United States Patent [t9J
`Asano et al.
`
`[75]
`
`[54] SYSTEM AND METHOD OF LOAD
`SHARING CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILE
`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
`[22] Filed:
`Feb. 15, 1990
`[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 eta!. ........................ 364/551
`4,796,206 1/1989 Boscove eta!. ................ 364/551.01
`4,853,859 8/1989 Morita et a!. .................. 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 1/1983 United Kingdom .
`2125578 3/1984 United Kingdom .
`2179225 8/1985 United Kingdom .
`
`111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US005157610A
`[It] 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]
`ABSTRACT
`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, SOl) 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
`
`Page 1 of 20
`
`Hyundai Exhibit 1004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 1 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`1.00
`
`500
`
`ENGINE
`
`TRANSMISSION
`
`SUSPENSION
`
`VEHICL£
`COMPUTER
`
`I.
`
`501
`-1
`
`r------"---7'""-
`
`" ' ; CONTROLLER
`
`TRANSMISSION
`CONTROLLER
`
`.
`
`7
`
`5
`
`105 ~- :NCINE
`I r- -\------,
`i l_~R~~E~S~~-JL.--
`~~~~~~~~TER
`l=·-==---=--...::- ...:: -------~--~~J
`rF- --~---:--,...-----___.__--____ --: ----:----_ ---=-=-11
`. .-----------.-~____..~----t-
`INfORHA liON r
`' I .
`I
`.I
`
`HOST COMPUTER
`SIDE (DEALER)"
`
`COMMUNICATION
`PATH
`
`10
`
`VEHICLE
`SIDE
`
`12
`
`11
`
`TRANSMITTER
`RECEIVER
`
`HOST
`COMPUTER
`
`181
`.
`
`r-t----'-----'1
`DATA
`ANALYSIS
`
`\
`
`MAINTENANCE
`
`FAILURE
`DIACNOSI S
`
`VEHICLE
`
`'
`
`Fig. 1
`
`'
`
`---
`
`\_HOST
`COMPUTER
`STATION
`
`Page 2 of 20
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 2 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`32
`
`36
`r -------•
`. 38
`1.0 I
`I
`I
`
`56
`
`60
`
`90
`
`61
`
`DISPLAY
`
`L. ____ _
`
`RAM
`
`CONTROL
`R£GIST£R
`
`1.2
`
`1.1.
`
`ruu INJ.
`
`1.6
`
`48
`
`TRANS
`MISSION
`SHifT£R
`
`10
`
`= LoJ
`~
`~=
`... LoJ 11'--+-'-..
`~ :: .......... -+---./
`ZL.J
`Cc.J
`C::L.J
`~=
`
`.
`__ ,J
`
`Fig.2
`
`Page 3 of 20
`
`

`

`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
`
`Page 4 of 20
`
`

`

`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 .I. A
`
`w.l
`
`Q -c.n
`...J u -::
`
`w.l
`
`l;oJ
`>
`
`TRANSHISSSION REQUEST
`
`TRANSMISSION PERMISSION
`
`-
`
`HEADER + VEHICLE NO.
`
`DATA ARRAY
`
`CHECK SYMBOL
`
`RECEPTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
`
`TRANSMISSION END
`
`Fig .48
`
`w.l
`
`Q -c.n
`
`= w.l
`...J <
`w.l
`Q
`
`Page 5 of 20
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 5 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`HAP
`Sa TRANSMissioN
`
`DEALER SIDE
`
`V£HICL£ SIDE
`
`CHECK
`HATCHING HAP
`
`J
`
`/Sb
`
`,.
`I
`
`RECEPriON
`
`ij STARTS
`
`Sc
`IN THE HIDDL£
`Or RECEIVING OTHER
`YEHICL£ DATA
`
`'d
`
`YES.
`WAIT
`INSTRUCTIONS
`(
`)
`~st 5e 5g
`)'
`
`STORE IN
`MEMORY
`
`CHECK REVISION
`ITEMS Or HAP
`
`(TO ANOTHER JOB)
`
`/5l
`RECUEVING I
`
`STORE
`
`IN RAM
`
`Sm
`
`RE-WRITE AT
`RE-START
`
`"--sn
`TO DRIVER ~5p
`
`REPORT
`
`COMPARE PRESENT
`HAP MEMORY VALUES
`
`{ ~ WITH PREVIOUS VALUES
`
`)
`
`HAP
`RECEIVING
`
`ESTIMATE AMOUNT Of
`DETERIORATION IN
`INJECTORS AND SENSORS
`
`REMAINING ~h
`
`ESTIMATE
`LirE
`
`\ DATA HATCHING
`
`TRANSMIT DATA
`
`Sj
`
`5i
`
`Sk
`
`105 -
`
`fig .5
`
`Page 6 of 20
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 6 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`VEHI Cl£ SIDE
`
`DIAGNOSTIC
`MODE STARTS
`
`6a
`
`ABNORMALITY
`EXISTS
`
`TRANSMIT
`ABNORMAL I TV
`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
`
`6j
`
`6l
`
`STORE IN
`FAILURE CHART
`
`TRANSMIT
`COUNTERMEASURES
`
`DIAGNOSIS ENDS
`
`TRANSMIT DATA
`fOR DECISION
`
`TX/RX
`
`IN ACCORDANCE
`ACT
`WITH INSTRUCTIONS
`
`DIAGNOSTIC HOD£
`FINISH£D
`
`6m
`
`Fig. 6
`
`Page 7 of 20
`
`

`

`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
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`INSTRUCTIONS
`
`105 -
`
`TRANSMIT
`1---------..---l DE GRH
`or
`EMERGENCY
`EXISTS
`EMERGENCY
`
`ENTER IN
`rAILURE CHART
`
`7g
`7i
`
`TO 5
`
`TRANSMIT
`COUNTERMEASURES
`
`.
`71
`
`COMPUTE
`RECEIVING
`
`7l
`
`fig.7
`
`1l
`
`Page 8 of 20
`
`

`

`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
`
`8i
`
`PREPARE HEADER DATA
`or REVISION ITEMS
`
`Bj
`
`WRITE IN TRANSMISSION
`AREAS or EACH REVISION HAP
`
`Bk
`
`Fig. 8
`
`Page 9 of 20
`
`

`

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

`

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

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1992
`
`Sheet 11 of 11
`
`5,157,610
`
`I
`
`lWAIT
`I
`I
`
`REVISION
`FLAG ON
`
`lla
`
`llb
`
`11f
`
`11g
`
`HOST
`
`-
`
`WAIT
`
`REQUEST TO TRANSMIT
`RETURN DATE
`
`RETURN TRANSMISSION
`READY
`
`11h
`
`TRANSMIT RETURN
`DATA
`
`INSTUCT TO WAIT
`
`TRANSMIT
`DATA
`
`Fig .11
`
`11m
`
`11o
`
`11p
`
`11r
`
`11s
`
`11t
`
`Page 12 of 20
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,157,610
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD OF LOAD SHARING
`CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILE
`
`5
`
`15
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
`1) Field of Invention
`This invention relates to a system and method for
`load sharing processing operations between a vehicle
`mounted station and a stationary base station and in
`particular for controlling various items of equipment
`mounted on an automobile using a large-capacity host
`computer installed at a stationary base station, e.g. on
`the ground.
`2) Description of Related Art
`The number of electrically controlled items used in
`an automobile, particularly an internal combustion en(cid:173)
`gine, are increasing and control systems therefor are
`becoming ever more complicated. Several different
`systems have been attempted to collectively control the 20
`various items by time sharing interruptable arithmetic
`processing using a processor mounted on the automo(cid:173)
`bile.
`Such examples include Japanese Patent Publication
`No. 63-15469 (1988), "Electronic Engine Controller" 25
`and Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-18921 (1987),
`"Computer for Vehicle Control", and controls using a
`computer are now common.
`A central control method using a LSI microprocessor
`responds to many requirements, such as responding to 30
`hazardous components located in the exhaust gas of the
`internal combustion engine and for reducing fuel con(cid:173)
`sumption. In addition, microprocessors have been uti(cid:173)
`lized in areas extending to attitude control, i.e. levelling
`control, steering performance and driving stability with 35
`regard to a vehicle body suspension control.
`Regarding transmission of programs between a base
`station and the vehicle, for example, there is Japanese
`Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-38624 (1987),
`"Radiocommunication Unit". However, this publica- 40
`tion relates to revision of an operational control pro(cid:173)
`gram for a vehicle mounted processor, and does not
`teach load sharing under predetermined driving condi(cid:173)
`tions. In addition, regarding mutual communications,
`there is Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 45
`62-245341 (1987), "Engine Controller", but this de(cid:173)
`scribes only installation of a means to load failure diag(cid:173)
`nosis is programs and does not mention any relationship
`with the driving conditions of the vehicle.
`A full dependence upon a vehicle-mounted processor 50
`to process all that is included in the above mentioned
`conventional technologies and control systems to be
`newly installed will not only make the system complex
`but also necessitate a large-capacity processor. Com(cid:173)
`puter control has been used to exploit such advantages 55
`as high processing speed and accuracy, easy modifica(cid:173)
`tion of control characteristics and low cost. However,
`there are numerous control items, including fuel supply
`control and ignition control, for which real-time pro(cid:173)
`cessing is required and implementing all of these to- 60
`gether is difficult.
`That is, processing all control parameters including
`the initial setting correction of set values caused by
`ageing (wear) changes of various characteristics, for
`example, an engine, transmission, steering, suspension, 65
`within a control system having only a vehicle-mounted
`computer makes the processing program increasingly
`large.
`
`2
`However, the conventional technologies are neither
`concerned with this difficulty nor even indicate that
`there is such a problem.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`An object of this invention is to provide a new com(cid:173)
`puter control method for vehicles which at least par(cid:173)
`tially mitigates the above mentioned problems.
`According to one aspect of this invention there is
`provided a method of load sharing processing opera(cid:173)
`tions between a vehicle mounted station and a station(cid:173)
`ary base station including the steps of said vehicle
`mounted station detecting operating conditions of the
`vehicle, transmitting data representative of the detected
`operating conditions to the base station, said base station
`receiving data from the vehicle mounted station, pro(cid:173)
`cessing said data in accordance with data stored by said
`base station, said base station transmitting processed
`data to a receiver at said vehicle mounted station and
`control means at said vehicle mounted station con(cid:173)
`nected to the vehicle mounted receiver and being ar(cid:173)
`ranged to perform at least one of revising or displaying
`the vehicle operating conditions in dependence upon
`the processed data.
`Advantageously the vehicle mounted station de(cid:173)
`tected operating conditions are performed by a detect(cid:173)
`ing means adapted to detect at least one of water tem(cid:173)
`perature, air flow ratio air fuel quantity, battery voltage,
`throttle valve opening angle, engine speed, transmission
`gear position and suspension setting. In a feature of this
`invention the vehicle mounted station includes a control
`means adapted to control at least one of a fuel injector,
`a transmission gear change means, and a suspension
`setting actuator.
`Conveniently the data transmitted from the vehicle
`mounted station to the base station is performed at times
`of occurrence of predetermined conditions including at
`least one of the vehicle covering a predetermined dis(cid:173)
`tance, detection of the engine ceasing rotation and low
`fuel tank condition, and advantageously data transmit(cid:173)
`ted between the vehicle mounted station and the base
`station includes header bits, vehicle identification bits,
`data control bits, data array bits, check symbol bits and
`end of transmission bits.
`Preferably the vehicle mounted station transmits a
`request to transmit to the base station, said base station
`transmits a permission to transmit for the vehicle
`mounted station, said vehicle transmits data including
`header bits, vehicle identification bits, data control bits,
`data array bits and check symbol bits, said base station
`transmits a receipt acknowledgement and said station(cid:173)
`ary base station transmits end of transmission bits. In
`one preferred embodiment the vehicle mounted station
`contains at least one map indicative of vehicle operating
`conditions including an indication of ageing in at least
`one of vehicle injectors and sensors, said map being
`transmitted by said vehicle mounted station to said base
`station, said base station comparing transmitted map
`values with previously transmitted map values and esti(cid:173)
`mating the amount of deterioration in said injectors and
`sensors, said base station being arranged to estimate the
`life expectancy of said injectors and sensors and to
`transmit data indicative thereof to said vehicle mounted
`station whereby said vehicle mounted station stores said
`updated information and indicates the life expectancy
`by visual or aural means. In such an embodiment cor(cid:173)
`rected map values are transmitted from the base station
`to the vehicle mounted station when engine rotation has
`
`Page 13 of 20
`
`

`

`5,157,610
`
`4
`3
`cation, data control bits, a data array, a check symbol
`ceased for subsequent real time processing and conve-
`and an end of transmission indicator.
`niently the vehicle mounted station updates corrected
`map values in a series of steps during vehicle running
`In a feature of this invention a vehicle-mounted sta-
`tion includes detecting means for detecting operating
`and uses said corrected map values for real time control.
`Advantageously a life predicting diagnosis of the 5 conditions of a vehicle, transmitting/receiving means
`for transmitting data representative of the detected
`vehicle is carried out by the base station by using cur-
`rent operating condition signals received from the vehi-
`operating conditions to a base station capable of evalu-
`cle mounted station, said predicting diagnosis being
`ating said data, said transmitting/receiving means being
`carried out at predetermined intervals of time or dis-
`adapted to receive evaluated signals from the base sta-
`tance travelled. In a feature of the invention the vehicle 10 tion and to apply signals representative of said evalu-
`mounted station is arranged to detect an abnormality
`ated signals to a control means adapted to perform at
`least one of vary or display said operating conditions in
`and to transmit data indicative thereof to said base sta-
`tion, said base station evaluates said abnormality and
`dependenc~ upon said received evaluated signals.
`determines whether an emergency retransmission to
`In another feature of this invention there is provided
`said vehicle mounted station is necessary to provide an 15 a stationary base station adapted to receive data from a
`indicative warning by one of a display means or an aural
`vehicle mounted station, said base station including
`means, and in such feature if the abnormality is not of an
`processing means and storage means for processing the
`emergency nature the data is stored in a failure chart
`data received from the vehicle mounted station based
`prior to transmitting counter measures from the base
`upon information held in said storage means, the base
`station to said vehicle mounted station.
`20 station being adapted to perform at least one of up-
`The vehicle-mounted station may transmit an abnor-
`dating/correcting maps carried by a vehicle located
`mal condition signal to the base station, the base station
`processor indicative of ageing in at least one of vehicle
`transmits a request for data to be analysed, the vehicle
`located sensors and injectors, establish the expected life
`mounted station transmits data for analysis, the base
`expectancy of said sensors and injectors and further
`station diagnoses a failure and if an emergency is deter- 25 including transmitting means for transmitting processed
`mined by said base station then said base station immedi-
`data to a vehicle.
`Thus, the above mentioned object is principally real-
`ately transmits a warning for indication by said vehicle
`mounted station but if said base station determines there
`ized by controlling load sharing between computers. A
`to be no emergency then said base station stores data
`study of computer control for vehicles indicates that
`indicative of the abnormality and subsequently trans- 30 data processing is roughly divided into data requiring
`mits counter measures to said vehicle mounted station
`high-speed real-time processing and data which may be
`whereupon said vehicle mounted station takes appropri-
`processed in a comparatively long period. For example,
`ate action in dependence thereof.
`ignition timing control and fuel injection control are
`According to another aspect of this invention there is
`control subjects that require processing in synchronism
`provided a system for load sharing processing opera- 35 with engine rotation so that high-speed processing is
`tions between a vehicle mounted station and a station-
`required in response to high speed engine rotation. On
`ary base station, said vehicle mounted station including
`the other hand, modification of initial settings because
`detecting means for detecting operating conditions of
`of ageing changes such as those in an engine transmis-
`the vehicle,
`sion and suspension, may be computed over a relatively
`first transmitting means for transmitting data repre- 40 long time cycle. Also, controls which have to be com-
`puted with a high accuracy take time when processed
`sentative of the detected operating conditions to the
`base station,
`by a vehicle-mounted computer and only increase the
`first receiving means for receiving data from the base
`load on the computer.
`station,
`·
`Also, with regard to failure diagnosis or failure pre-
`and control means for controlling vehicle operating 45 diction processing when status data is obtained, arith-
`conditions, said control means being connected to said
`metic processing itself may be separated from the real-
`first receiving means,
`time processing without difficulty. Of course, there may
`and said base station comprising second receiver
`be some diagnoses which require emergency processing
`means for receiving data from the vehicle mounted
`and a feature of this invention is to discriminate and act
`50 upon abnormal conditions that require urgent actions
`station,
`·
`processing means and storage means for processing
`and diagnoses.
`the data received from the vehicle mounted station
`In consideration of the increasing complexity of the
`based upon information held in said storage means,
`control system and the necessity for higher speed pro-
`and second transmitting means for transmitting the
`cessing accompanied by the increasing r.p.m. of modern
`processed data to the first receiving means whereupon 55 engines, this invention carries out load sharing between
`the control means is arranged to perform at least one of
`a vehicle-mounted computer and a stationary host com-
`revise or display the vehicle operating conditions in
`puter.
`More specifically a feature of this invention resides in
`dependence upon the processed data.
`Advantageously the detecting means isadapted to
`predetermining the processing sharing conditions when
`detect at least one of water temperature, air /fuel ratio, 60 specific operating conditions of the engine or specific
`~onditions of the vehicle-mounted computer are de-
`air flow quantity, battery voltage, throttle valve open-
`ing angle, engine speed, transmission gear position and
`tected, transmitting information to and from the host
`suspension setting. Preferably the control means is ar-
`computer and sharing the processing.
`ranged to control at least one of a fuel injector, a trans-
`The load sharing between the vehicle-mounted com-
`mission gear change means, and a suspension setting 65 puter and the stationary host computer is achieved
`actuator.
`through the following operations. When the operating
`Conveniently the first transmitting means is adapted
`conditions for the engine are detected, the subsequent
`to transmit data comprising a header, a vehicle identifi-
`processing thereon is shifted to the host computer to be
`
`Page 14 of 20
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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
`built-in processor and carries out respective processings
`or a vehicle-mounted processor 7 is provided as indi(cid:173)
`cated in broken lines. Hereinafter engine controls are
`described wherein a processor for engine control is built
`in.
`FIG. 2 shows the computer 105 on the vehicle side
`with the suspension controller SOl omitted. ROM 21,
`RAM 22 and CPU 7 are connected by a bus line 30 for
`1/0 processing. The bus line consists of a data bus, a
`control bus, and an address bus.
`Other sensors (of which only two are shown) sense
`the engine operating conditions, inter alia, the engine
`cooling water temperature (TWS) 32 and the air/fuel
`ratio (02S) 34. Battery voltage and throttle valve open(cid:173)
`ing and rotation speed also correspond to operating
`condition signals, but here they are omitted. A multi(cid:173)
`plexer 36 inputs the operating condition signals into an
`AID conversion circuit 38. A register 40 sets AID
`converted values.
`An inlet pipe air flow sensor (AFS) 51 has its value
`30 set in a register 54 after conversion in an AID converter
`52. An engine angle sensor (AS) 56 provides reference
`signals REF and angle position signals POS to an angle
`signal processing circuit 58. The processed signals are
`used to control synchronizing signals and timing sig-
`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
`ot'her 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-
`puter. A display 90 is used to display instructions to the
`driver.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The invention will now be described by way of exam- 10
`pie with reference to the accompanying drawings in
`which:
`FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of a system ac(cid:173)
`cording to the present invention,
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the vehicle-mounted 15
`computer,
`FIG. 3 shows occasions when transmission/reception
`between the computers is performed,
`FIGS. 4(A) and (B) respectively show a data signal
`and a data transmission/reception sequence,
`FIG. 5 is a diagram of checking revised items for map
`matching,
`·
`FIG. 6 is a diagram of failure diagnosis,
`FlG. 7 is a diagram of long-term data sampling,
`FIG. 8 is a flow chart for preparing a revised map, 25
`FIG. 9 is a data transmission flow chart when the
`engine is stopped,
`FIG. 10 is a flow chart for revised values, and
`FIG. 11 is a series flow chart of transmissions and
`receptions.
`In the Figures like reference numerals denote like
`parts.
`
`20
`
`35
`
`40
`
`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, I/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
`
`Page 15 of 20
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`5,157,610
`
`7
`8
`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.
`tory, generate a trigger output signal. FIG. 3 shows
`In step Sb, the vehicle-mounted computer selects neces-
`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
`circuit 64 which generates a signal whenever a prede-
`map. When data to be transmitted is determined such is
`termined distance has been travelled, it is possible to
`rendered as a trigger signal, the map arithmetically
`processed in the vehicle-mounted comput ~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
`to
`the vehicle-mounted computer. The vehicle-
`de-mounted computer is started. However, in step Sd, if
`mounted computer gives driver instructions through a
`the dealer-side is already receiving data from another
`display or alarm in dependence upon the severity or 20 vehicle, a wait instruction is issued in step Se. When not
`grade of those instructions or modifies processing pro-
`receiving data from another vehicle, the received data is
`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)
`computer (here a dealer located computer). A subject
`sensors, is estimated based on the compared results.
`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 tran