Vehicle management system

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a vehicle management system that manages the vehicle health status of individual users and avoids the occurrence of failures.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, in the case of failure diagnosis of a vehicle such as an automobile, it is indispensable to equip a failure diagnosis device capable of reading data from an electronic control device mounted on the vehicle. Examples of this type of failure diagnosis device include the failure diagnosis device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-15427 by the applicant, and the failure diagnosis device main body or a computer for an external expert system in the failure diagnosis device main body. Data in the in-vehicle electronic control device, that is, detection signals of sensors and switches stored in the in-vehicle electronic control device, control signals output to actuators such as injectors, and arithmetic data inside the system, etc. It is possible to read, search for the defective part or the cause of the failure, and make necessary repairs or adjustments.

【0003】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the conventional failure diagnosis device is premised on being used after a periodic inspection or an actual failure of the vehicle, and the frequency of use, the place of use, and the like are extremely limited. For this reason, it is difficult to manage the health condition of the vehicle by grasping the secular change of each part of the vehicle under the daily actual use conditions of the user, and it is not possible to take preventive measures before the failure occurs.

【0004】

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle management system that manages the vehicle health status of individual users, avoids the occurrence of failures, and improves preventive safety.

【0005】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 accumulates learning values in a control device mounted on an individual vehicle in a database, diagnoses an abnormality when it is out of the normal range, and diagnoses based on the learning values. The result is recorded in the database as historical data of the vehicle, and is distributed to the user of the vehicle and at least one of the departments having access rights to the database.

【0006】

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein each vehicle is provided with a data communication means capable of wirelessly communicating the learned value to the outside in real time, and the learned value data transmitted from the data communication means. Is received and stored in the above database.

【0007】

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the learning value is at least one of an air-fuel ratio learning value, an ignition timing learning value, an idle control learning value, and a throttle fully closed position learning value. It is characterized by being one.

【0008】

That is, the invention according to claim 1 accumulates the learning values in the control device mounted on each vehicle in a database, and diagnoses an abnormality when the learning values are out of the normal range. Then, by recording the diagnosis result based on the learned value in the database as the history data of the relevant vehicle and distributing it to the user of the relevant vehicle and at least one of the departments having access rights to the database, the vehicle actually breaks down. In addition to notifying the user in advance to improve preventive safety, it is possible to feed back the diagnosis results to related departments and reflect them in quality control and vehicle development.

【0009】

At that time, as in the invention of claim 2, it is desirable to wirelessly transmit the learning value from each vehicle via the data communication means in real time and store it in the database, which makes it easy for the moving vehicle. Data can be collected, and it is possible to deal with abnormalities that appear only while driving and abnormalities with poor reproducibility. The learning value is at least one of an air-fuel ratio learning value, an ignition timing learning value, an idle control learning value, and a throttle fully closed position learning value, and is an air-fuel ratio control system, an ignition timing control system, an idle control system, and a throttle control. When each learning value in the system is out of the normal range, it is diagnosed as an abnormality of the corresponding control system.

【0010】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a vehicle management system, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a vehicle network system, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of vehicle information processing, and FIG. Is a flowchart of the diagnostic process based on the learned value.

【0011】

Figure 1 shows the latest self-vehicle information for users by accumulating and managing the initial values of vehicle control information on the production line of the factory and managing the vehicle health status of each user in the market in real time for 24 hours. It indicates a vehicle management system for providing (health condition). In this vehicle management system, each vehicle 1 in the market is provided with a wireless communication terminal 2 as a data communication means capable of wirelessly communicating data (vehicle information) of an in-vehicle control device to the outside in real time. The vehicle information transmitted via the vehicle information is stored and managed in the database DB of the host computer 51a in the central information management center 51.

【0012】

For data communication between the vehicle 1 and the central information management center 51, a mobile wireless communication system via a base station (not shown), a satellite communication system via an artificial satellite (not shown), or the like can be used. Further, the wireless communication terminal 2 for transmitting the vehicle information of the vehicle 1 may be a communication terminal connected to the control device of the vehicle 1 via a harness, but by performing wireless communication with the in-vehicle control device. It is desirable to adopt a small communication terminal that can be carried separately from the vehicle 1. As this portable communication terminal, in this embodiment, a dedicated portable telephone (mobile phone) having a built-in communication circuit for wireless communication with an in-vehicle control device is adopted, and the wireless communication terminal 2 is hereinafter referred to as a mobile phone. It will be explained as 2. If the user already owns a mobile phone, a communication terminal that connects to the user's mobile phone and transmits data may be used.

【0013】

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when a single control device is mounted on the vehicle 1, a communication circuit for controlling wireless communication is built in the control device. Further, when the vehicle 1 is equipped with a plurality of control devices, for example, control devices # 01, # 02, # 03, # 04, # 05, ... As shown in FIG. 2, each control It is desirable that devices # 01, # 02, # 03 # 04, # 05, ... are connected to each other via network 10 to centralize control information, and a predetermined control device in network 10, for example, a control device. Communication circuit # 01a for controlling wireless communication is built in # 01. In this case, the communication circuit # 01a provided in the control device of the vehicle 1 not only enables wireless communication with the user's dedicated mobile phone 2, but also enables the factory production line as described below. Enables wireless communication with line-end inspection tools and service tools in service factories such as dealers. The network 10 is a vehicle network suitable for real-time control, and as a wireless communication method with an in-vehicle control device, for example, communication based on the Bluetooth (Bluetooth) standard that controls short-distance wireless communication. A method or other communication method can be adopted.

【0014】

On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 1, the central information management center 51 has a plurality of development headquarters 52, software development environment 53, sales / service headquarters 54, inspection / quality assurance headquarters 55, etc. via a dedicated network 50. It is connected to the department and to the inspection tool 56b for inspecting vehicle 1 on the chassis dynamometer 56a of the line end 56 on the factory production line. The inspection tool 56b is provided with a communication adapter for wireless communication with the communication circuit # 01a provided in the control device of the vehicle 1. In addition, dedicated networks 60,70, ... such as dealers in various places are connected to this dedicated network 50, and service tools 61,71 connected to each network 60,70, ... A vehicle management system that enables actual diagnosis and repair of vehicle 1 based on the management information of the central information management center 51 is formed through, ..., sales tools 62,72, ..., etc. Furthermore, each dedicated network 50, 60, 70, ... is interconnected to the Internet 80 as a public network, and in addition to providing information via mobile phone 2, each user's personal computer ( (PC) Information can be provided via a PC.

【0015】

In the above vehicle management system, the initial value (initial information) of the control information of each vehicle is accumulated at the line end 56 in the production line of the factory by using the inspection tool 56b, and after shipping to the market, the initial information is used. Vehicle information accessed by the user is added and accumulated. In this case, each user can wirelessly transmit his / her own vehicle information to the central information management center 51 at any time as long as his / her own vehicle 1 is in an operating state, regardless of whether the vehicle is stopped or running.

【0016】

That is, when the user wants to know the state of his / her own vehicle 1, he / she sends the vehicle information to the central information management center 51 using the mobile phone 2 dedicated to the vehicle 1 to obtain the maintenance state and malfunction of his / her own vehicle. It is possible to receive information related to the vehicle health condition such as the presence or absence of the vehicle. In particular, since data can be transmitted in real time from a moving vehicle by wireless communication, it can be used for failures such as abnormalities that appear only while driving or abnormalities with poor reproducibility that were difficult to quickly investigate the cause in the past. On the other hand, it is possible to quickly investigate the cause and deal with it.

【0017】

In order for the user to transmit the vehicle information of his / her own vehicle 1 to the central information management center 51, he / she only needs to use the mobile phone 2 dedicated to the vehicle 1 and press a specific number preset in the mobile phone 2. The wireless communication with the control device # 01 of the vehicle 1 automatically stands by and calls the central information management center 51. Then, when the connection between the mobile phone 2 and the central information management center 51 is established, the data of each control device via the network 10 in the vehicle 1 is added with the vehicle body number from the communication circuit # 01a of the control device # 01. It is transmitted to the mobile phone 2, further added with a user identification code, etc., passed through the mobile phone 2, and transmitted to the central information management center 51.

【0018】

The initial vehicle information and market information (vehicle information for each individual user) stored in the database DB of the central information management center 51 are distributed to each department given access to the database DB via network 50. It manages the health condition of the vehicle and provides various services. That is, collection of usage frequency information of various parts in the user's vehicle, evaluation of control algorithms, real-time diagnosis and troubleshooting, predictive diagnosis by grasping changes over time and learning values of each part, and defects that are difficult to reproduce. Diagnosis, etc. will be performed in the relevant department, and information collection for improvement of control algorithms and new development will be performed in the relevant department. In addition, as part of the user service, the relevant department will perform pre-diagnosis of the user's vehicle 1 before warehousing, warehousing communication such as periodic inspections corresponding to individual users, and distribute the information to the dealer etc. using the service tool 61. Instruct inspection or diagnosis. Furthermore, absolute quality evaluation at the component level in the market, real-time collection of raw statistical data, relative quality evaluation for each component manufacturer, etc. are performed in the relevant department, and the evaluation results are fed back to each department.

【0019】

Information such as data analysis results and diagnosis results for each user's vehicle is accumulated in time series as historical information for each user at the central information management center 51. Then, it is provided to individual users via the home page on the Internet 80 or directly via the mobile phone 2. That is, each user accesses the corresponding homepage from his / her own personal computer PC via the Internet 80, or directly accesses the central information management center 51 from the mobile phone 2 and has his / her own identification number, name, and password registered in advance. Etc., and you can browse your own vehicle information. It is also possible for a legitimately registered user to access the host computer 51a of the central information management center 51 via a personal computer, but in that case, access from the user is restricted in consideration of security. You are only allowed to view general information such as diagnostic results about your vehicle.

【0020】

Next, the processing of vehicle information in the central information management center 51 will be described. Figure 3 shows when the central information management center 51 is accessed from a registered user's mobile phone 2, a personal computer PC, or a computer in another department related to this vehicle management system (a computer that has access to the database DB). This is a process executed by the host computer 51a. In this process, first, in the first step S10, the vehicle initial information is received by accessing from the inspection tool 56b of the line end 56 on the production line, and from the user's mobile phone 2. It is checked whether or not the vehicle information is received by the access, the data request of the own vehicle by the access from the user's personal computer PC, or the data request by the access from the computer of another department related to this vehicle management system is being received. Then, if the data is not being received, the routine is exited, and if the data is being received, the process proceeds to step S11 to process the data, and the data is accumulated in step S12.

【0021】

For example, when the vehicle initial information accessed from the inspection tool 56b of the line end 56 on the production line or the vehicle information accessed from the user's mobile phone 2 in the market is received, each vehicle body number and user identification code (of course). However, from the line-end inspection to the sale, there is no user identification code yet), vehicle type, control conditions (mileage, driving conditions), data and data type (input / output data of in-vehicle control device, control data). (Calculation data), learning value data, self-diagnosis data, etc.) are processed according to the type of the corresponding device / part such as a sensor or actuator, and stored in the database DB in chronological order. In addition, in the case of a data request of the own vehicle by access from the user's personal computer PC or a data request of the corresponding vehicle by access from the computer of another department related to the vehicle management system, the request partner, request contents, etc. are recorded in the data request history. Accumulate as.

【0022】

Next, the process proceeds to step S13, and the diagnostic process based on the learning values shown in FIG. 4 is executed. In the case of a data request for the accumulated vehicle information, the diagnostic processing based on this learned value is skipped. After that, the process proceeds to step S14, and the data is transmitted. For example, in the case of access from the user's mobile phone 2, the display data displayed on the display of the mobile phone 2, the diagnosis result based on the learning value, etc. are transmitted, and the data request of the own vehicle is performed by the access from the user's personal computer PC. In the case of a data request for the relevant vehicle by accessing from a computer in another department related to the system, the data corresponding to the request is transmitted. Then, it is checked whether or not the communication is terminated in step S15, and as a result, if the communication is not terminated, the process returns to step S10 to continue the above processing, and if the communication is terminated, the routine is terminated. ..

【0023】

Next, the diagnostic process based on the learning value in step S13 will be described. In the diagnostic process using the learning values in FIG. 4, first, each learning value data K of the corresponding vehicle accumulated corresponding to the vehicle body number and the user identification code is read, and each learning value K determines an abnormality based on the corresponding learning value. Check if it is within the normal range between the preset upper limit KMAX and the lower limit KMIN. The upper limit value KMAX and the lower limit value KMIN define the range of learning values when the control system is functioning well, and the characteristics of the corresponding control system and its peripheral sensors and actuators for each vehicle type and model. The appropriate range is determined based on the value obtained by simulation or experiment in consideration of the above and the value obtained by analyzing the information from the actual vehicle stored in the database DB.

【0024】

Specifically, in step S20, the learning value K and the upper limit value KMAX are compared, and when K KMAX, the learning value K and the lower limit value KMIN are further compared in step S21. Then, when KMIN K KMAX in steps S20 and S21 and the learning value K is within the normal range, the process proceeds to step S22, and the corresponding control system having the learning value K is diagnosed as normal. On the other hand, if K> KMAX in step S20 or K <KMIN in step S21 and the learning value K is out of the normal range, the process proceeds to step S23, and the corresponding control system having the learning value K is abnormal. Diagnose. Then, in step S24, the diagnosis result based on the learning value is recorded in the database DB as the history data for each vehicle based on the vehicle body number and the user identification code, and the diagnosis result data is set to be transmitted to the access destination, and the routine is exited. ..

【0025】

For example, as is well known, when the air-fuel ratio feedback control is executed by the air-fuel ratio sensor, the deviation from the reference air-fuel ratio is learned as the air-fuel ratio learning value and reflected in the air-fuel ratio control. Therefore, when the air-fuel ratio learning value is out of the normal range, it can be diagnosed that the control state of the air-fuel ratio control system is abnormal and a problem will occur in the near future. Similarly, if the ignition timing learning value is out of the normal range, the ignition timing control system can be diagnosed as abnormal, and if the idle control (ISC) learning value is out of the normal range, ISC. It is possible to predict abnormalities in the ISC control system including the valve. Furthermore, in a system equipped with an electronically controlled throttle and learning the fully closed position of the throttle valve according to the throttle opening, if the throttle valve fully closed position learning value is out of the normal range, the throttle opening sensor system or the electronic throttle control system Can be diagnosed as abnormal.

【0026】

In other words, by notifying the user in advance before the failure actually occurs, it is possible not only to avoid the failure and improve preventive safety, but also to send the diagnosis result to a service factory such as a dealer. By doing so, it can be utilized for advance arrangement of corresponding parts and promotion of warehousing. Furthermore, not only can the usage status, frequency of use, usage status, etc. of each vehicle be grasped from the vehicle information from the user, but also the obtained data can be secondarily processed and the diagnosis result can be fed back to the related departments. It can be reflected in quality control and the next vehicle development.

【0027】

The diagnostic processing based on the above learned values is not limited to the central information management center 51, but is limited to the line end 56 in the production line, the development headquarters 52, the software development environment 53, the sales / service headquarters 54, or the inspection / quality assurance headquarters 55. Etc., it may be executed on the computer of another related department that has the access right to the database DB.

【0028】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to manage the vehicle health condition of each user, avoid the occurrence of a failure, and improve the preventive safety.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

Overall configuration diagram of the vehicle management system [Figure 2]

Explanatory drawing showing the network system of the vehicle [Fig. 3]

Vehicle information processing flowchart [Fig. 4]

Flowchart of diagnostic processing based on learned values [Explanation of symbols]

1 vehicle # 01, # 02, # 03, # 04, # 05 Control unit 2 Mobile phone (data communication means) DB database K learning value