GB2350443A

GB2350443A - Diagnostic system, particularly for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2350443A
Application number: GB9911845A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Diana Katharine Bowker
Original assignee: LuK Getriebe Systeme GmbH; LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbH
Current assignee: LuK Getriebe Systeme GmbH; LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbH
Priority date: 1999-05-22
Filing date: 1999-05-22
Publication date: 2000-11-29
Also published as: GB9911845D0; WO2000071986A2; DE10081394D2; WO2000071986A3; DE10024190A1; GB2364577A; AU5672300A; GB0127717D0; IT1317654B1; FR2793920A1; GB2364577B; FR2793920B1; ITMI20001123A1; ITMI20001123A0

Abstract

A processor-based diagnostic system includes a series of electronic pages (P<SB>1</SB>-P<SB>N</SB>), each page defining a series of active areas (A<SB>1</SB>-A<SB>N</SB>) representative of different diagnostic topics, the active areas (A<SB>1</SB>-A<SB>N</SB>) of each page (P<SB>1</SB>-P<SB>N</SB>) being interlinked with another page (P<SB>1</SB>-P<SB>N</SB>) relating to the diagnostic topic defined by the active area (A<SB>1</SB>-A<SB>N</SB>), so that by selection of appropriate diagnostic topics, an operator can be taken, step-by-step through a diagnostic procedure. The system may be accessed remotely from a centralised computer, particularly via the internet. An interface may be provided for direct connection to the ECU of a system under test, which may be a motor vehicle. The active areas (A<SB>1</SB>-A<SB>N</SB>) may provide for direct connection to common pages of the system, and may give direct links to provide a readout from a diagnostic system associated with an ECU under test.

Description

2350443 DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS The present invention relates to diagnostic

systems and in particular diagnostic systems for motor vehicles.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a processor based diagnostic system comprises a series of electronic pages, each page defining a series of active areas, each active area being representative of a diagnostic topic, each active area being interlinked with another page relating to the diagnostic topic associated with said area, whereby, by selection of appropriate diagnostic topics an operator can be taken step by step through a diagnostic procedure.

The diagnostic topics represented by the active areas may relate to the system that is being diagnosed, symptoms of faults occurring in a particular system, or tests to be carried out in diagnosing a fault in a system.

The diagnostic system of the present invention may be loaded into a computer or accessed remotely through, for example, the Internet. Means may also be provided for direct connection of the diagnostic system to a system under test, by means of which information, for example fault codes or data relating to tests performed as part of the diagnostic 20 procedure, may be inputted directly into the diagnostic system.

An embodiment of the invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a diagnostic system in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 illustrates a typical diagnostic procedure, in accordance with the present invention.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 the diagnostic system is loaded onto a web server which is connected to a remote PC 12 via a modem 14 and the Internet. The remote PC 12 has an interface 16 by which the PC 12 may be connected to an ECU 18 of the motor vehicle. The ECU 18 may, for example, control an automatic transmission system of the motor vehicle.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the diagnostic system comprises a series of HTML pagespl to PN, each page having a series of active areas A, to AN. Hyper links are provided between the active areas A, to ANof one pagep, to PN and subsequent pagesP2 to PN The active areas A, to ANof each pagepl to PN represent different diagnostic topics. For example, for a diagnostic system for diagnosing faults in an automatic transmission system of a motor vehicle, P, may be divided into areas A, to A4 representing sub-systems of the transmission system. For example:

A, may represent a clutch actuation system; A2 a gear selection system; A3 a hydraulic power supply system; and A4 an electronic control system.

Each of the active areas A, to A4 ofpage P, are linked to further pages P2 to P. respectively, each of the pages P2 to P. having active areas A, to AN which are in turn linked to further pages. For example, page P2 may have six active areas A, to A,, areas A, to A6 of page P2 being linked to further pages P6 to P,, respectively. Similarly, pages P6 to P,, have active areas which are in turn linked to further pages.

Areas A, to A6 of pagep2may, for example, represent different fault systems relating to the clutch actuation system, for example:- A, clutch disengages unexpectedly during driving in gear; A2 clutch doesn't always engage during driving when selecting a gear; A3 clutch remains engaged and causes a stall; A4 clutch is sometimes hard to disengage for a gear shift; As clutch behaves strangely during start from rest; A6 the engine will not start.

PagesP6 to P,, may then give further information as to possible causes of the symptom selected on pageP2. giving for example further symptoms to look for and tests to carry out which may be represented by further active areas A, to AN Each of the pages P2 to PN may include further active areas or 'buttons' B, to BNwhich provide additional links with other pages in the system. For example pages P2 to PN may have 'buttons' B, to B3:- B, providing a direct link with a fault code page which lists all fault codes that may be generated by the system ECU and provides a link with individual pages relating to each code, B2 providing a direct link with the main menu page P,; and B3 providing a direct link with a test procedure relating to the specific fault symptom on the page in question.

Moreover the pages, in particular page P,, may include a button B4which provides a direct link with the EW diagnostic system to provide a direct read out of any fault codes generated by the EW diagnostic system, the current settings of the ECU etc.

Active areas or buttons may also be provided on selected pages to provide links to data files relating to the system and/or vehicle under test by which information relating to the vehicle/system may be accessed, for example:- vehicle manufacturer; vehicle model and identifying features; specific system features available; original clutch clamped position at calibration; number of clutch actuations performed during vehicle life; maximum permitted clutch speed; assumed idle speed; maximum clutch torque capability; clutch physical parameters; gear ratios; differential ratio; clutch dropout speed; fault history.

By selection of appropriate active areas A, to ANon successive pages P, to PN, the operator is taken step by step through a diagnostic procedure, until a fault is identified.

At each stage in the diagnostic procedure, direct input from the ECU 18 controlling the system under investigation, may be used to select an appropriate area A, to AN. For example, if areas A, to A3 of pageP2 represent fault codes, the fault codes may be read directly from the ECU 18, to make an appropriate selection on pageP2. Furthermore, where tests are carried out, the resulting operating parameters may be read directly from the ECU 18, to initiate further stages of the diagnostic process.

Where the operative is unable to correct the fault, the system may also provide a direct link via the Internet with a centralised diagnostic centre from which further assistance may be obtained.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

For example, in the embodiment described, it is assumed that the sub system at fault can be identified. If this is not the case, then the entry page of the diagnostic system should have active areas relating to, for example, fault symptoms. It may consequently be advantageous to provide a front page with a menu of different entry pages to the system.

While the present invention has been described with reference to an automatic transmission system of a motor vehicle, it is applicable to other systems of motor vehicles or to fault diagnostic systems in general.

While in the above system data is inputted directly from the ECU 18 of the system under investigation, such information may be inputted manually or using pre-recorded files.

Claims

1. A processor-based diagnostic system comprising a series of electronic pages, each page defining a series of active areas, each active area being representative of a diagnostic topic, each active area being interlinked with another page relating to the diagnostic topic associated with said area, whereby, by selection of appropriate diagnostic topics, an operator can be taken step-by-step through a diagnostic procedure.

2. A diagnostic system according to Claim 1 in which the diagnostic system is accessed remotely, from a centralised computer.

3. A diagnostic system according to Claim 2 in which the diagnostic system is accessed via the Internet.

4. A diagnostic system according to any one of the preceding claims in which an interface is provided for direct connection to the ECU of the system under test.

5. A diagnostic system according to any one of the preceding claims in which active areas are provided for direct connection of pages to common pages of the system.

6. A diagnostic system according to any one of the preceding claims in which active areas are provided to give direct links to provide a readout from a diagnostic system associated with the ECU of the system under test.

7. A diagnostic system substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.