Vehicle diagnosis method for mobile work machines

0001The invention relates to a method for vehicle diagnostics in mobile working machines, in particular industrial trucks by means of a service computer. In particular, the invention relates to a method for fault diagnosis in mobile vehicles by means of a service computer, which can be connected via an interface to a control computer of the mobile work machine as well as memory means of the mobile working machine, can run on the service computer diagnostic software.

0002is known to perform the service of mobile equipment by a service engineer test and diagnostic routines that are started by a service host computer, that is connected by means of an interface with a control computer of the mobile working machine. Here is started after the connection to the control computer of the vehicle, eg by means of an adapter plug and an in-vehicle bus, such as CAN bus, a vehicle type and version compatible test and diagnostic software in the service computer. These test and diagnostic software can now be used for fault detection and troubleshooting, for example by a service technician on site.

0003A disadvantage of this prior art is the need to test and diagnostic software for a wide variety of mobile machinery on the service computer of the service technician having to provide. In addition, it is disadvantageous that the test and diagnostic software must be compatible with different versions of the control software of the mobile machine also because it can not be assumed even in mobile machines of the same type that all devices have the same update degrees with respect to software updates. Due to further developments of the control software of the mobile work machine with an otherwise identical type of mobile work machine, the test and diagnostic software may have marked differences. Even with different types of mobile equipment, the test and diagnostic software is different. Therefore, a service technician must each software version of the machine know and determine proper required software version of the test and diagnostic software and select. This can lead to errors. To avoid this error, would remain only the possibility that the interface of the test and diagnostic software for any type of mobile machine during production time must never be changed. This is not desirable and excludes any innovation and subsequent adaptation to customer needs from. On the other hand, the requirement that each the correct software version must be in the service computer available to that a high degree of organizational effort and / or development effort is required. So an updated version of the diagnostic software on every computer service that must be then yes suitable for a variety of software versions and types of mobile equipment must be loaded and updated after each advancement in any type of mobile machine. This results in a significant update and distribution costs.

0004From the <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US5787367A"><text>US 5,787,367 A</text></patcit> A system and an apparatus to enable secure reprogramming of a vehicle computer is known. In this case, a password is stored in the vehicle and there is a data exchange with a Passwo rtdaten bank.

0005From the <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US20090112397A1"><text>US 2009/0112397 A1</text></patcit> discloses a vehicle diagnostic device that can be connected to a computer to download from a database required for the diagnosis of a specific vehicle application.

0006The <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US20040254689A1"><text>US 2004/0254689 A1</text></patcit> discloses a method and apparatus to program a plurality of electronic control units of a vehicle in which a host module stores the various software programs for the controllers and starts to an external radio signal in the production of the vehicle frame to download the software in the controllers.

0007The present invention therefore has for its object to provide a method of fault diagnosis in industrial trucks by means of a service computer available in which a simple, inexpensive and reliable manner each in the appropriate version of the test and diagnostic software is used.

0008This object is achieved by a method for vehicle diagnostics for mobile vehicles with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are specified in the dependent claims.

0009This object is inventively achieved in that in a method for vehicle diagnostics in mobile working machines, in particular industrial trucks by means of a service computer, which can be connected via an interface to a control computer of the mobile work machine as well as memory means of the mobile working machine, on the service computer diagnostic software can run by connecting in a first step, the service computer via the interface to the memory means of the mobile working machine. Then load a stored in the storage means diagnostic software by the service computer down and started the diagnostic software on the service computer.

0010thus advantageously is always to the type of mobile machine as well as the used on the mobile machine version of the control software exactly the right test and diagnostic software available because the on type and version-enabled testing and diagnostic software is carried on the machine. The test and diagnostic software can be limited precisely to the mobile machine and not in particular the control computer of the mobile work machine must program parts and functions for other types of mobile equipment or other software versions of the software of the mobile working machine, included. This can achieve a much smaller volume of data in the test and diagnostic software. There is advantageously no test and diagnostic software or software maintenance on the service computer service technician needed except a uniform software to address the interface and load the test and diagnostic software from the storage means. The distribution and update or update costs of testing and diagnostic software Special software is eliminated. It can not lead to errors in the selection and determination of the required version of the test and diagnostic software. After starting the diagnostic software service computer can connect to the control computer via the interface Selle. Update cost of test and diagnostic software Special software is eliminated. It can not lead to errors in the selection and determination of the required version of the test and diagnostic software. After starting the diagnostic software service computer can connect to the control computer via the interface Selle. Update cost of test and diagnostic software Special software is eliminated. It can not lead to errors in the selection and determination of the required version of the test and diagnostic software. After starting the diagnostic software service computer can connect to the control computer via the interface Selle.

0011Conveniently embodiment of the invention running on the service computer is an Internet browser program and the diagnostic software is started as a browser application, in particular as a Java program.

0012Browser applications are regularly available on computers. On these running applications are operating system independent, in particular as Java programs. This can be achieved as a service computers applicability of the method, to a large extent and with many computers.

0013Advantageously, the diagnostic software can be stored on or immediately after the manufacture of the mobile work machine in the memory means.

0014The storage means may be incorporated with the stored diagnostic software in the mobile work machine.

0015Here is already determined in a simple way the correct test and diagnostic software by the manufacturer of the mobile machine and supplied.

0016the diagnostic software is advantageously installed with an operating software for the control computer of the mobile machine in the production of mobile machine.

0017This results in no noticeable overhead in the production of mobile machines, as the operating software and thus the control software has to be installed in any case, and installed. In contrast, the time required to save the test and diagnostic software is very low.

0018In an advantageous development of the invention, a further computer via the interface or via the service computer to the storage means or the control computer of the mobile work machine is at least connected.

0019Thus, a multiple access to common diagnosis by the service technicians and for example, a development department of the company is possible in case of service. By a multiple access also updates can be carried out or it can take place, a data exchange with computers in the manufacturer's development department as part of the development.

0020In one embodiment of the invention, the further computer via a remote data link is connected.

0021The remote data connection can be made via the Internet.

0022Advantageously, this allows for an update via a server of the manufacturer of the mobile machine as an additional computer and / or exchange data with computers by the manufacturer of the mobile machine as part of the development. It can remain with the maintenance of use at the mobile working machine. Over the remote connection, for example central vehicle updates can be initiated locally by the service technician to enable, for example, current bug fixes and software adjustments to the operating software of the machine directly from the manufacturer.

0023The remote data connection may be a wireless connection.

0024This allows maximum flexibility for the place where the maintenance of the mobile machine can take place.

0025In a favorable design Next one provided by the further computer updated version of the diagnostic software is downloaded.

0026In an advantageous embodiment, downloading the updated version of the diagnostic software is combined with an update of the control software of the mobile machine.

0027By a new updated version of the diagnostic software is downloaded along with the update of the operating software and thus the control software of the machine if necessary and is stored in the storage means, it is ensured that there is always an appropriate diagnostic software is stored on the machine. After the manufacture of the mobile work machine an adjustment of the diagnostic software is often only required for a change in the control software of the mobile working machine.

0028Instructions for maintenance checks and services for the mobile machine can be stored in the memory means. This vehicle-specific maintenance and service information to be stored on the machine and are provided.

0029Advantageously, error events and / or carried out maintenance for the mobile machine in the storage means can be stored. In this way a documentation of maintenance checks and services is made possible on the machine

0030In the storage means implemented measures can also be logged. Unlike paper documents they are protected against contamination and loss. It is thus established with error lists and maintenance procedures to allow, for example, a statistical analysis of a vehicle history.

0031Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in detail with reference to the illustrated in the schematic figures embodiment. Here shows<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a schematic representation of the method according to the invention in the manufacture of an industrial truck as an example of a mobile machine, and</dd><dt>Fig. 2</dt><dd>a schematic diagram of the vehicle diagnostic of the industrial truck of the <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>.</dd></dl>

0032The <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shows a schematic representation of the method according to the invention in the manufacture of an industrial truck 1 formed as a counterweight fork-lift truck as an example of a mobile machine. 2

0033The counterbalance forklift illustrated has a counterweight 3 and a mast 4 with a fork. 5

0034In the manufacture of the industrial truck 1, for example at the end of a production line not shown, the truck 1 is wirelessly connected to a computer 6 via a data cable or 7. A test and diagnostic software is installed together with an operating software for a not shown control computer of the industrial truck 1 in that the diagnostic software is stored in storage means of the industrial truck. 1 This causes no noticeable overhead in the production of mobile machine 2 because the control software has to be installed in any case, and installed. In contrast, the time required, in addition save the diagnostic software is very low.

0035The <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 2</figref> shows a schematic diagram of the vehicle diagnostic of the truck 1 of the <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> as the mobile work machine 2 when the truck 1 is at its place of use and maintained by a service engineer on site. A service computer 7 is wirelessly via a data cable or 8 and an interface 9 connected to the truck 1 and has access to the control computer and the memory means of the industrial truck. 1

0036The service computer 7 can further be connected via a mobile phone 10 and a mobile receiving station 11 as a wireless remote data link 14 and the Internet 12 as a remote data link 15 to a server 13 of the manufacturer as a further computer sixteenth

0037The service computer 7 is formed for example as a notebook.

0038If a service technician establishes a connection to the truck 1 and the storage means with the service computer 7 on site, so the stored in the memory means diagnostic software is loaded by the service computer 7 and start the diagnostic software on the service computer 7 via the interface 9 at first. It can be used a single software for various types of mobile equipment 2, the first loads the diagnostic software downloaded, or the memory means may be designed such that they can be accessed as an external memory via the interface 9 for the service computer. 7

0039The diagnostic software is started after downloading the service computer 7 as a browser application in a browser on the service computer 7 and can be accessed via the interface 9 to the control computer of the industrial truck. 1

0040Likewise, the diagnostic software can run on stored in the storage means and recorded earlier measures taken and stored error messages to access and store carried out service and maintenance work in the storage means.

0041remote access or multiple access to a common service diagnostics can be performed via the wireless remote data link 14 and the server 13, for example, by an employee at the factory.

0042In addition, an updated version of the software can be installed on the control computer of the industrial truck 1, while at the same time an updated version of the diagnostic software be downloaded, which is stored in the memory means via the remote data link 14th thus advantageously is always the right diagnostic software available without the service technician must carry this.