United States Patent [19J
`Asano et al.
`
`[54] SYSTEM AND METHOD OF LOAD
`SHARING CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILE
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Seiji Asano, Matsuta; Kozo Katogi,
`Hitachi; Toshio Furuhashi, Mito;
`Shizuhisa Watanabe, Katsuta;
`Kiyoshi Miura, Ibarak.i, all of Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
`[21] Appl. No.:
`
`480,284
`
`Feb. 15, 1990
`[22] Filed:
`[30]
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Feb. 15, 1989 [JP]
`Japan .................................... 1-33595
`Int. a.s .............................................. G06F 13/00
`[51]
`[52] U.S. CI ........................... 364/424.03; 364/424.01;
`73/117.3
`[58] Field of Search ...................... 364/431.01, 424.03,
`364/551.01, 424.04, 138; 340/870.16, 870.03;
`73/117.2, 117.3
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,258,421 3/1981 Juhasz et al. ................... 364/424.03
`4,757,463 7/1988 Ballou et al. ........................ 364/551
`4,796,206 1/1989 Boscove et al. ................ 364/551.01
`4,853,859 8/1989 Morita et al. .................. 364/424.04
`4,939,652 7/1990 Steiner ............................ 364/424.04
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0002232 6/1979 European Pat. Off ..
`0292811 11/1988 European Pat. Off ..
`2535491 5/1984 France .
`2559929 4/1985 France .
`2100895 111983 United Kingdom .
`2125578 3/1984 United Kingdom .
`2179225 8/1985 United Kingdom .
`
`111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US005157610A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,157,610
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`IEEE Spectrum, vol. 23, No.6, Jun. 1986, New York
`us pp. 53-59.
`Primary Examiner-Thomas G. Black
`[57]
`ABSTRACI'
`A system and method for load sharing processing oper(cid:173)
`ations between a vehicle mounted station (105) and a
`stationary base station (25) having a large capacity host
`computer is described. The vehicle mounted station has
`detectors for determining operating conditions of a
`vehicle and controllers (3, 4, 501) for varying the oper(cid:173)
`ating conditions. The controllers are connected to a
`transmitter-receiver (5) which is arranged to communi(cid:173)
`cate over a path (10) with a transmitter-receiver (11) of
`the base station. The base station has a host computer
`(18) having a large memory capacity. At predetermined
`intervals, for example, distance of travel or at engine
`stop, the vehicle transmitter (5) transmits operating
`conditions to the base receiver (11) for data processing
`and the base transmitter (11) then transmits processed
`data back to the vehicle receiver (5), whereupon the
`controllers (3, 4, 501) modify the vehicle operating
`conditions. The vehicle operating conditions may be an
`indication of life expectancy of fuel injectors or sensors,
`updating data processing maps. The presence of abnor(cid:173)
`mal operating conditions may be detected by the vehi(cid:173)
`cle mounted station, evaluated by the base station and
`an emergency warning indication provided back to the
`vehicle mounted station, or if the abnormal condition is
`not of an emergency nature then counter measures are
`transmitted from
`the base station to the vehicle
`mounted station.
`
`20 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`IPR2013-00412 - Ex. 1005
`Toyota Motor Corp., Petitioner
`1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 1 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`1.00
`
`500
`
`ENGINE
`
`TRANSMISSION
`
`SUSPENSION
`
`YEHICL£
`COMPUTER
`
`I.
`
`'--; CONTROLLER
`
`TRANSMISSION
`CONTROLLER
`
`105 ~- :NCINE
`.
`7
`I r- -\------,
`i l_~R~~E~S~~-JL.-- ....__...., __ _,
`--.:- --·---~--~'J
`L::----~---=--...:-
`
`10
`
`VEHICLE
`SIDE
`
`12
`.
`l
`I
`
`)
`I
`t __ T_
`25
`
`.
`J
`
`-~-
`\_HOST
`COMPUTER
`STATION
`
`Fig. 1
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 2 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`22
`
`. -~105
`
`RAM
`
`fUEl INJ.
`
`48
`
`TRANS
`MISSION
`SHifTER
`
`= LoJ
`
`~
`~=
`... LoJ II'-......... ~
`~:: l'v-4--~
`ZL.J
`Cc.J
`C::L.J
`~=
`
`56
`
`61
`
`DISPLAY
`
`L. ____ _
`
`- - · - - ·J
`
`Fig.2
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 3 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`5
`
`M
`
`DETECT PREDETERMINED
`INCREMENTS or DISTANCE
`TRAVELLED
`
`DETECT ENGINE STOP
`
`DETECT FUEL TANK LOW
`
`DATA
`TRANSMISSION/
`RECEPTION
`
`PREDETERMINED CONDITIONS
`e.g. AT TIME INtERVALS
`
`Fig .3
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 4 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`DATA
`CONTROL
`
`" '
`
`VEHICLE NO.
`
`l
`'\
`HEAD£R
`
`CHECK
`SYMBOL
`l
`\
`
`END
`
`DATA ARRAY
`
`Fig.4A
`
`Wol
`
`Q -c.n
`...J u -::
`
`Wol
`
`I;W
`>
`
`TRANSMISSSION REQUEST
`
`TRANSMISSION PERMISSION
`
`HEADER + VEHICLE NO.
`
`DATA ARRAY
`
`CHECK SYMBOL
`
`RECEPTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
`
`TRANSMISSION END
`
`Fig .48
`
`Wol
`
`Q -c.n
`
`= Wol
`...J <
`
`Wol
`Q
`
`5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 5 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`VEHICLE SID£
`
`CHECK
`HATCHING MAP
`
`HAP
`Sa TRANSMissioN
`\
`
`0
`
`/Sb
`
`I
`)"
`
`DEALER SIDE
`
`l} STARTS
`
`RECEPriON
`
`5c 'd
`
`IN THE MIDDLE
`Or RECEIVING OTHER
`VEHICLE DATA
`
`CHECK REVISION
`ITEMS Or HAP
`
`(TO ANOTifER JOB)
`
`/5l
`RECUEVING l
`
`STORE
`
`IN RAM
`
`5m
`
`RE-WRITE AT
`RE-START
`
`"--sn
`TO DRIVER ~5p
`
`REPORT
`
`{ ~
`
`)
`
`HAP
`RECEIVING
`
`YES.
`WAIT
`INSTRUCTIONS
`
`\
`~st Se ~g
`
`STORE IN
`MEMORY
`
`COMPARE PRESENT
`HAP MEMORY VALUES
`WITH PREVIOUS VALUES
`
`ESTIMATE AMOUNT Or
`DETERIORATION IN
`INJECTORS AND SENSORS
`
`REMAINING ~h
`
`ESTIMATE
`LirE
`
`\ DATA HATCHING
`
`TRANSMIT DATA
`
`Sj
`
`5i
`
`5k
`
`105
`
`fig.5
`
`6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 6 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`VEHI Cl£ SIDE
`
`DIAGNOSTIC
`HOD£ STARTS
`
`6a
`
`ABNORMALITY
`EXISTS
`
`TRANSMIT DATA
`FOR DECISION
`
`TRANSMIT
`ABNORMALITY
`CODE
`
`6n
`
`DEALER SIDE
`
`START RECEIVING
`
`6c
`
`REQUEST TO TRANSMIT
`DA~A FOR DECISION
`
`6f 6d 6h
`
`FAILURE
`DIAGNOSIS
`YES TRANSHI T
`.__----.r-1 EMERGENCY
`DEGREE
`EMERGENCY
`
`6g
`6
`
`.1
`
`
`
`STORE IN
`FAILURE CHART
`
`DIAGNOSTIC MODE
`FINISHED
`
`6m
`
`DIAGNOSIS ENDS
`
`6l
`
`Fig. 6
`
`7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 7 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`VEHICLE SIDE
`
`DATA SAMPLING
`
`7a
`
`ABNORMALITY
`EXISTS
`
`TRANSMIT
`DATA
`
`IHE NEXT
`TO
`PROGRAM
`
`7b
`
`DEALER SIDE
`
`START
`RECEIVING
`
`7d
`
`TX/RX
`
`SPECifY
`DEFECTIVE
`PARTS
`
`INSTRUCTIONS
`
`TRANSMIT
`1------___,,.....-t DE GRH
`or
`EMERGENCY
`EXISTS
`EMERGENCY
`
`ENTER IN
`rAILURE CHART
`
`7g
`7i
`
`TO 5
`
`TRANSMIT
`COUNTERMEASURES
`
`.
`71
`
`COMPLETE
`RECEIVING
`
`7l
`
`Fig.7
`
`1l
`
`8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 8 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`CHECK 02 FEEDBACK
`LEARNING MAP
`
`NO
`
`Ba
`
`Bb
`
`Be
`
`Be
`
`Bh
`
`PREPARE Ts
`REVISION MAP
`
`Bd
`
`PREPARE K-CONST
`REVISION MAP
`
`Bf
`
`PREPARE Qs TABLE
`REVISION MAP
`
`Bi
`
`PREPARE HEADER DATA
`OF REVISION ITEMS
`
`8j
`
`WRITE IN TRANSMISSION
`AREAS or EACH REVISION MAP
`
`Bk
`
`Fig. 8
`
`9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 9 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`NO
`
`IGN KEY orr
`
`NO
`
`YES
`ENGINE
`STOPPED
`YES
`IS REVISION REQUEST ISSUED
`IN PREVIOUS CYCLE?
`YES
`
`9a
`
`9b
`
`NO
`
`9c
`
`YES
`
`REVISION ITEMS
`
`NO
`
`9d
`
`MASK SET
`
`TRANSMISSION
`/RECEPTION JOB
`
`MASK ClEARED
`
`TRANSMISSION
`I RECEPTION OK
`
`SElf-SHUT orr
`
`9e
`
`9f
`
`9g
`
`9h
`
`9i
`
`Fig. 9
`
`10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 10 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`START
`
`INI11Al REVISION
`
`STORE BASIC DATA
`
`lOa
`
`lOt
`
`lOb
`
`RETRIEVE PREVIOUS
`DATA
`
`CALCULATE CORRECTION fROM HAP
`
`lOd
`
`CALCULATE REVISED VALUES
`
`10e
`
`STORE CORRECTION AND
`REVISED VALUES
`
`lQf
`
`RTS
`
`Fig .10
`
`11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 11 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`I
`lWAIT
`I
`I
`
`REVISION
`rLAC ON
`
`lla
`
`11f
`
`11g
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`:wAI 1
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`REQUEST TO TRANSMIT
`RETURN DATE
`
`RETURN TRANSMISSION
`READY
`
`RETURN TRANSMISSION
`READY
`
`TRANSMIT RETURN
`DATA
`
`TRANSMIT
`DATA
`
`11k
`
`Fig .11
`
`11m
`
`11o
`
`11r
`
`11s
`
`11t
`
`12
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,157,610
`
`2
`However, the conventional technologies are neither
`concerned with this difficulty nor even indicate that
`there is such a problem.
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD OF LOAD SHARING
`CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILE
`
`5
`
`BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`An object of this invention is to provide a new com-
`puter control method for vehicles which at least par-
`1) Field of Invention
`This invention relates to a system and method for
`tially mitigates the above mentioned problems.
`According to one aspect of this invention there is
`load sharing processing operations between a vehicle
`mounted station and a stationary base station and in 10 provided a method of load sharing processing opera-
`particular for controlling various items of equipment
`tions between a vehicle mounted station and a station-
`ary base station including the steps of said vehicle
`mounted on an automobile using a large-capacity host
`mounted station detecting operating conditions of the
`computer installed at a stationary base station, e.g. on
`the ground.
`vehicle, transmitting data representative of the detected
`2) Description of Related Art
`15 operating conditions to the base station, said base station
`The number of electrically controlled items used in
`receiving data from the vehicle mounted station, pro-
`~ autom~bile, p~rticularly an internal combustion en-
`cessing said data in accordance with data stored by said
`gme, ~e mcreasmg and con~rol systems there~or are
`base station, said base station transmitting processed
`becommg ever more complicated. ~everal different
`data to a receiver at said vehicle mounted station and
`systems have been attempted to collectively control the 20 control means at said vehicle mounted station con-
`various. items. by time sharing interruptable arithmetic
`nected to the vehicle mounted receiver and being ar-
`p~ocessmg usmg a processor mounted on the automo-
`ranged to perform at least one of revising or displaying
`btle.
`the vehicle operating conditions in dependence upon
`Such examples incl~~e Japan~se Pat.ent Publicatio~
`the processed data.
`No. 63-15469 (1988), El~ctr?mc Engme Controller 25 Advantageously the vehicle mounted station de-
`~nd Japanese Paten~ Pubhcatio~. No. 62-18921 0?87),
`tected operating conditions are performed by a detect-
`Computer for Vehicle Control , and controls usmg a
`ing means adapted to detect at least one of water tern-
`computer are now common. .
`.
`perature, air flow ratio air fuel quantity, battery voltage,
`A central control met_hod usmg a LSI micropro~essor
`throttle valve opening angle, engine speed, transmission
`responds to many requirement~, such as respondmg to 30 gear position and suspension setting. In a feature of this
`invention the vehicle mounted station includes a control
`hazardous components located m the exhaust gas of the
`intern~! combusti?~ engi~e and for reducing fuel co~-
`means adapted to control at least one of a fuel injector,
`s~mp~10n. In additi~n, miCroprocessors ha~e been ~ti-
`a transmission gear change means, and a suspension
`hzed m areas _extendmg to attitude c~n~rol, I.e. _I~velli~g
`setting actuator.
`control, steenng performance and dnvmg stability With 35
`Conveniently the data transmitted from the vehicle
`regard to a vehicle body suspension control.
`mounted station to the base station is performed at times
`Regarding transmission of programs between a base
`of occurrence of predetermined conditions including at
`station and the vehicle, for example, there is Japanese
`least one of the vehicle covering a predetermined dis-
`Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-38624 (1987),
`tance, detection of the engine ceasing rotation and low
`"Radiocommunication Unit". However, this publica- 40 fuel tank condition, and advantageously data transmit-
`ted between the vehicle mounted station and the base
`tion relates to revision of an operational control pro-
`gram for a vehicle mounted processor, and does not
`station includes header bits, vehicle identification bits,
`teach load sharing under predetermined driving condi-
`data control bits, data array bits, check symbol bits and
`tions. In addition, regarding mutual communications,
`end of transmission bits.
`there is Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 45
`Preferably the vehicle mounted station transmits a
`62-245341 (1987), "Engine Controller", but this de-
`request to transmit to the base station, said base station
`scribes only installation of a means to load failure diag-
`transmits a permission to transmit for the vehicle
`nosis is programs and does not mention any relationship
`mounted station, said vehicle transmits data including
`with the driving conditions of the vehicle.
`header bits, vehicle identification bits, data control bits,
`A full dependence upon a vehicle-mounted processor 50 data array bits and check symbol bits, said base station
`transmits a receipt acknowledgement and said station-
`to process all that is included in the above mentioned
`ary base station transmits end of transmission bits. In
`conventional technologies and control systems to be
`newly installed will not only make the system complex
`one preferred embodiment the vehicle mounted station
`but also necessitate a large-capacity processor. Com-
`contains at least one map indicative of vehicle operating
`puter control has been used to exploit such advantages 55 conditions including an indication of ageing in at least
`one of vehicle injectors and sensors, said map being
`as high processing speed and accuracy, easy modifica-
`tion of control characteristics and low cost. However,
`transmitted by said vehicle mounted station to said base
`there are numerous control items, including fuel supply
`station, said base station comparing transmitted map
`control and ignition control, for which real-time pro-
`values with previously transmitted map values and esti-
`cessing is required and implementing all of these to- 60 mating the amount of deterioration in said injectors and
`gether is difficult.
`sensors, said base station being arranged to estimate the
`That is, processing all control parameters including
`life expectancy of said injectors and sensors and to
`the initial setting correction of set values caused by
`transmit data indicative thereof to said vehicle mounted
`ageing (wear). changes of various characteristics, for
`station whereby said vehicle mounted station stores said
`example, an engine, transmission, steering, suspension, 65 updated information and indicates the life expectancy
`by visual or aural means. In such an embodiment cor-
`within a control system having only a vehicle-mounted
`computer makes the processing program increasingly
`rected map values are transmitted from the base station
`large.
`to the vehicle mounted station when engine rotation has
`
`13
`
`

`

`5,157,610
`
`3
`ceased for subsequent real time processing and conve(cid:173)
`niently the vehicle mounted station updates corrected
`map values in a series of steps during vehicle running
`and uses said corrected map values for real time control.
`Advantageously a life predicting diagnosis of the 5
`vehicle is carried out by the base station by using cur(cid:173)
`rent operating condition signals received from the vehi(cid:173)
`cle mounted station, said predicting diagnosis being
`carried out at predetermined intervals of time or dis(cid:173)
`tance travelled. In a feature of the invention the vehicle 10
`mounted station is arranged to detect an abnormality
`and to transmit data indicative thereof to said base sta(cid:173)
`tion, said base station evaluates said abnormality and
`determines whether an emergency retransmission to
`said vehicle mounted station is necessary to provide an 15
`indicative warning by one of a display means or an aural
`means, and in such feature if the abnormality is not of an
`emergency nature the data is stored in a failure chart
`prior to transmitting counter measures from the base
`station to said vehicle mounted station.
`The vehicle-mounted station may transmit an abnor(cid:173)
`mal condition signal to the base station, the base station
`transmits a request for data to be analysed, the vehicle
`mounted station transmits data for analysis, the base
`station diagnoses a failure and if an emergency is deter- 25
`mined by said base station then said base station immedi(cid:173)
`ately transmits a warning for indication by said vehicle
`mounted station but if said base station determines there
`to be no emergency then said base station stores data
`indicative of the abnormality and subsequently trans- 30
`mits counter measures to said vehicle mounted station
`whereupon said vehicle mounted station takes appropri(cid:173)
`ate action in dependence thereof.
`According to another aspect of this invention there is
`provided a system for load sharing processing opera- 35
`tions between a vehicle mounted station and a station(cid:173)
`ary base station, said vehicle mounted station including
`detecting means for detecting operating conditions of
`the vehicle,
`first transmitting means for transmitting data repre- 40
`sentative of the detected operating conditions to the
`base station,
`first receiving means for receiving data from the base
`station,
`·
`and control means for controlling vehicle operating 45
`conditions, said control means being connected to said
`first receiving means,
`and said base station comprising second receiver
`means for receiving data from the vehicle . mounted
`station,
`processing means and storage means for processing
`the data received from the vehicle mounted station
`based upon information held in said storage means,
`and second transmitting means for transmitting the
`processed data to the first receiving means whereupon 55
`the control means is arranged to perform at least one of
`revise or display the vehicle operating conditions in
`dependence upon the processed data.
`Advantageously the detecting means isadapted to
`detect at least one of water temperature, air/fuel ratio, 60
`air flow quantity, battery voltage, throttle valve open(cid:173)
`ing angle, engine speed, transmission gear position and
`suspension setting. Preferably the control means is ar(cid:173)
`ranged to control at least one of a fuel injector, a trans(cid:173)
`mission gear change means, and a suspension setting 65
`actuator.
`Conveniently the first transmitting means is adapted
`to transmit data comprising a header, a vehicle identifi-
`
`4
`cation, data control bits, a data array, a check symbol
`and an end of transmission indicator.
`In a feature of this invention a vehicle-mounted sta(cid:173)
`tion includes detecting means for detecting operating
`conditions of a vehicle, transmitting/receiving means
`for transmitting data representative of the detected
`operating conditions to a base station capable of evalu(cid:173)
`ating said data, said transmitting/receiving means being
`adapted to receive evaluated signals from the base sta(cid:173)
`tion and to apply signals representative of said evalu(cid:173)
`ated signals to a control means adapted to perform at
`least one of vary or display said operating conditions in
`dependenc~ upon said received evaluated signals.
`In another feature of this invention there is provided
`a stationary base station adapted to receive data from a
`vehicle mounted station, said base station including
`processing means and storage means for processing the
`data received from the vehicle mounted station based
`upon information held in said storage means, the base
`20 station being adapted to perform at least one of up(cid:173)
`dating/correcting maps carried by a vehicle located
`processor indicative of ageing in at least one of vehicle
`located sensors and injectors, establish the expected life
`expectancy of said sensors and injectors and further
`including transmitting means for transmitting processed
`data to a vehicle.
`Thus, the above mentioned object is principally real-
`ized by controlling load sharing between computers. A
`study of computer control for vehicles indicates that
`data processing is roughly divided into data requiring
`high-speed real-time processing and data which may be
`processed in a comparatively long period. For example,
`ignition timing control and fuel injection control are
`control subjects that require processing in synchronism
`with engine rotation so that high-speed processing is
`required in response to high speed engine rotation. On
`the other hand, modification of initial settings because
`of ageing changes such as those in an engine transmis(cid:173)
`sion and suspension, may be computed over a relatively
`long time cycle. Also, controls which have to be com(cid:173)
`puted with a high accuracy take time when processed
`by a vehicle-mounted computer and only increase the
`load on the computer.
`Also, with regard to failure diagnosis or failure pre(cid:173)
`diction processing when status data is obtained, arith(cid:173)
`metic processing itself may be separated from the real(cid:173)
`time processing without difficulty. Of course, there may
`be some diagnoses which require emergency processing
`and a feature of this invention is to discriminate and act
`50 upon abnormal conditions that require urgent actions
`·
`and diagnoses.
`In consideration of the increasing complexity of the
`control system and the necessity for higher speed pro(cid:173)
`cessing accompanied by the increasing r.p.m. of modern
`engines, this invention carries out load sharing between
`a vehicle-mounted computer and a stationary host com-
`puter.
`More specifically a feature of this invention resides in
`predetermining the processing sharing conditions when
`specific operating conditions of the engine or specific
`C?Onditions of the vehicle-mounted computer are de-
`tected, transmitting information to and from the host
`computer and sharing the processing.
`The load sharing between the vehicle-mounted com(cid:173)
`puter and the stationary host computer is achieved
`through the following operations. When the operating
`conditions for the engine are detected, the subsequent
`processing thereon is shifted to the host computer to be
`
`14
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`

`5,157,610
`
`5
`shared thereby. Thus, increases irt load on the vehicle(cid:173)
`mounted computer are prevented.
`The above operating conditions are detected, for
`example, at predetermined distance of travel, when
`cumulative driving time reaches a predetermined time 5
`and/or when a predetermined condition is met such as
`engine stopped or fuel tank low.
`
`6
`because the vehicle side is normally moving. Of course,
`when occasion demands, information can be transmit(cid:173)
`ted or received by wire communication lines from the
`host computer to a beacon by the roadside for subse(cid:173)
`quent wireless transmission/reception to the vehicle(cid:173)
`mounted computer.
`Also, in some cases the engine controller 3 or the
`transmission controller 4 as shown in FIG. 1 has its own
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ORA WINGS
`built-in processor and carries out respective processings
`The invention will now be described by way of exam- 10 or a vehicle-mounted processor 7 is provided as indi-
`ple with reference to the accompanying drawings in
`cated in broken lines. Hereinafter engine controls are
`which:
`described wherein a processor for engine control is built
`FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of a system ac-
`in.
`FIG. 2 shows the computer 105 on the vehicle side
`cording to the present invention,
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the vehicle-mounted 15 with the suspension controller 501 omitted. ROM 21,
`RAM 22 and CPU 7 are connected by a bus line 30 for
`computer,
`FIG. 3 shows occasions when transmission/reception
`I/O processing. The bus line consists of a data bus, a
`between the computers is performed,
`control bus, and an address bus.
`FIGS. 4(A) and (B) respectively show a data signal
`Other sensors (of which only two are shown) sense
`and a data transmission/reception sequence,
`20 the engine operating conditions, inter alia, the engine
`FIG. 5 is a diagram of checking revised items for map
`cooling water temperature (TWS) 32 and the air/fuel
`matching,
`·
`FIG. 6 is a diagram of failure diagnosis,
`ratio (02S) 34. Battery voltage and throttle valve open-
`FIG. 7 is a diagram of long-term data sampling,
`ing and rotation speed also correspond to operating
`h rt fi
`· d
`FIG 8 l·s a flo
`25 condition signals, but here they are omitted. A multi-
`·
`or preparmg a revtse map,
`.
`w c a
`FIG. 9 is a data transmission flow chart when the
`plexer 36 inputs the operating condition signals into an
`AID conversion circuit 38. A register 40 sets AID
`engine is stopped,
`FIG. 10 is a flow chart for revised values, and
`converted values.
`FIG. 11 is a series flow chart of transmissions and
`An inlet pipe air flow sensor (AFS) 51 has its value
`30 set in a register 54 after conversion in an AID converter
`receptions.
`In the Figures like reference numerals denote like
`52. An engine angle sensor (AS) 56 provides reference
`signals REF and angle position signals POS to an angle
`parts.
`signal processing circuit 58. The processed signals are
`used to control synchronizing signals and timing sig(cid:173)
`nals.
`Engine operating condition ON/OFF switches
`(SWI-SWi) 59-61 indicate parameters such as start
`engine and engine idle. These signals are input into an
`ON-OFF switch-condition signal-processing circuit 60
`and are used independently or in combination with
`other signals forming logic signals to determine controls
`or controlling methods known per se.
`The CPU 7 carries out computations based on the
`above mentioned operating condition signals in accor(cid:173)
`dance with multiple programs stored in ROM 21 and
`outputs its computation results into respective control
`circuits through the bus lines 30. Here the engine con(cid:173)
`trol circuit 3 and the transmission control circuit 4 have
`been shown, but numerous other control circuits such
`as an idle speed control circuit and exhaust gas recircu(cid:173)
`lation (EGR) control circuit are possible.
`The engine control circuit 3 has a fuel controller for
`controlling air/fuel ratios and increases or decreases the
`amount of fuel supplied by controlling an injector 44. 42
`is a logic circuit for these controls. The transmission
`controller 4 carries out a transmission shift 48 in the
`transmission 400 through a logic circuit 46 based on the
`computation results of the driving conditions. A control
`mode register 62 presents timing signals for various
`control outputs.
`Timing circuits 64-70 control transmitting and re(cid:173)
`ceiving operations. For example, circuit 64 outputs a
`trigger signal into the transmitter-receiver whenever a
`predetermined distance is travelled and transmits a cor(cid:173)
`responding engine operation condition signal through
`the transmitter-receiver to the stationary host com(cid:173)
`puter. A display 90 is used to display instructions to the
`driver.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of
`the overall system where information is transmitted
`between a vehicle and a host computer located, for
`example, at a stationary, ground based dealership loca-
`tion through a telecommunications network.
`An engine 2 in the vehicle is connected with a vehicle
`mounted computer 105 including an engine controller 3,
`a transmission 400 controller 4 and suspension 500 con(cid:173)
`troller 501. In the currently described embodiment only
`three controllers are shown, but usually a number of 45
`these types of controllers are mounted on the vehicle. A
`transmitter-receiver 5 for transmitting and/or receiving
`information to and from the host computer 18 is pro(cid:173)
`vided within processor 105.
`A telecommunication path 10 which may be wired or 50
`wireless, e.g. a radio link interconnects the vehicle side
`located processor 105 with a stationary host computer
`station 25 including a transmitter-receiver 11 on the
`host computer station side of the path. There is pro(cid:173)
`vided 1/0 (input/output units) for data analysis 12, 1/0 55
`for maintenance arithmetic processing 13, 1/0 for fail(cid:173)
`ure analysis computation 14 and 1/0 for vehicle infor(cid:173)
`mation 15 over a 2-way bus to the transmitter-receiver
`11 and to the host computer 18. The I/O's are also
`linked to a data base 16 such as a memory store. The 60
`host computer side apparatus may be installed at the
`vehicle dealership or at a vehicle information service
`center. Although in this exemplary embodiment only 4
`I/O's are shown, other I/O's for many other controllers
`may exist. The host computer 18 may have a capacity of 65
`several mega bytes. Also, here a radio communications
`link connecting the vehicle side and the host side is
`shown; radio links are preferred as being more practical
`
`35
`
`40
`
`15
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`

`5,157,610
`
`8
`7
`value is used to reset the map, thus effecting a "learn-
`Circuit 66 is used to detect an engine stopped and to
`ing" process. The injector factor is also revised when
`trigger an output signal thereupon. Circuit 68 is used to
`the injection pulse width of the injector is determined in
`detect a low fuel tank condition and trigger an output
`relation to the engine load Qa/N. Based on checking of
`signal thereupon. Circuit 70 is used to check whether
`predetermined conditions are met and when satisfac- 5 the map, engine control data revisions are determined.
`In step Sb, the vehicle-mounted computer selects neces-
`tory, generate a trigger output signal. FIG. 3 shows
`symbol illustrations of these circuits.
`sary data values in the map under check to be used to
`To sum up, circuits 66 to 70 produce signals which
`newly correct engine control data or computes data to
`decide timing to transmit operating condition data to
`be transmitted to the host computer by processing data
`the stationary host computer. For example, from the 10 values stored in the map and stores them in RAM as a
`map. When data to be transmitted is determined such is
`circuit 64 which generates a signal whenever a prede-
`termined distance has been travelled, it is possible to
`rendered as a trigger signal, the map arithmetically
`processed in the vehicle-mounted com put ~r and con-
`diagnose the operating condition per the predetermined
`tained in RAM is transmitted through the transmitter-
`travel distance. When only condition signals are trans-
`mitted, the host side computer makes a diagnosis based 15 receiver 5. The dealer side (host computer), having
`on deviations from the previous values or past condition
`received this, executes its program based on received
`signals. In step Sc, data signal reception from the vehi-
`signal data and conveys instructions based on its results
`the vehicle-mounted computer. The vehicle-
`de-mounted computer is started. However, in step Sd, if
`to
`the dealer-side is already receiving data from another
`mounted computer gives driver instructions through a
`display or alarm in dependence upon the severity or 20 vehicle, a wait instruction is issued in step Se. When not
`receiving data from another vehicle, the received data is
`grade of those instructions or modifies processing pro-
`grams or sets parameter values.
`stored in the memory of the host computer in step Sf. In
`FIG. 4(A) shows an example of a data array and FIG.
`step Sg, present memory values are compared with past
`4(B) shows a data transmitting and receiving sequence
`values previously transmitted to the host computer. In
`during data communications between the vehicle- 25 step Sh, the amount of deterioration in actuators, such as
`mounted computer and the stationary, e.g. ground, host
`injectors, and sensors such as inlet air quantity (Qa)
`sensors, is estimated based on the compared results.
`computer (here a dealer located computer). A subject
`vehicle is specified by a header and a vehicle number (a
`Next, in step Si, the remaining life is estimated from the
`number that is unique to the vehicle such as the engine
`deterioration amount. In step Sj, data transmitted from
`number or the car body number).
`30 the vehicle-mounted computer is computed in accor-
`FIG. 5 shows a processing example when correction
`dance with a predetermined program to determine data
`items in the map matching are checked (data analysis),
`to be corrected at the vehicle computer. In step Sk, this
`the transmitter-receiver 11 at the dealer side being omit-
`data is transmitted through the transmitter-receivers 11
`ted for clarity. When controlling an engine via a mi-
`and 5. When it receives a transmission signal from the
`crocomputer, control data is computed based on output 35 host computer, the vehicle-mounted computer starts the
`arithmetic processing. When in step 51 receiving the
`conditions of each sensor. In addition, a system is used
`for subsequent engine control by responding to various
`corrected map transmitted from the host computer
`commences, it is stored in RAM in step Sm. In step Sn,
`engine conditions and by storing control data computed
`as a learning map. FIG. 5 shows an example of using
`the corrected map is re-written when the engine restarts
`other control data values after corrections by analysing 40 aft