ONBOARD DATALINK VOLTAGE MONITORING FOR IMPROVED DIAGNOSTICS

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to improved diagnostic devices, systems and methods for improving the accuracy and speed of diagnosing datalink/CAN errors on public and private networks within the electronic control systems of machines. The present disclosure includes incorporating one or more diagnostic modules to one or more datalinks within an existing electronic control system. These diagnostic modules can monitor datalink voltages and identify and transmit error messages and datalink voltage anomalies without the need for manual diagnosis by a repair technician. Alternatively, another diagnostic system and method includes installing microchips having datalink voltage measurements to existing modules, such as a telematics module, thereby enabling that the module to identify and report datalink voltage anomalies.

Claims

1. A method of self-diagnosing errors within an electronic control system for a machine, the method comprising the steps of: providing a series of modules interconnected by datalinks creating the electronic control system within the machine; incorporating at least one diagnostic module within the series of modules, the diagnostic module capable of diagnosing errors within the datalinks; and automatically diagnosing errors within the datalinks through the diagnostic module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one sensor may be incorporated within the series of modules.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further includes monitoring datalink voltages for datalink voltage faults.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further includes transmitting any datalink voltage faults from the diagnostic module to an onboard controller.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further includes displaying the datalink voltage faults as diagnostic fault messages on the onboard controller.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the diagnostic fault messages provide self-diagnostic readings within the electronic control system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes modifying at least one of the modules with datalink voltage measurements.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the modules containing the datalink voltage measurements can identify and reporting datalink voltage anomalies to the onboard controller.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the datalink voltage anomalies provide a self-diagnostic fault reading.

10. A diagnostic system for diagnosing a controller area network errors in an electronic control system of a vehicle, the system comprising: a series of modules interconnected by datalinks creating the electronic control system within the vehicle; at least one diagnostic module positioned within the series of modules, the diagnostic module capable of diagnosing errors within the datalinks; and wherein the diagnostic module can transmit error messages to an onboard controller.

11. The diagnostic system of claim 10, wherein the diagnostic module can identify anomalies in the datalink voltage measurements.

12. The diagnostic system of claim 11, wherein the anomalies in the datalink voltage measurement are transmitted as a diagnostic fault to the onboard controller.

13. The diagnostic system of claim 12, wherein the onboard controller displays the diagnostic fault as a message.

14. The diagnostic system of claim 13, wherein the diagnostic fault contains a time and data point for diagnosis of the anomalies.

15. The diagnostic system of claim 14, wherein the diagnostic fault message enables self-diagnosis of the controller area network errors.

16. A diagnostic system for diagnosing a controller area network errors in an electronic control system of a machine, the system comprising: a series of modules interconnected by datalinks creating the electronic control system within the machine; a plurality of datalink voltage diagnostic measurements embedded into at least one of the modules, wherein the module can transmit datalink error messages to an onboard controller.

17. The diagnostic system of claim 16 wherein the series of modules includes a telematics module.

18. The diagnostic system of claim 17, wherein the telematics module includes a plurality of datalink voltage measurements built into the telematics module.

19. The diagnostic system of claim 18, wherein the telematics module can identify anomalies in the datalink voltage measurements.

20. The diagnostic system of claim 19, wherein the anomalies in the datalink voltage measurement are transmitted as a diagnostic fault to the onboard controller

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example of a general electronic control system for a vehicle incorporating a diagnostic module of the present disclosure; and,

[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an existing module modified to incorporate datalink voltage measurement diagnostics according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The present disclosure relates to improved diagnostic devices, systems and methods for improving the accuracy and speed of diagnosing datalink/CAN errors on public and private networks within the electronic control systems in machinery. The present devices, systems and methods are also useful in diagnosing a new category of datalink voltage faults within the controller area network interconnecting the various modules of the electronic control system. In the present disclosure, a separate module or modules incorporating the datalink voltage fault diagnostic measurements may be added to the electronic control system. Alternatively, an existing module or modules already within the system, such as a telematics module, can be modified to incorporate the datalink voltage fault diagnostic criteria. The improved diagnostic devices and systems of the present disclosure can be incorporated into any form of machinery utilizing CAN datalinks.

[0027] Now referring to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a general electronic control system for a vehicle incorporating a diagnostic module of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a telematics module modified to include datalink voltage diagnostic measurements, wherein this module can identify, and then report datalink voltage anomalies as provided in the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a schematic for a general electronic control system 10 for a vehicle. The electronic control system 10 includes an electrical system controller (ESC) 12, or equivalent, which serves as a supervisory controller for the control system. The electronic control system 10 further includes a plurality of relatively autonomous modules, controllers, sensors or operators. These modules for a vehicle include, but are not limited to, the transmission controller 14, the engine controller 16, the gauge controller 18 and the telematics module 20. There may be any number and forms of generic, programmable modules, controllers, and/or sensors, which may be used to carry out operator defined tasks though they are not limited to such functions. Interconnection and communication between different subsystems and control units is accomplished using controller area network or CAN bus 22, which are a two-wire (CAN high and CAN low) connected pair permitting exchange of information between the control unit modules.

[0029] CAN datalinks 22 are prone to difficult-to-diagnose errors, when any segment of the circuit experiences an open or short, either in the circuit itself or inside a CAN module. Datalink communication errors between the modules or controllers is usually identified through onboard monitors and software, which log the errors. The errors are typically presented as industry standard fault codes, which are used by a technician to determine possible causes for the errors. The technician is then instructed to inspect several areas of the system based on the fault codes, i.e., troubleshoot the problem through connections to the suspect datalink and monitor voltages to attempt to create or recreate the symptom. This manual method of diagnosis is time-consuming and may not be accurate.

[0030] In addition, datalink voltages on the CAN bus have a standard range. For example, for engine diagnostics, a J1939-H pin and a known good ground typically have a voltage range of 2 to 4 volts. Because of this standard, datalink voltages are not typically monitored, and a diagnostic tool, such as a digital multimeter is required to measure the voltage between connector locations on the CAN bus. Again, this manual method of diagnosis is time-consuming and may not be accurate.

[0031] To overcome the inefficiencies of the methods used in the standard diagnosis of datalink/CAN errors within the electronic control system 10, it is proposed to add one or more diagnostic modules 24 to one or more datalinks 22 within the system (FIG. 1). These new diagnostic modules 24 would incorporate voltage measurement microchips and circuitry and therefore be designed to monitor and read datalink voltages. Additionally, the diagnostic module would transmit error or voltage fault messages on the CAN directly to an onboard controller 30, therefore automatically and accurately pinpointing the location of the datalink voltage fault within the CAN.

[0032] Another option for creating an improved diagnostic system, is to modify an existing module or modules within the electronic control system 10 with microchips or circuitry incorporating the diagnostic voltage fault measurements 26. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates a typical telematics module 20. As understood in the industry, the telematics module collects data including diagnostics information, vehicle speed, real-time location, driver information, etc., and transmits this information through cellular communication interfaces, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to a cloud server. Among other uses, telematic modules are useful in the diagnosis of vehicle performance and notifies the vehicle occupant to any potential issues needing attention.

[0033] According to the present disclosure, the telematics module 20 would be modified to incorporate diagnostic voltage fault measurements 26. The telematics module 20 is now capable of diagnosing shorts and opens within the CAN bus, which are then immediately identified and transmitted to the onboard controller. Modification of the telematics module 20 in this manner enables an existing module within the control system 10 to transmit the datalink voltage anomalies to an onboard controller for immediate diagnosis of the problem, without the need for manual diagnosis by a repair technician. It should be understood that although the telematics module 20 is described, any existing module within the control system of any machine can be modified to include datalink voltage fault measurements, and therefore serve as a diagnostic module.

[0034] Reporting of the datalink or CAN errors, either through an additional diagnostic module 24 or through modification of an existing module, such as the telematics module 20 described above, provides another layer of diagnostic messages that can be sent immediately and directly to an onboard controller 30. It is advantageous to include new diagnostic datalink voltage fault messages, so that the technician can immediately determine the source of the fault and provide a more immediate repair, either without the need for further extensive manual diagnosis, or at least limited further manual diagnosis. New diagnostic fault messages, which would be projected onto an onboard controller 30 may include: [0035] “CAN high open for XX seconds” [0036] “CAN low open for XX seconds” [0037] “CAN high shorted to ground for XX seconds”
and many others. Each fault message contains the time and freezeframe data that is collected per industry standards, like engine faults for example. The addition of the new diagnostic modules 24 or modification of existing modules, such as a telematics module 20 with the datalink voltage fault measurements 26, bypasses the need for manual diagnosis of the errors. The present disclosure provides diagnostic messages that lead a repair technician more quickly to the root cause of the datalink communication error. The advantage is that vehicles and machinery equipped with this enhanced self-diagnostic capability can be diagnosed and repaired more quickly.

[0038] It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. Further, references throughout the specification to “the invention” are nonlimiting, and it should be noted that claim limitations presented herein are not meant to describe the invention as a whole. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.