초록 ▼

In a vehicular control system, when in the engine ECU, ATECU or brake ECU there occurs important information which requires an urgent response by any of the other ECUs, the important information is transmitted directly to the corresponding ECU through an important information communication line L1 w

In a vehicular control system, when in the engine ECU, ATECU or brake ECU there occurs important information which requires an urgent response by any of the other ECUs, the important information is transmitted directly to the corresponding ECU through an important information communication line L1 without going through a manager ECU 10. Therefore, a controller in the ECU receives the important information and immediately controls the corresponding component based on the important information.

대표청구항 ▼

In a vehicular control system, when in the engine ECU, ATECU or brake ECU there occurs important information which requires an urgent response by any of the other ECUs, the important information is transmitted directly to the corresponding ECU through an important information communication line L1 w

In a vehicular control system, when in the engine ECU, ATECU or brake ECU there occurs important information which requires an urgent response by any of the other ECUs, the important information is transmitted directly to the corresponding ECU through an important information communication line L1 without going through a manager ECU 10. Therefore, a controller in the ECU receives the important information and immediately controls the corresponding component based on the important information. o the test control module by way of the network communication link. 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle subsystem is an engine system comprising the electronic control system and the engine, wherein the electronic control system is an electronic engine control system that controls the engine, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting information pertaining to the health and operation of the engine system from the electronic engine control system to the test control module by way of the network communication link. 5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising producing fault codes and transmitting the fault codes on the network communication link, the producing and transmitting steps being performed by the electronic engine control system, and receiving the fault codes from the network communications link, interpreting the fault codes, and displaying the interpreted fault codes to the operator, the receiving, interpreting and displaying steps being performed by the test control module and the operator interface. 6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting information pertaining to at least some of the plurality of parameters measured during the measuring steps B(1)-B(25) to a computer-implemented interactive electronic technical manual. 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the operator input is received before the parameter is measured. 8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising prompting the operator to step through a test procedure, the prompting step being performed using the operator interface. 9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising prompting the operator to take a vehicle-related action to alter an operating a point of the military vehicle, the prompting step being performed using the operator interface. 10. An equipment service vehicle system comprising: (A) a network communication link; (B) a plurality of vehicle subsystems; (C) a sensor, the sensor being configured to obtain health and operation information for a vehicle device; (D) an on-board diagnostic system including an on-board test control module and an on-board operator interface, the on-board operator interface displaying a plurality of test options to an operator and receiving a selection of a test from the operator, the test control module being connected to at least some of the plurality of vehicle subsystems by way of the network communication link, the on-board test control module transmitting a request for information pertaining to the health and operation of the vehicle device on the network communication link; and (E) a test interface module, the test interface module being connected to the sensor, the test interface module being connected to the on-board test control module by way of the network communication link, the test interface module receiving the request for information pertaining to the health and operation of the vehicle device, the test interface module acquiring the requested information from the sensor and transmitting the requested information to the test control module; and wherein the test control module receives health and operation information from one of the respective vehicle subsystem or the test interface module or both and wherein the operator interface displays results of the test to the operator. 11. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of vehicle subsystems include an engine system including an engine control system and a transmission system including a transmission control system, wherein the engine control system and the transmission control system are each capable of producing fault codes and transmitting the fault codes on the network communication link, and wherein the test control module and the operator interface in combination are capable of receiving the fault codes from the network communication link and displaying the fault codes to a human operator. 12. A vehicle system according to cla im 11, wherein the fault codes are displayed in an interpreted format. 13. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the on-board diagnostic system stores a vehicle maintenance record, the vehicle maintenance record comprising a descriptive log of maintenance activities performed on the vehicle. 14. A vehicle system according to claim 10, further comprising a memory that stores a running log of health and operation information pertaining to the vehicle. 15. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the operator interface and the test control module are provided as a single integrated unit. 16. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the sensor is a first sensor and wherein the test control module is connected to at least one additional sensor. 17. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the test interface module is a separate unit from the sensor. 18. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the operator interface includes a display that is mounted in a location that is viewable from within an operator compartment of the vehicle. 19. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the operator interface is mounted within an operator compartment of the vehicle. 20. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the operator interface is at least semi-permanently mounted within the vehicle. 21. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the test is performed in response to the selection by the operator. 22. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the test control module receives health and operation information including fault codes transmitted by each of an engine control system, a transmission control system, an antilock brake control system, and a central tire inflation control system. 23. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the vehicle system further comprises a computer which implements an interactive electronic technical manual, wherein the on-board diagnostic system transmits health and operation to the interactive electronic technical manual, and wherein the interactive electronic technical manual processes the health and operation information from the on-board diagnostic system. 24. A vehicle system according to claim 23, wherein the computer is off-board the vehicle. 25. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the equipment service vehicle is a military vehicle capable of travelling on unimproved terrain and through at least three feet of water. 26. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the equipment service vehicle is a fire fighting vehicle. 27. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the equipment service vehicle is a snow removal vehicle. 28. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the equipment service vehicle is a mixer vehicle. 29. A vehicle system according to claim 10, wherein the equipment service vehicle is a refuse handling vehicle. 30. A diagnostic testing method to be executed by an on-board diagnostic system of an equipment service vehicle having a plurality of subsystems, the method comprising: displaying a plurality of test options to an operator using an on-board operator interface, the operator interface being connected to a test control module; receiving an operator input using the operator interface, the input being indicative of a selection made by the operator, the selection indicating a test selected by the operator; performing the selected test on the vehicle using a sensor or at least one of the plurality of vehicle subsystems or both, the plurality of subsystems being connected to the test control module by way of a network communication link, the sensor being configured to obtain health and operation information for a vehicle device, the sensor being connected to a test interface module that is connected to the network communication link; acquiring health and operation information pertaining to results of the test from the at least one vehicle subsystem or from the test interface module using the sensor or from both; transmitting the health and operation information from the test interface module or the at least one vehicle subsystem or both to the test control module by way of the network communication link; and displaying the results of the test to the operator using the operator interface. 31. A method according to claim 30, further comprising transmitting at least some of the health and operation information from the on-board diagnostic system to a computer-implemented interactive electronic technical manual. 32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the computer-implemented interactive electronic technical manual is separate from the on-board diagnostic system and is implemented in a computer that is off-board the vehicle. 33. A method according to claim 30, wherein the selected test is performed after the operator input is received. 34. A method according to claim 30, further comprising prompting the operator to step through a test procedure, the prompting step being performed using the operator interface. 35. A method according to claim 30, further comprising prompting the operator to take a vehicle-related action to alter an operating point of the vehicle, the prompting step being performed using the operator interface. 36. A method according to claim 30, further comprising semi-permanently mounting the operator interface in an operator compartment of the vehicle. 37. A method according to claim 30, wherein the vehicle subsystem is an engine system comprising an electronic control system and an engine, wherein the electronic control system is an electronic engine control system that controls the engine, and wherein the method further comprises communicating information pertaining to the health and operation of the engine system from the electronic engine control system to the operator interface by way of the network communication link. 38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the information is further transmitted by way of the test control module, the test control module being coupled between the network communication link and the operator interface. 39. A method according to claim 37, further comprising producing fault codes and transmitting the fault codes on the network communication link, the producing and transmitting steps being performed by the electronic engine control system, and receiving the fault codes from the network communication link, interpreting the fault codes, and displaying the interpreted fault codes to the operator, the receiving, interpreting and displaying steps being performed by the a test control module and the operator interface. 40. A method according to claim 37, further comprising storing the health and operation information of the vehicle subsystem in a data queue in the test control module, the data queue comprising a memory in which the information is stored such that newer information eventually replaces older information in the data queue. 41. A method according to claim 40, further comprising detecting a severe vehicle malfunction and terminating the storing step upon detecting the severe vehicle malfunction. 42. A method according to claim 30, wherein the operator interface and the test control module are provided as a single integrated unit. 43. Method according to claim 30, wherein the sensor is a first sensor and wherein the test interface module is connected to at least one additional sensor. 44. A method according to claim 30, wherein the test interface module is a separate unit from the sensor. 45. A method according to claim 30, further comprising storing information in a computer-implemented vehicle maintenance record on-board the vehicle, the information comprising a descriptive log of maintenance activities performed with respect to the vehicle. 46. A method according to claim 30, further comprising acquiring information pertaining to health and operation of vehicle subsystems or devices, including: (1) acquiring information pertaining to a speed of a crankshaft of an engine, (2) acquiring information pertaining to a cranking RPM of the engine, (3) acquiring information pertaining to a fuel pump supply pressure, (4) acquiring information pertaining to a fuel pump return pressure, (5) acquiring Information pertaining to an air cleaner pressure drop, (6) acquiring information pertaining to an outlet pressure of a turbocharger, (7) acquiring information pertaining to an airbox pressure, (8) acquiring information pertaining to an engine intake manifold vacuum, (9) acquiring information pertaining to an engine intake manifold vacuum variation, (10) acquiring information pertaining to an engine oil pressure, (11) acquiring information pertaining to a pressure drop across an engine oil filter, (12) acquiring information pertaining to an engine coolant temperature, (13) acquiring information pertaining to a voltage at or near battery terminals, (14) acquiring information pertaining to a voltage at or near engine starter terminals, (15) acquiring information pertaining to a voltage drop introduced by a starter cable, (16) acquiring information pertaining to a voltage present at or near a starter solenoid, (17) acquiring information pertaining to a current through an engine starter motor, (18) acquiring information pertaining to a peak initial starter current, (19) acquiring information pertaining to a battery internal resistance, (20) acquiring information pertaining to a starter circuit resistance, (21) acquiring information pertaining to battery current, (22) acquiring information pertaining to an output voltage of an alternator, and (23) acquiring information pertaining to a voltage drop introduced by an alternator cable. 47. A method according to claim 30, wherein the test control module and the test interface module are provided as separate units. 48. An equipment service vehicle comprising: (A) a network communication link; (B) a plurality of vehicle subsystems including (1) a first vehicle subsystem, the first vehicle subsystem including an engine and an electronic engine control system that is coupled to the engine and to the network communication link, the electronic engine control system controlling the engine and transmitting data pertaining to the health and operation of the engine on the network communication link; (2) a second vehicle subsystem, the second vehicle subsystem including a transmission and an electronic transmission control system, the electronic transmission control system controlling the transmission and transmitting data pertaining to the health and operation of the transmission on the network communication link; (C) a plurality of additional vehicle subsystems; (D) a sensor, the sensor being configured to obtain health and operation information for a vehicle device; (E) an on-board test control module and an on-board operator interface, (1) wherein the on-board test control module and the operator interface in combination are (a) coupled to at least some of the plurality of vehicle subsystems by way of the network communication link, and (b) capable of performing diagnostic tests by acquiring, storing and displaying at least some of the information from the network communication link pertaining to the health and operation of the engine and the transmission, (2) wherein the operator interface displays a plurality of test options to an operator, (3) wherein the operator interface receives an operator input indicative of a selection made by the operator, the selection Indicating a test selected by the operator, and (4) wherein the on-board test control module transmits a request for information on the network communication link; (F) a test interface module, the test interface module being connected to the sensor, the test interface module being connected to the on-board test control module by way of the network communication link, the test interface module receiving the request for information and tra