Diagnostic and reprogramming system for vehicles using a wireless charging interface and method thereof

Abstract

Disclosed is a diagnostic and reprogramming system for a vehicle using a wireless charging interface and a method thereof, and relates to a vehicle diagnostic system and a device and method thereof. The vehicle diagnostic system includes a wireless charging station that transmits a message including information related to a supportable service type and information related to a supportable provider of a vehicle, and a vehicle that identifies the message and connects a diagnostic session for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle. The diagnostic session is performed when a connection for a wireless charging session of the vehicle is established.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0096956, filed on August 3, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a vehicle diagnostic and reprogramming system, and more specifically, to a vehicle diagnostic device and method utilizing the wireless charging interface of an electric vehicle. Background Technology

[0004] Recently, with the development of wireless communication technology, third-generation (3G), long-term evolution (LTE), fifth-generation (5G), new radio (NR), and advanced communication systems (networks) have been used to send and receive more data in specific communication areas, such as Wi-Fi, thus leading to the formation of various types of services. Consequently, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for vehicles have been developed, and communication between vehicles or between vehicles and external infrastructure has gradually evolved in various service forms.

[0005] Furthermore, due to consumer service requests and additional features, there is an increasing need to increase the number of electronic control units (ECUs) in vehicles. Each ECU is equipped with hardware and software to provide functions appropriate for its intended use. On-board diagnostics (OBD) devices identify fault codes for each ECU and correct the software. However, ECU diagnostics and reprogramming via OBD presents the inconvenience of requiring engineers to directly connect diagnostic devices to the vehicle at vehicle repair shops or manufacturing plants.

[0006] Therefore, a more efficient method is needed to identify vehicle fault diagnosis codes and reprogram the vehicle.

[0007] The content contained in the background section of this invention is only for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the overall background of this invention and should not be construed as an admission of prior art known to those skilled in the art or any form of implication. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a vehicle diagnostic device, method and system utilizing a wireless charging interface.

[0009] Various aspects of the present invention provide a diagnostic apparatus, method, and system for selectively diagnosing a vehicle while it is connected to a charging protocol session.

[0010] Various aspects of the present invention provide a vehicle device, method, and system for transmitting and receiving messages for diagnostics and reprogramming during wireless charging.

[0011] Various aspects of the present invention provide an apparatus, method, and system for selectively diagnosing a vehicle based on the battery's state of charge (SOC).

[0012] Various aspects of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for collecting vehicle information and performing diagnostic and reprogramming services for vehicle optimization during wireless charging.

[0013] The technical problems to be solved by the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the problems described above. Those skilled in the art to which the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention pertain will clearly understand from the following description any other technical problems not mentioned herein.

[0014] According to various aspects of the present invention, a vehicle diagnostic apparatus may include: a wireless charging station that transmits messages including information related to the type of service that can be supported and information related to the supplier of the vehicle that can be supported; and a vehicle that identifies the messages and connects to a diagnostic session for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle. The diagnostic session is performed when a connection for the wireless charging session for the vehicle is established.

[0015] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the wireless charging station may include information related to diagnostics or reprogramming in the charging station function type field, which is related to the type of service supported, and may include information related to the supplier of the supported vehicle in the vehicle supplier type field. The information related to diagnostics or reprogramming and the information related to the supplier of the supported vehicle can be transmitted to the vehicle via vendor specific elements (VSE) beacon messages.

[0016] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle can recognize VSE beacon messages to confirm whether the wireless charging station supports services for vehicle diagnostics and reprogramming.

[0017] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle can recognize VSE beacon messages and can update the wireless charging station to an access point (AP) that supports services for vehicle diagnostics and reprogramming.

[0018] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when it is determined that services for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle cannot be supported, the vehicle may connect only to the charging protocol session for the vehicle.

[0019] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle can recognize that the vehicle has started charging, can collect vehicle-related information, can perform vehicle diagnostic services, and can transmit the collected vehicle information and the results of performing vehicle diagnostic services to the wireless charging station.

[0020] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the wireless charging station can identify collected vehicle information transmitted from the vehicle and the results of performing vehicle diagnostic services to determine whether the vehicle needs to be reprogrammed.

[0021] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the wireless charging station can determine the battery state of charge (SOC) for reprogramming to determine whether the vehicle needs to be reprogrammed.

[0022] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle can receive reprogramming request information and a reprogramming request file for the vehicle from a wireless charging station, and can complete the reprogramming based on the user's reprogramming approval.

[0023] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle may transmit a response message containing the result of reprogramming the vehicle to the wireless charging station.

[0024] According to various aspects of the present invention, a vehicle diagnostic method may include the following steps: transmitting a message including information related to the type of service that can be supported and information related to the supplier of the vehicle that can be supported to the vehicle; and identifying the message received by the vehicle and establishing a diagnostic session for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle. The diagnostic session is performed when a connection is established for a wireless charging session for the vehicle.

[0025] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the step of transmitting the message may include the following steps: including information related to diagnostics or reprogramming in a charging station function type field, which is information related to the type of service that can be supported; and including information related to the supplier of the vehicle that can be supported in a vehicle supplier type field. The information related to diagnostics or reprogramming and the information related to the supplier of the vehicle that can be supported are transmitted from the wireless charging station to the vehicle via a Supplier Specific Element (VSE) beacon message.

[0026] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle diagnostic method may further include the following steps: identifying VSE beacon messages through the vehicle to confirm whether the wireless charging station supports services for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle.

[0027] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle diagnostic method may further include the following steps: identifying VSE beacon messages via the vehicle, and updating the wireless charging station via the vehicle to an access point (AP) that supports services for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle.

[0028] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle diagnostic method may further include the following step: when it is confirmed that the service for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle is not supported, the vehicle connects only to the charging protocol session for the vehicle.

[0029] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle diagnostic method may further include the following steps: identifying that the vehicle has started charging, collecting vehicle-related information through the vehicle, performing vehicle diagnostic services through the vehicle, and transmitting the collected vehicle information and the results of performing the vehicle diagnostic services to a wireless charging station through the vehicle.

[0030] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle diagnostic method may further include the following steps: identifying collected vehicle information transmitted from the vehicle and the results of performing vehicle diagnostic services via a wireless charging station to determine whether the vehicle needs to be reprogrammed.

[0031] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle diagnostic method may further include the following step: determining the state of charge (SOC) of the battery for reprogramming via a wireless charging station to determine whether the vehicle needs to be reprogrammed.

[0032] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle diagnostic method may further include the following steps: receiving, via the vehicle, reprogramming request information and a reprogramming request file from a wireless charging station; and via the vehicle, completing the reprogramming based on user approval.

[0033] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle diagnostic method may further include the step of transmitting a response message containing the result of reprogramming the vehicle to a wireless charging station via the vehicle.

[0034] The methods and apparatus of the present invention have other features and advantages, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments, which are incorporated herein by reference and together serve to explain certain principles of the invention, or will be set forth in more detail in the drawings and detailed description. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a vehicle diagnostic and reprogramming system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2This is a block diagram schematically illustrating the structure of a vehicle diagnostic and reprogramming system utilizing a wireless charging interface according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 3A and Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram illustrating the message sending and receiving structure between vehicle diagnostic devices according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating operation during communication between an electric vehicle and a wireless charging station according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 5A and Figure 5B This is a signal sequence diagram illustrating the connection and communication process between an electric vehicle and a wireless charging station according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention; and

[0040] Figure 6 This is a block diagram illustrating a computing system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0041] It is understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but rather present a slightly simplified representation of the various features illustrating the basic principles of the invention. Specific design features of the invention as included herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and environment of use.

[0042] In the accompanying drawings, reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0043] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings and described below. Although the invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood that this specification is not intended to limit the invention to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments thereof, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0044] In the following, some exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When adding reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that even identical or equivalent components shown in other drawings are represented by the same reference numerals. Furthermore, in describing exemplary embodiments of the invention, detailed descriptions of well-known features or functions will be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the spirit of the invention.

[0045] In describing components according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, terms such as “first,” “second,” “A,” “B,” “(a),” and “(b)” may be used. These terms are intended only to distinguish one component from another, and they do not limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention pertain. Terms such as those defined in general dictionaries shall be interpreted as having the same meaning as in the context of the relevant technical field, and shall not be interpreted as having an ideal or over-formal meaning unless expressly defined herein.

[0046] Recently, with the development of wireless communication technology, vehicle diagnostic and reprogramming systems according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been using third-generation (3G) systems, long-term evolution (LTE) systems, fifth-generation (5G) systems, new radio (NR) systems and advanced communication systems (networks) to send and receive more data in specific communication areas such as Wi-Fi communication. Therefore, vehicle diagnostic and reprogramming systems according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be developed into various service forms.

[0047] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a diagnostic device and system thereof utilizing a wireless charging interface for an electric vehicle, and to provide a device and system thereof for receiving various vehicle-related information at an electric vehicle charging station via an interface connected for wireless charging control and providing customized vehicle diagnostics and reprogramming based on such information.

[0048] In the following text, reference will be made to Figures 1 to 6 The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below.

[0049] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a vehicle diagnostic and reprogramming system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0050] Reference Figure 1 According to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle diagnostic and reprogramming apparatus 100 may include a communication device 110, a storage device 120, a display 130, a processor 140, and an alarm device 150.

[0051] According to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle diagnostic and reprogramming apparatus 100 can receive wireless update information related to data and software for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle from a server 20 outside the vehicle. The vehicle diagnostic and reprogramming apparatus 100 can be controlled to transmit data for reprogramming based on at least one of network load, vehicle power state, battery state of charge (SOC), or the expected time for transmitting remaining ROM data. Furthermore, regarding the performance of the communication modules, the processing speed of each controller, and the amount of data, the vehicle diagnostic and reprogramming apparatus 100 can selectively reprogram services based on the vehicle's battery state of charge and the user's approval request.

[0052] Therefore, when a vehicle enters a wireless charging station, a VSE message containing vehicle diagnostic and reprogramming information can be sent, and diagnostics and reprogramming can be performed as needed during wireless charging. For example, vehicle information could include details from the vehicle's last trip, such as maintenance requests, elapsed time since the last maintenance, functional status information, and vehicle diagnostic information.

[0053] As stated above, due to user service requirements and advancements in vehicle communication and technology, the performance of the vehicle diagnostics and reprogramming device 100 can be considered an important service element when a user purchases a vehicle. From the perspective of ensuring stability in areas such as battery discharge and communication network failures, it is necessary to fully consider the stable downloading of vehicle data.

[0054] In detail, the communication device 110 can be a hardware device implemented through various electronic circuits to send and receive signals via wireless or wired connections. In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the communication device 110 can perform in-vehicle communication via controller area network (CAN) communication, local interconnect network (LIN) communication, Ethernet communication, etc. The communication device 110 may include various communication units that communicate with a server 20 outside the vehicle, such as mobile communication units, broadcast receiving units such as digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) modules or digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H) modules, short-range communication units such as ZigBee modules as Bluetooth modules or near field communication (NFC) modules, and Wi-Fi units. Here, CAN communication can be a network system for vehicles developed to provide digital serial communication between various measurement and control devices in the vehicle. The CAN data bus can be used for data transmission and control between ECUs.

[0055] The communication device 110 according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be installed in a vehicle, or configured by contact between a wireless communication terminal and the communication device 110. Therefore, the communication device 110 can perform vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, and can perform autonomous driving to a predetermined destination using vehicle sensors and driving control functions installed in the vehicle. Here, the vehicle sensors may include at least one of a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor, a gyroscope sensor, or an accelerometer sensor. For example, the communication device 110 of the present invention can support wireless access in vehicular environment (WAVE) communication technology or can support communication technology based on the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution / new radio (LTE / NR) system. For reference, WAVE communication is a modified version of IEEE 802.11a WLAN technology, characterized by the use of a dedicated 5.9 GHz frequency band, a channel bandwidth of 10 MHz, a maximum data rate of 27 Mbps, and a collision-avoiding Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA / CA) wireless channel access method. It also includes the IEEE 802.11p physical layer and the 1609 communication stack. Furthermore, when supporting 3GPP systems, the communication device 110 can include LTE eV2X and 5G V2X communication technologies based on LTE V2X (Rel.14).

[0056] Vehicles according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication supporting LTE / NR communication between vehicles, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication supporting LTE / NR communication between vehicles and human-carried terminals, and vehicle-to-infrastructure / network (V2I / N) communication supporting LTE / NR communication between vehicles and roadside units / networks. They may also feature improved network scalability through communication with mobile communication systems. Vehicles according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may have the advantage of extending unit coverage through network systems. Furthermore, there are no limitations on the multiple access techniques used in wireless communication systems applying the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0057] For example, various multiple access technologies can be utilized, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), single carrier-FDMA (SC-FDMA), OFDM-FDMA, OFDM-TDMA, and OFDM-CDMA. Furthermore, time division duplex (TDD) mode, which transmits data at different times, or frequency division duplex (FDD) mode, which uses different frequencies to transmit data, can be used for uplink or downlink transmission.

[0058] Storage device 120 can store data downloaded for over-the-air vehicle updates, which is received from server 20 via communication device 110. Therefore, storage device 120 can store, manage, or update vehicle-related status / diagnostic information, vehicle-related location information, road information (e.g., information about the road surrounding a bus stop), and road environment information via server 20 and vehicle sensors included in the vehicle. Furthermore, storage device 120 can store user-set destination information, existing discovered route information, etc. Alternatively, storage device 120 can store or manage data from various input sensors used to support autonomous driving, and can store or manage this data via a server that supports road information, communication information, etc.

[0059] Furthermore, storage device 120 may store at least one of the following determined by processor 140: network load, vehicle power state, battery state of charge, or expected time for transferring remaining ROM data. In this case, storage device 120 may store instructions according to each function. Storage device 120 may include at least one type of storage medium such as flash memory, hard disk memory, micromemory, card-type memory (e.g., secure digital (SD) card or extreme digital (XD) card), random access memory (RAM), static RAM (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), magnetic disk, and optical disk.

[0060] Display 130 can be controlled by processor 140 to display a screen for user authentication used for vehicle over-the-air updates. Display 130 can be implemented as a head-up display (HUD), instrument cluster, audio-video navigation (AVN), etc. Furthermore, display 130 can include at least one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin-film transistor-LCD (TFT-LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, an organic LED (OLED) display, an active matrix OLED (AMOLED) display, a flexible display, a curved display, or a three-dimensional (3D) display. Some of these can be implemented by a transparent display configured to be transparent or semi-transparent to show the outside. Additionally, display 130 can be configured as a touchscreen including a touch panel for use as an input and output device. According to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, display 130 can display reprogramming completion and version information to the user.

[0061] The processor 140 can be electrically connected to the communication device 110, storage device 120, display 130, alarm device 150, etc., and can electrically control the various components. The processor 140 can be a circuit that executes software instructions and can perform various data processing and calculations described below.

[0062] Processor 140 can control whether to perform a wireless update based on factors such as network load, vehicle power status, battery state of charge, and expected time for transmitting remaining ROM data. For example, in this invention, processor 140 can identify information related to the service diagnostic type of a Vendor-Specific Element (VSE) beacon message provided from a wireless charging station and information related to the vendor of the reprogrammable vehicle, and can selectively perform reprogramming based on information related to the current consumption of each controller in the vehicle to identify the amount of battery required for reprogramming. Remote software reprogramming of the vehicle controllers can be performed while the vehicle is stationary and in a rechargeable state.

[0063] Such a processor 140 can store and manage information related to the access point (AP) of the wireless charging station that sends VSE beacon messages. Furthermore, the processor 140 can identify the vehicle's battery state of charge (SOC) value and can selectively perform reprogramming regarding the stability of reprogramming based on the battery SOC. The processor 140 according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention can connect to external devices based on a Global Positioning System (GPS), Telematics Communication System, Bluetooth Communication System, USB Communication System, Wi-Fi Communication System, WAVE Communication System, and LTE / 5G Communication System to perform communication processing for entertainment services, firmware update services, remote start services, eCall services, and autonomous driving services. For example, vehicle-supported services may include autonomous driving services, vehicle remote control services, interactive services such as games, and massive short-range audio and video services such as augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR). Furthermore, updates to vehicle-related infotainment software or map information may be included. Additionally, services such as server-based voice recognition, smartwatch interoperability, or home-to-car services may be included. Alternatively, vehicle diagnostic control services may be included.

[0064] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention can provide an update information transmission method for diagnostics and reprogramming via a wireless charging interface, which can more effectively provide diagnostics and reprogramming operations using the wireless charging interface of an electric vehicle.

[0065] Figure 2 This is a block diagram schematically illustrating the structure of a vehicle diagnostic and reprogramming system utilizing a wireless charging interface according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0066] Reference Figure 2 Vehicle diagnostics and reprogramming systems can broadly include the vehicle and wireless charging stations.

[0067] First, the vehicle can be an electric vehicle. An electric vehicle may include a wireless communication device, a vehicle diagnostic device 5, a charging controller 2, a vehicle information management device 6, an update management device 13, and an update execution device 12. The electric vehicle may further include a battery and power transmission and reception devices that operate under the control of the charging controller 2.

[0068] In detail, the wireless communication device can perform wireless communication functions between the vehicle and the wireless charging station. The charging controller 2 can determine whether diagnostic and reprogramming services are supported based on Vendor Specific Element (VSE) information sent from the AP of the wireless charging station. When this function is supported, the charging controller 2 can additionally connect a diagnostic session independent of the charging session. The vehicle diagnostic device 5 can identify the route of diagnostic services requested from the wireless charging station, or the vehicle's self-diagnosis, and send the collected results and diagnostic results to the wireless charging station. The vehicle information management device 6 can send the collected vehicle information to the vehicle diagnostic device 5. The update execution device 12 can reprogram the vehicle based on the update file received from the wireless charging station and the update approval information related to the user. The update management device 13 can confirm whether the reprogramming is complete and send the confirmation result to the wireless charging station. The power transmission and reception device can transmit and receive power between the vehicle and the wireless charging station in a wired / wireless manner. The battery can store the charged power.

[0069] Meanwhile, the wireless charging station may include a wireless communication device, a vehicle diagnostic controller 1, a vehicle information / diagnostic management device 4, a vehicle update judgment device 7, a vehicle update file transmission device 11, an update file modulation and demodulation identification device 10, and a vehicle update management device 14. The wireless charging station can use information identified from the wireless communication device to control the vehicle charging controller. Under the control of the vehicle charging controller, the wireless charging station can operate the charging controller, the charging setting device, and the charging monitoring device.

[0070] In detail, the wireless communication device of the wireless charging station can control / execute the wireless communication function between the vehicle and the wireless charging station. The vehicle diagnostic controller 1 can announce whether wireless diagnostic and reprogramming services are supported via VSE beacon messages and can manage the diagnostic session connection with the vehicle. When the diagnostic session between the vehicle and the wireless charging station is normally connected, the vehicle diagnostic communication device 3 can perform vehicle diagnostic communication based on the vehicle diagnostic protocol. The vehicle information / diagnostic management device 4 can collect vehicle information such as vehicle type, vehicle supplier, vehicle-specific information, or vehicle controller version, as well as diagnostic information. The vehicle update judgment device 7 can compare the collected vehicle information with information stored in the server to identify / judge / manage the controller that needs updating. The update file modulation and demodulation identification device 10 can receive vehicle update files, check the update file modulation and demodulation, and identify its validity. The vehicle update file transmission device 11 can transmit the original update file to the vehicle, or it can segment the update file through the diagnostic session and vehicle diagnostic protocol to transmit the segmented file to the vehicle, and confirm whether the update file has been transmitted / sent normally. The vehicle update management device 14 can transmit the update result to the operator server 9. Server communication device 8 can perform communication functions between the wireless charging station and the operator server, can select the operator server based on the vehicle collected information, and can transmit the vehicle collected information and diagnostic results to the selected operator server.

[0071] Power transmission and reception devices can transmit and receive power between vehicles and wireless charging stations via wired / wireless methods. The vehicle charging controller can detect the vehicle's charging status or receive power requests from the vehicle and control the charging process. The charging controller can supply or block power to vehicles connected to the wireless charging station. The charging setup device can set the target charging capacity, target current, etc., for vehicles connected to the wireless charging station. The charging monitoring device can monitor the charging lines in use, charging capacity, and the vehicle's battery state of charge (SOC) value.

[0072] When the vehicle and the wireless charging station are wirelessly connected to each other, the wireless charging station's wireless communication device can announce diagnostic and reprogramming service availability information via VSE beacon messages. Therefore, the vehicle's charging controller 2 recognizes the VSE information and, if the AP is capable of performing diagnostics and reprogramming, additionally connects a diagnostic session independent of the charging session.

[0073] When the vehicle and the wireless charging station are normally connected and performing vehicle information collection and diagnostic services, the vehicle diagnostic communication device 3 of the wireless charging station can communicate with the vehicle via diagnostic sessions and protocols. The vehicle information / diagnostic management device 4 can provide vehicle information and diagnostic information requests. Therefore, the vehicle's diagnostic device 5 can collect vehicle information, perform diagnostic request routing or vehicle self-diagnosis, and transmit the collected and diagnostic results to the wireless charging station. The vehicle information management device 6 can transmit the collected vehicle information to the vehicle diagnostic device 5. The server communication device 8 can transmit the collected and diagnostic results of the vehicle to the operator's server 9.

[0074] When the vehicle controller is reprogrammed (updated), the server communication device 8 of the wireless charging station can select an operator server based on the collected vehicle information. The vehicle update determination device 7 of the wireless charging station can determine whether an update is needed based on the collected vehicle information. Therefore, the operator server 9 can transmit information related to the target controller determined to need an update and the update file for the controller.

[0075] Upon receiving the update file, the wireless charging station's update file modulation and demodulation identification device 10 can identify whether the update file has been modulated and demodulated, and can manage the file. Therefore, the wireless charging station's vehicle update file transmission device 11 can transmit update files to the vehicle via a diagnostic session and diagnostic protocol. In this case, multiple controllers can be reprogrammed with a single update.

[0076] The vehicle update execution device 12 can reprogram the vehicle's target controller based on the received update file and user-related approval information. The update management device 13 can confirm whether the reprogramming of the target controller is complete and transmit the confirmation result to the wireless charging station. The vehicle update management device 14 can transmit the reprogramming result to the operator server 9.

[0077] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention can collect relevant vehicle information during wireless charging to provide vehicle-appropriate diagnostic and reprogramming services, thereby offering more efficient customer service. Furthermore, exemplary embodiments of the present invention can perform reprogramming while the vehicle is charging, thereby reducing the time and cost of reprogramming.

[0078] Figure 3A and Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram illustrating the message sending and receiving structure between vehicle diagnostic systems according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Here, Figure 3A This includes processes for sending and receiving messages based on VSE when a vehicle and a wireless charging station are connected to each other, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Figure 3BThis is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of the VSE beacon message used in various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0079] Reference Figure 3A In operation 310, the access point (AP) of the wireless charging station can provide VSE beacon messages including diagnostic and reprogramming services supported by the charging station, vendor type, etc. For example, in this invention, the VSE beacon message may have… Figure 3B The message structure shown can include the information in Table 1 below. VSE beacon messages advertised by the AP can be configured with periodic information that varies with the AP's performance. The periodicity of the VSE beacon messages can be verified via the beacon interval.

[0080] [Table 1]

[0081]

[0082] As included in Table 1 above, in operation 320, information related to the service type supported by the charging station and the vehicle supplier type used for vehicle diagnostics and reprogramming at the charging station is identified, and the electric vehicle is attached to a diagnostic (diag) session corresponding to the VSE information.

[0083] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the operation of an electric vehicle communicating with a wireless charging station according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0084] Reference Figure 4 During reprogramming between the vehicle and the wireless charging station, AP420 can download the update file of the target controller to be reprogrammed via operator server 410. The wireless charging station can segment the update file and transmit the segmented update file to the vehicle's wireless charging controller 440. Once the update file reception is complete, the vehicle's wireless charging controller 440 can proceed with reprogramming the target controller.

[0085] As an example, the present invention includes an engine controller 450 as a target controller, an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) controller 460, a battery management system (BMS) controller 470, etc. The BMS controller 470 can be a system for controlling the battery of an electric vehicle, which can identify the charging / discharging of the electric vehicle's battery, the remaining capacity of the battery, etc. Specifically, the BMS controller 470 can perform voltage balancing of each battery cell through battery cell management to adjust the voltage and manage the battery to prevent battery overload. In other words, the BMS controller 470 can increase battery life and efficiency through battery cell balancing. Furthermore, the BMS controller 470 can include current sensors and temperature sensors to effectively manage the battery cells. The BMS controller 470 can control the charging / discharging of the battery through the current sensor and can diagnose overcurrent / undercurrent states to control the normal operation of the battery. The BMS controller 470 can measure the temperature of the battery module through the temperature sensor to determine overheating / undertemperature. The BMS controller 470 can detect the battery's current, voltage, temperature, etc. to predict the state of charge (SOC) and can identify the current remaining capacity of the battery. The State of Charge (SOC) can be reset within a specified range and can be used to limit power so that the battery is no longer charged. Limiting power can prevent the battery from being overcharged or over-discharged. In addition, the BMS controller 470 can diagnose battery system faults, detecting various faults such as overvoltage / undervoltage, battery cell faults, current sensor faults, temperature sensor faults, open circuits / short circuits, cooling fan faults, communication anomalies, and relay blowouts, and can send the diagnostic and detection results to the wireless charging controller 440.

[0086] Meanwhile, ADAS can be a system used to analyze the vehicle's external environment and driver status, and perform functions such as visibility assurance, image display, guidance, warnings, and control for driving and parking. It can play a key role in the software development and integration of autonomous driving and parking systems. Therefore, the ADAS controller 460 can update application software for high-performance processors, etc. In other words, the ADAS controller 460 can transmit sensor information related to the forward-facing camera, forward radar, etc., and information related to accelerator / brake pedal operation to the engine controller 450, and can combine various information to control operations such as inter-vehicle distance, acceleration trends, and response speed. As an example, the ADAS controller 460 can provide driving services based on the user's driving style and can perform functions such as maintaining a speed or a set distance from the vehicle in front through intelligent cruise control.

[0087] Furthermore, the engine controller 450 can be an electronic control unit (ECU) that optimally controls the vehicle's engine, automatic transmission, automatic braking system (ABS), etc. It can control the vehicle's engine intake, fuel and ignition timing, engine RPM, variable valve timing, etc., to provide the driver with optimized driving performance, fuel efficiency, etc. The engine controller (ECU) 450 can learn the driver's driving habits and provide corresponding control values ​​to control driving.

[0088] According to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, after reprogramming according to the situation of each controller, the wireless charging controller 440 can transmit the updated results to the operator server 410 (see reference numeral 430) via the wireless charging station.

[0089] When diagnostics are performed between the vehicle and the wireless charging station, the wireless charging station can download diagnostic service commands from the operator server 410 based on the received vehicle information. The wireless charging station can then transmit the diagnostic service commands to the wireless charging controller 440. The wireless charging controller 440 can route the received commands to the vehicle or perform the diagnostics. The wireless charging controller 440 can then transmit the diagnostic results back to the wireless charging station.

[0090] Figure 5A and Figure 5B This is a signal sequence diagram illustrating the connection and communication process between an electric vehicle and a wireless charging station according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0091] Reference Figure 5A and Figure 5B When a vehicle approaches a wireless charging station, the wireless charging station can transmit a VSE beacon message containing information related to charging services. The VSE beacon message includes information about supporting diagnostic and reprogramming services for the vehicle through the wireless charging session. Therefore, in operation 510, the wireless charging station can announce that the AP transmitting the VSE beacon message is an AP used to provide diagnostic and reprogramming services. As an example, the message transmitted by the wireless charging station may include information related to the types of diagnostic and reprogramming services supported by the wireless charging station and information related to the vehicle supplier configured to perform diagnostics and reprogramming.

[0092] In Operation 520, the vehicle that receives the VSE message can update the vehicle's AP list.

[0093] In operation 530, the vehicle can determine whether diagnostic and reprogramming services are supported based on VSE information associated with the wireless charging station. If diagnostic and reprogramming services are supported, in operation 535, the vehicle can attach a diagnostic (diag) session. In this case, the charging protocol session can run concurrently with the diagnostic and reprogramming services. Conversely, if it is determined that diagnostic and reprogramming services are not supported, only the charging protocol session can be connected.

[0094] In operation 540, based on a connection diagnostic (diag) session request, the wireless charging station may request the vehicle to collect vehicle-related information. The vehicle may collect the vehicle information and transmit the collected vehicle information in the form of a response message. Therefore, in operation 550, the wireless charging station may provide the vehicle with a vehicle diagnostic service request to perform necessary diagnostic services. The vehicle may perform vehicle diagnostic services according to the wireless charging station's vehicle diagnostic service request and may transmit the results of performing the vehicle diagnostic services to the wireless charging station in the form of a response message.

[0095] In Operation 560, the wireless charging station can identify the results to determine whether the vehicle needs reprogramming. Here, the wireless charging station can communicate with the operator's server based on the collected vehicle information to determine if reprogramming is necessary.

[0096] In the current situation, when it is determined that the vehicle needs to be reprogrammed, in operation 570, the wireless charging station can determine the amount of battery power required for reprogramming. This can be selectively applied, taking into account the vehicle's battery state of charge (SOC) value and the stability of the reprogramming. For example, when the battery is identified as being in a low state of charge (SOC) of less than 50%, the wireless charging station can take this into account and control the reprogramming. Therefore, in operation 580, the wireless charging station can confirm whether the required amount of battery power has been supplied. In other words, the wireless charging station can confirm whether the required amount of battery power has been supplied for reprogramming.

[0097] In the current situation, when the required battery capacity is determined to be sufficient, the wireless charging station can request vehicle reprogramming and can transmit the vehicle reprogramming file to the vehicle. Upon receiving the file, in operation 590, the vehicle can confirm whether the user has approved the reprogramming to continue. When the user confirms the reprogramming process, in operation 600, the vehicle can perform the vehicle reprogramming. In other words, the vehicle can perform vehicle reprogramming based on the vehicle reprogramming file and the user's reprogramming approval information. After the reprogramming is complete, the vehicle can report the result to the wireless charging station in the form of a vehicle reprogramming result response message.

[0098] In the current situation, the wireless charging station can determine whether the required battery level has been reached to identify a forced termination of vehicle charging. The wireless charging station can consider the execution result of reprogramming, State of Charge (SOC), etc., to confirm whether the vehicle's charging has ended normally / abnormally. Subsequently, the wireless charging station can notify the vehicle that the charging protocol session and diagnostic (diag) session have ended. Therefore, the vehicle can terminate the charging protocol session and diagnostic (diag) session. This can include terminating the diagnostic (diag) session based on charging termination conditions such as charging completion or user-forced termination of charging.

[0099] As described above, exemplary embodiments of the present invention can provide a diagnostic and update information transmission method via a wireless charging interface, which can perform diagnostic and reprogramming operations using the wireless charging interface of an electric vehicle. In the present case, exemplary embodiments of the present invention can utilize the wireless charging interface between the vehicle and the wireless charging station to enter a diagnostic session via a VSE message. The VSE message may include information related to the type of supported service or supported vendors. In the present case, exemplary embodiments of the present invention can determine whether to perform reprogramming based on information related to the battery state of charge (SOC) value of the electric vehicle, thereby ensuring stability during reprogramming.

[0100] Figure 6 This is a block diagram illustrating a computing system according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0101] Reference Figure 6 The computing system 1000 may include at least one processor 1100, a memory 1300, a user interface input device 1400, a user interface output device 1500, a storage device 1600, and a network interface 1700 connected to each other via a bus 1200.

[0102] Processor 1100 may be a central processing unit (CPU) or a semiconductor device that processes instructions stored in memory 1300 and / or storage device 1600. Memory 1300 and storage device 1600 may include various types of volatile or non-volatile storage media. For example, memory 1300 may include ROM (Read-Only Memory) 1310 and RAM (Random Access Memory) 1320.

[0103] Therefore, the operation of the methods or algorithms described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein can be directly implemented by hardware, software modules, or a combination of hardware and software modules executed by processor 1100. The software modules can reside in storage media (i.e., memory and / or storage devices) such as RAM, flash memory, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, registers, hard disks, removable disks, and CD-ROMs.

[0104] An exemplary storage medium can be coupled to processor 1100, and processor 1100 can read information from the storage medium and record information in the storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium can be integrated with processor 1100. Processor 1100 and storage medium can reside in an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC can reside within a user terminal. In another case, processor 1100 and storage medium can reside as separate components in the user terminal.

[0105] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention can provide methods for collecting vehicle information and performing vehicle-appropriate diagnostics and reprogramming services during wireless charging of electric vehicles, thereby helping customers manage their vehicles and improving customer satisfaction with vehicle services. Furthermore, exemplary embodiments of the present invention can reprogram the vehicle while it is charging, thereby reducing the time and cost of reprogramming the vehicle controller. Additionally, exemplary embodiments of the present invention can utilize the vehicle's wireless charging interface for diagnostics and reprogramming, rather than using a separate communication interface, thereby saving costs and shortening the development cycle.

[0106] Furthermore, the present invention can provide various effects directly or indirectly.

[0107] In the foregoing, although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments and accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art to which various exemplary embodiments of the present invention pertain without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as claimed in the appended claims.

[0108] For ease of explanation and precise definition in the appended claims, the features are described using the terms “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “outer,” “up,” “lower,” “upward,” “downward,” “front,” “back,” “rear,” “inner side,” “outer side,” “inward,” “outer,” “within,” “outside,” “forward,” and “backward” with reference to the locations shown in the figures for exemplary embodiments. It will be further understood that the term “connection” or its derivatives refer to both direct and indirect connections.

[0109] Furthermore, the term "fixed connection" means that the components of a fixed connection always rotate at the same speed. Additionally, the term "optionally connected" means that "when the optionally connected components are not engaged with each other, the optionally connected components rotate individually; when the optionally connected components are engaged with each other, the optionally connected components rotate at the same speed; and when at least one of the optionally connected components is a fixed component and the remaining optionally connected components are engaged with the fixed component, the optionally connected components are fixed."

[0110] For illustrative and descriptive purposes, the foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments is disclosed herein. These descriptions are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it will be apparent that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. Exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the invention and its practical application, enabling others skilled in the art to implement and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the invention, as well as their various alternatives and modifications. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A vehicle diagnostic system, comprising: Wireless charging stations transmit supplier-specific element beacon messages, namely VSE beacon messages, which include information related to the type of service that can be supported and information related to the supplier of the vehicles that can be supported. as well as The vehicle identifies the message and connects to a diagnostic session for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle. The diagnostic session is performed when a connection is established for the wireless charging session of the vehicle; and The vehicle identifies the VSE beacon message to confirm whether the wireless charging station supports services for vehicle diagnostics and reprogramming.

2. The vehicle diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein, The wireless charging station includes information related to diagnostics or reprogramming in the charging station function type field. This diagnostic or reprogramming information is related to the supported service type. The vehicle supplier type field includes information related to the supplier of the supported vehicles. Specifically, the VSE beacon message transmits information related to diagnostics or reprogramming, as well as information related to the supplier of the supported vehicle, to the vehicle.

3. The vehicle diagnostic system according to claim 2, wherein, The vehicle recognizes the VSE beacon message and updates the wireless charging station to an access point (AP) that supports services for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle.

4. The vehicle diagnostic system according to claim 3, wherein, When it is confirmed that the service used for diagnostics and reprogramming of the vehicle is not supported, the vehicle will only connect to the charging protocol session used for the vehicle.

5. The vehicle diagnostic system according to claim 3, wherein, The vehicle recognizes that it has started charging, collects vehicle information related to the vehicle, performs vehicle diagnostic services, and transmits the collected vehicle information and the results of the vehicle diagnostic services to the wireless charging station.

6. The vehicle diagnostic system according to claim 5, wherein, The wireless charging station identifies the collected vehicle information transmitted from the vehicle and the results of performing the vehicle diagnostic service to determine whether the vehicle needs to be reprogrammed.

7. The vehicle diagnostic system according to claim 6, wherein, The wireless charging station determines the battery state of charge (SOC) for reprogramming to determine whether the vehicle needs to be reprogrammed.

8. The vehicle diagnostic system according to claim 5, wherein, The vehicle receives a reprogramming request information and a reprogramming request file from the wireless charging station and completes the reprogramming based on the user's approval.

9. The vehicle diagnostic system according to claim 8, wherein, The vehicle will send a response message containing the result of reprogramming the vehicle to the wireless charging station.

10. A vehicle diagnostic method, comprising the following steps: The VSE beacon message, which includes supplier-specific elements such as information related to the types of services that can be supported and information related to the suppliers of the vehicles that can be supported, is sent to the vehicle. Identify the messages received by the vehicle and connect a diagnostic session for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle; as well as By examining the vehicle, the VSE beacon message is identified to confirm whether the wireless charging station supports services for vehicle diagnostics and reprogramming. The diagnostic session is performed when a connection is established for the wireless charging session of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle diagnostic method according to claim 10, wherein, The steps for transmitting the message include the following: The charging station function type field includes information related to diagnostics or reprogramming, which is related to the supported service type; and The vehicle supplier type field includes information related to the supplier of the supported vehicles, and Specifically, information related to diagnostics or reprogramming, as well as information related to the supplier of the supported vehicle, is transmitted from the wireless charging station to the vehicle via the VSE beacon message.

12. The vehicle diagnostic method according to claim 11, further comprising the following steps: The VSE beacon message is identified through the vehicle, and the wireless charging station is updated through the vehicle to be an access point (AP) that supports services for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle.

13. The vehicle diagnostic method according to claim 12, further comprising the following steps: If it is confirmed that services for diagnosing and reprogramming the vehicle are not supported, only the charging protocol session for the vehicle will be connected via the vehicle.

14. The vehicle diagnostic method according to claim 12, further comprising the following steps: The vehicle is identified as having begun charging; and The vehicle collects vehicle information related to the vehicle, performs vehicle diagnostic services through the vehicle, and transmits the collected vehicle information and the results of the vehicle diagnostic services to the wireless charging station through the vehicle.

15. The vehicle diagnostic method according to claim 14, further comprising the following steps: The wireless charging station identifies the collected vehicle information transmitted from the vehicle and the results of the vehicle diagnostic service to determine whether the vehicle needs to be reprogrammed.

16. The vehicle diagnostic method according to claim 15, further comprising the following steps: The wireless charging station is used to determine the battery state of charge (SOC) for reprogramming, thereby determining whether the vehicle needs to be reprogrammed.

17. The vehicle diagnostic method according to claim 14, further comprising the following steps: The vehicle receives a reprogramming request information and a reprogramming request file for the vehicle from the wireless charging station. as well as The reprogramming is completed via the vehicle based on the user's reprogramming approval.

18. The vehicle diagnostic method according to claim 17, further comprising the following steps: The vehicle transmits a response message containing the result of reprogramming the vehicle to the wireless charging station.

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