multi-display 4 to display a screen at the upper right of FIG. Various touch switches required for inputting a destination for navigation are set on the screen. The screen display is performed hierarchically so that the user can easily operate. The user can set the destination in detail by operating a touch switch on a screen displayed in a hierarchical manner. The multi-display computer 2 determines a recommended route to the destination set by the user. When the current position switch 52 on the left side of the panel is pressed, the screen is switched to the second screen from the right in the upper part of FIG. Then, the multi-display computer 2 displays a map screen on the multi-display 4, indicates a recommended route on the map, and further displays a current position mark. Such a navigation function is realized using map data in the DVD 16.

For example, when the air conditioner switch 42 is pressed, a screen shown in the lower left of FIG. 4 is displayed. The user operates the switch on the upper side of the panel while watching the current operating state (temperature setting, air volume, etc.) of the air conditioner displayed on the screen. A signal indicating an operation by the user is sent to the air conditioner system 8. The air conditioner system 8 changes an operation state according to a user operation.

Further, for example, the power train switch 5
When 0 is pressed, a personal identification screen is displayed as shown in the lower right part of FIG. Multi-display computer 2
Is a setting of various modes related to vehicle traveling (such as an uphill / downhill mode for performing traveling suitable for uphill / downhill). It is registered in association with the identification number / symbol.
The registration of the mode setting is performed by the user using the multi-display 4 in advance. The registration of the mode setting may be stored in a memory inside the computer, written on the DVD 16, or recorded on a medium such as an IC card that can be mounted on the multi-display system. When the user inputs an identification number / symbol on the personal identification screen, the registered various mode settings are read. Then, the personal identification screen is switched to a driving situation input screen. On the driving status input screen,
The running conditions (snow road, number of passengers) and the like for the day are input. The various mode settings corresponding to the identification numbers / symbols and the input driving conditions are transmitted from the multi-display computer 2 to the engine computer 20 and the transmission computer 2.
2 and other computers. Each computer controls a device to be controlled according to the input information.

In addition, when the audio switch 46, the television switch 48, and the menu switch 56 are pressed, a screen associated with the operation target of each switch is displayed in the same manner as described above. FIG. 5 is a list of display items on the liquid crystal panel 40. Some display items are displayed in response to user operations, while others are displayed automatically by the multi-display computer 2 based on its own judgment. For example, on the map screen in the upper left of FIG. 5, the intersection enlarged display is a screen displayed by the multi-display computer 2 detecting an approach to a specific intersection. The description of each item in FIG. 5 will be omitted.

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the operation when the learning value obtained by the engine computer 20, the transmission computer 22, and the like by executing the learning control program is written to the DVD 16 of the multi-display system 1 will be described. I do. Here, the transmission computer 22 is taken as an example. After the start (S10), the multi-display computer 2 performs a predetermined process on the input signal (S12). Next, it is determined whether the system shown in FIG. 1 is operating normally (S14). At this time, in particular, it is determined whether or not the multi-display computer 2, the transmission computer 22, and the DVD device 14 are normal, and whether the communication line between them is normal. If normal, it is determined whether the battery is on (S16). That is, it is determined whether the power supply voltage of the battery is continuously applied to transmission computer 22. If not, return (S2)
6).

If the battery is on, it is determined whether or not the learning value obtained by the learning control has converged (S18). Generally, in the learning control, the learning value does not change and is stabilized by repeatedly learning a plurality of times. In this state, it is determined that the learning value has converged. This convergence determination is performed by the transmission computer 22. If the learning value has not converged, the routine returns (S
26).

When the transmission computer 22 determines that the learning values have converged, the multi-display computer 2 determines whether the DVD device 14 is being used for another purpose (S20). ). The multi-display computer 2 of the present embodiment includes a DVD 1
The navigation function is realized by using the map data written in 6. Therefore, it is determined whether the DVD device 14 is being used for navigation. If it is in use, the process returns (S26).

If the DVD device 14 is not in use, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous writing of the learning value (S22). For this determination, the multi-display computer 2 counts the elapsed time from the writing process. The above-mentioned predetermined time is appropriately set so that the writing process of the learning value which is not unnecessarily frequently performed is not performed.

If step S22 is YES, the transmission computer 22 controls a communication circuit (not shown) to send the learning value to the multi-display computer 2.
The sent learning value is written on the DVD 16 by the DVD device 14 (S24). The current learning value is overwritten on the previously written learning value, and the previous learning value is deleted. The DVD 16 is provided with a dedicated area for storing a learning value, separately from a storage area for map data. However, this dedicated area may be an extremely small area as compared with the area for map data. The DVD 16 is a nonvolatile storage unit. By writing to the DVD 16, even if the battery is removed from the vehicle, for example, during vehicle inspection,
The learning value is retained without being erased. On the other hand, the learning value stored in the memory of the transmission computer 22 disappears when the battery is removed, as described above.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
An operation when the learning value written in the VD 16 is returned to the engine computer 20, the transmission computer 22, and the like will be described. Again, the transmission computer 22 is taken as an example. After the start (S30), the multi-display computer 2 performs a predetermined process on the input signal (S32). Next, it is determined whether the system shown in FIG. 1 is operating normally (S34). At this time, similarly to step S14 in FIG. 6, it is determined whether the multi-display computer 2, the transmission computer 22, and the DVD device 14 are normal and the communication line between them is normal. You. If step S34 is NO, the process returns (S46).

If step S34 is YES, it is determined whether or not the battery has been switched from off to on (S30).
36). If the battery is removed for any reason such as vehicle inspection, the power supply voltage to the transmission computer 22 is turned off. Then, when the battery is attached again, the power supply voltage to the transmission computer 22 is turned on. This restart of the power supply voltage is detected in step S36. As described above, the learning value in the memory of the transmission computer 22 has disappeared when the battery is removed.

When step S36 is NO and the battery is continuously on, it is determined whether or not some or all of the learning values held by the transmission computer 22 have been initialized for some reason. (S38). This determination is made by the transmission computer 22. As described above, the transmission computer 22 handles a plurality of learning values, and a part or all of the learning values may be lost due to a control failure or the like. In the present embodiment, the learning value recorded on the DVD 16 is used even in such a case. If step S38 is NO, the process returns (S46).

If step S36 is YES or step S38 is YES, it is determined whether or not the DVD device 14 is being used for another purpose (navigation) (S4).
0). This step S40 is the same as step S20 in FIG. When detecting that the battery is turned on again in step S36, the navigation system is generally not operating yet, so step S40 is NO.

If YES in step S40, the multi-display computer 2 issues an interrupt command for temporarily suspending use of the DVD device 14 for navigation (S42). The suspension is continued until the learning value is read from the DVD 16. During this time, the display for navigation on the liquid crystal panel 40 of the multi-display 4 is fixed, and no voice guidance or the like for navigation is performed. However, since the time required for reading the learning value is short and the frequency of reading the learning value is very low, the user does not feel uncomfortable even when the navigation function is temporarily stopped. Therefore, an interrupt command is issued to give priority to reading of a learning value required for learning control over execution of the navigation function.

When step S40 is NO or after issuing an interrupt signal in step S42, the multi-display computer 2 causes the DVD device 14 to read the learning value written on the DVD16. The multi-display computer 2 controls a communication circuit (not shown) to send a learning value to the transmission computer 22 (S44). In the transmission computer 22, the transmitted learning value is written in the memory, and learning control is performed using the learning value.

The processing for reading and writing the learning value on the DVD 16 has been described above by taking the transmission computer 22 as an example. In addition, DVD1
The learning value itself recorded in 6 is initialized,
It may be an abnormal value. If the initialization of the learning value or the abnormality is detected in step S44 of FIG. 7, the multi-display computer 2 stops the process of step S44,
The learning value is not sent to the transmission computer 22. The transmission computer 22 performs learning control using the learning values stored in the memory. When the learning value in the memory has been initialized, learning from the initial state is started.

In this embodiment, the transmission computer 22 has a special RO such as an EEPROM as in the prior art.
M is not provided. On the other hand, an EEPROM or the like may be provided in the transmission computer 22, and some of the learning values may be stored in the transmission computer 22 and the other learning values may be written to the DVD 16.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the transmission computer 22 has been described as an example, but the other computers perform the same processing. For example, with respect to the engine computer 20, a learning value for fuel injection control is similarly processed.

Next, the operation when reading / writing the failure information from / to the DVD 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. After the start (S110), the multi-display computer 2 performs a predetermined process on the input signal (S120). Then, various state quantities of the vehicle are monitored in real time and a predetermined time is stored (S13).
0). The predetermined time is, for example, about 10 seconds. That is, in the internal memory of the multi-display computer 2, a dedicated storage area having a capacity corresponding to various state quantities input during a predetermined time is set as a storage area for the state quantity. The storage contents of this storage area are sequentially rewritten, and the state quantity input within a predetermined time in the past is always stored.

The above-mentioned various state quantities include vehicle speed, engine water temperature, accelerator opening, ABS operation state, VSC operation state,
The normal operating condition of each system (engine, transmission, suspension, ABS, VSC, etc.), as well as the running condition such as the oil temperature and gear position of the automatic transmission,
Includes information related to the operating state of each actuator. Each state quantity is a numerical value of any of these items, and is input to the multi-display computer 2 from various connection devices such as the engine computer 20 and the transmission computer 22. Further, the multi-display computer 2 monitors the normal state of the communication line with the connected device and the normal state of the switches.

Next, the multi-display computer 2
Determines whether a failure (failure) has occurred in a connected device in the system based on the monitoring result in step S130, and determines whether a failure has occurred in the system including the computers 20 to 34. Is determined, and the content of the failure is detected. For example, a specific failure content such as a failure of the solenoid No. 3 (see FIG. 2) of the hydraulic control device of the automatic transmission is detected. The multi-display computer 2 also determines the failure of each communication line.

If no failure has occurred in step S40, the process returns (S190). If it is determined that a failure has occurred, the multi-display computer 2 sends the failure status to the DVD device 14 and writes it on the DVD 16 (S150). The failure status includes the system or part in which the failure has occurred, the content of the identified failure, and the like. At this time, the multi-display computer 2 executes step S
The various state quantities for the past predetermined time stored in the internal memory at 130 are also written on the DVD 16 as a part of the failure status.
The DVD 16 is provided with a dedicated area for diagnosis for storing a failure state, in addition to a storage area for map data and a learning value. However, this dedicated area may be a very small area as compared with the area for map data. By writing to the DVD 16, for example, even if the user removes the battery from the vehicle, the failure state is maintained without being erased.

It should be noted that, although an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle in step S140, it may not be possible to identify the faulty part or its contents. At this time, various state quantities at the time of occurrence of an abnormality are written to the DVD 16 as a failure state.

Next, the multi-display computer 2
Determines whether the diagnosis terminal 36 is short-circuited (S160). If the diagnosis terminal 36 is not short-circuited, the image signal for displaying the first layer information is sent to the multi-display 4 and displayed on the liquid crystal panel (S170). At the same time, the multi-display computer 2 emits the first layer information by voice from the speaker. FIG. 9 shows an example of the first layer information, and the screen displays "The automatic transmission has failed. Check with a nearby dealer." The multi-display computer 2 performs the first layer information display with priority over other displays. For example, even when a navigation screen is being displayed, the screen display is switched to the first layer information. As shown in FIG. 9, the first layer information is information for a user.
The first layer information shows only simple contents regarding the failure and actions to be taken by the user. Therefore, the user can take an appropriate action. Since detailed information on the failure is not displayed, the user is not bothered. After displaying the first layer information, the process returns to step S160, and the first layer information display is continued until the diagnosis terminal is connected.

The user who sees the first layer information display brings the vehicle to the dealer. At the dealer, the maintenance worker short-circuits the diagnosis terminal 36. Thereby, the multi-display computer 2 determines YES in step S160. Then, the image signal to be sent to the multi-display 4 is switched to a signal corresponding to the second layer information (S180). The second layer information is information for a maintenance worker, and the second layer information includes detailed specialized information on a failure. FIG. 10 shows an example of the second layer information display, and the screen displays "Solenoid No. 3 in the automatic transmission has failed. Check and replace." In this way, information necessary for repair that can be understood by the maintenance worker is displayed based on the failure content specified in step S140.

As described above, although the occurrence of an abnormality in the vehicle is detected in step S140, it may not be possible to specify the faulty part or its contents. At this time, various state quantities at the time of occurrence of an abnormality are written to the DVD 16 as failure states. An example of the second layer information displayed in this case is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, various state quantities at the time of occurrence of the abnormality, details of the abnormality (automatic transmission / shift abnormality), and the date and time of occurrence of the abnormality are displayed. The elapsed time after the occurrence may be displayed together with the occurrence date and time. The maintenance worker can narrow down the faulty parts to some extent using such second layer information. Further, since the situation at the time of occurrence of an abnormality can be known, a reproduction test can be performed to help identify a failed component. Note that the multi-display computer 2
Even when the second layer information of FIG. 10 is displayed in step S180, the screen display is switched to the status display of FIG. 11 according to a predetermined operation of the maintenance worker.

The above is the diagnosis processing according to the flowchart of FIG. In addition, the equipment to be diagnosed, etc.
Two or more failures may occur simultaneously. In this case, a plurality of failure situations are respectively recorded on the DVD 16, and information on the plurality of failures is displayed on the screen.

After a failure has occurred in one component (or system), a failure may have occurred in another component. Failure may occur on one part. After detecting the occurrence of the failure in step S140, the multi-display computer 2 starts the flow from step S110 in parallel with the display of the abnormality information,
Respond to new failures. Therefore, the failure status is recorded on the DVD 16 with respect to the failure that occurs later,
The screen is displayed.

The DVD 16 in which the failure status is recorded is
It is taken out of the DVD device 14 by a maintenance worker and mounted on a failure analysis computer. And
The failure analysis computer reads the failure status data from the DVD 16 and displays the data on the screen. Usually, the liquid crystal panel of the multi-display 4 is small due to space restrictions. On the other hand, a large display can be adopted as the failure analysis computer. Therefore, the failure analysis computer can display more detailed specialized information than the second layer information shown in FIG. Further, the scale of the multi-display computer 2 is limited, and the multi-display computer 2 needs to have various functions other than the diagnosis function. On the other hand, a relatively large computer can be adopted as the failure analysis computer. Therefore, if a program for performing more detailed failure analysis based on the data recorded on the DVD 16 is incorporated in a computer, the cause of the failure can be specified and used for maintenance.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. In the present embodiment, the DVD 16 of the multi-display system 1 is used for storing the learning values acquired by the computers 20 to 34 as the travel-related control devices. The DVD 16 is used for storing failure information. Therefore, much data such as learning values can be stored in a state where they do not disappear even when the battery is removed. In particular, even if the EEPROMs of the computers 20 to 34 are not enlarged or are abolished, more data can be retained than before.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, a large amount of vehicle data can be stored without being erased even when the current supply to the travel-related control device is cut off. Even when such storage needs to be performed for more vehicle data, occurrence of insufficient storage capacity is avoided. And the above-mentioned effect can be realized without increasing the size and cost of the travel-related control device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system for an engine and a transmission.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the multi-display.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen displayed on a multi-display.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a list of display contents on a multi-display.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process for recording a learning value obtained by a transmission computer on a DVD of a multi-display system.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process for reading a learning value recorded on a DVD and using the learning value on a transmission computer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a diagnosis function of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing first layer information display when a failure occurs.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a second layer information display when a failure occurs.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a second layer information display when a failure occurs.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 multi-display system, 2 multi-display computer, 4 multi-display, 6 audio system, 8 air conditioning system, 10 telephone computer, 12 GPS, 14 map / learning value / diagnosis DVD device, 16 DVD (digital video disk), 20 engine Computer, 22
Transmission computer, 24 transfer computer, 26 differential computer, 28 A
BS computer, 30 VSC computer, 32
Suspension computer, 344WD computer.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vehicular data storage device having nonvolatile storage means for storing vehicle data acquired by a travel-related control device for controlling the travel of a vehicle, wherein the nonvolatile storage means is readable and writable. A data storage device for a vehicle, which is a disk. 2. The vehicle data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle data stored in the digital video disc is a learning value obtained by learning control. 3. The vehicle data according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle data stored in the digital video disk is failure information obtained by diagnosing a state of a control target. Storage device. 4. A vehicle data storage system for storing vehicle data acquired by a travel-related control device that controls the travel of a vehicle, wherein the travel-related control device, a vehicle-related media-related device, Is provided so as to be communicable, the travel-related control device has a communication circuit that sends the obtained vehicle data to a media-related device, and the media-related device is provided with information used to provide media information to a user. Nonvolatile storage means for storing the vehicle data transmitted from the travel-related control device; and a communication circuit for transmitting the vehicle data stored in the nonvolatile storage means to the vehicle travel-related control device. Vehicle data storage system.