METHOD FOR DETECTING DAMAGE TO THE WIRING OF A VEHICLE'S ON-BOARD NETWORK

Abstract

The invention relates to a method 100 for detecting degradation of the wiring of an on-board network of a vehicle electrically powered by an electrical energy storage unit and an electrical generator. The method 100 comprises the steps, executed by a remote server of the vehicle constructed and configured to communicate with the vehicle's communication means, of: When information indicating the vehicle's driving status shows that the vehicle is in motion, compare 102 a voltage value across the terminals of the storage unit to a voltage value across the terminals of the electrical generator; If, during a specified driving period, the voltage difference between the voltage value across the storage unit and the voltage value across the electrical generator exceeds a voltage threshold, detect 103 degradation of the wiring of the on-board network of the vehicle. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD FOR DETECTING DAMAGE TO THE WIRING OF A VEHICLE'S ON-BOARD NETWORK

[0001] The field of the invention is that of regulating the voltage across the terminals of an electrical energy storage device in a vehicle's on-board network. The electrical energy storage device may be of the 12V type.

[0002] In a known manner, current vehicles include an electrical energy storage unit that electrically supplies an on-board network and an electrical generator constructed and arranged to provide a desired voltage level to the terminals of the on-board network and to recharge the storage unit.

[0003] Depending on the type of vehicle, namely internal combustion, hybrid, or electric, the electric generator can be formed by a rotating electrical machine or a direct current-direct current converter. Such a direct current-direct current converter is commonly referred to by those skilled in the art as a DC / DC converter, for "Direct Current / Direct Current" in English.

[0004] The electric generator is connected to the various electrical components of the on-board network and to the storage unit, via wiring comprising electrical cables and connectors which induce voltage drops.

[0005] To ensure that the electrical components of the on-board network and the energy storage system receive the minimum required voltage level at their terminals, it is important that the voltage drops between the electrical generator, the electrical components, and the energy storage system be controlled. These voltage drops are evaluated during the vehicle design phase.

[0006] However, in use, failures and wear in the cables and connectors of the on-board network can lead to significant increases in impedance between the different nodes of the on-board network, and induce significant voltage drops that can disrupt the proper functioning of the on-board network. For example, such a failure can result in an excessively low voltage level at the terminals of the lights, leading to reduced visibility for the driver.

[0007] The object of the invention is in particular to propose a method for detecting a degradation of a wiring of an on-board network of a vehicle.

[0008] In this context, the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to a method for detecting degradation of wiring in an on-board network of a vehicle electrically powered by an electrical energy storage unit and an electric generator, the method being remarkable in that it comprises the steps, carried out by a remote vehicle server built and configured to communicate with the vehicle's communication systems, from: • To receive means of communication, • A voltage value across the terminals of the storage device; • A voltage value across the terminals of the electric generator; • Information reflecting the vehicle's driving status; • When the information reflecting a vehicle's driving state indicates that the vehicle is in driving mode, compare the voltage value across the storage terminals to the voltage value across the electrical generator terminals; • If, during a specified driving period, a voltage difference between the voltage value at the terminals of the storage unit and the voltage value at the terminals of the electric generator is greater than a voltage threshold, detect a degradation of the vehicle's on-board network wiring.

[0009] The method according to this aspect of the invention makes it possible to monitor voltage drops between the vehicle's electrical generator and the storage unit, so as to detect a possible fault in the on-board network wiring. Once detected, it is possible to apply further analyses and appropriate corrective actions.

[0010] Thus, thanks to the process according to the invention, the diagnosticability of the vehicle, the responsiveness of the treatment of faults and the prevention of future breakdowns are improved.

[0011] It should be noted that, for the entire description, the on-board network wiring consists of electrical cables and electrical connectors.

[0012] In addition to the characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the process according to the invention may have one or more additional characteristics from among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0013] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the determined driving time is a cumulative driving time of between 1 hour and 5 hours.

[0014] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the voltage threshold is a function of a temperature.

[0015] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the voltage threshold is between IV and 2V.

[0016] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, when a degradation of the onboard network cabling is detected, the method includes a step of transmitting, to remote recording means of the server, information reflecting said degradation.

[0017] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the voltage value across the terminals of the The storage device, the voltage value across the terminals of the electric generator, and information reflecting the vehicle's driving status are received by the server periodically according to a predetermined period.

[0018] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the predetermined period is between 50 and 150 milliseconds.

[0019] Another aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle comprising: • An electrical energy storage system and an electrical generator constructed and arranged to electrically supply an on-board vehicle network, and • Communication systems designed and configured to communicate with a remote server on the vehicle, the communication systems being designed and configured to: • Transmit to said server: • A voltage value across the terminals of the storage device; • A voltage value across the terminals of the electric generator; • Information reflecting the vehicle's driving status. • Receive, from the server, information reflecting a degradation of the vehicle's on-board network wiring, the information reflecting a degradation being a function of the voltage value at the terminals of the storage unit, the voltage value at the terminals of the electrical generator, and the information reflecting a driving state of the vehicle.

[0020] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the vehicle includes recording means constructed and arranged to record information reflecting degradation and / or means for displaying information reflecting degradation.

[0021] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the electrical energy storage unit is of the 12 V type.

[0022] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures.

[0023] [Fig-1] illustrates, schematically, a non-limiting example of an embodiment of method according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0024] [Fig.2] illustrates, schematically, a non-limiting example of an embodiment of vehicle according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0025] The figures are presented for illustrative purposes only and are in no way limiting of the invention.

[0026] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing on different figures has a unique reference.

[0027] Fig. 1 represents the steps of a method for detecting a degradation of wiring in an on-board network of a vehicle according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0028] The onboard network is electrically powered by an electrical energy storage system and an electric generator.

[0029] The method 100 includes a step, executed by a remote vehicle server constructed and arranged to communicate with vehicle communication means, of receiving 101, from the communication means, • A voltage value across the terminals of the storage device; • A voltage value across the terminals of the electrical generator; and • Information reflecting the vehicle's driving status.

[0030] The voltage across the terminals of the storage unit can be determined by a computer in the storage unit, and then transmitted by the vehicle's communication means to the server.

[0031] The voltage across the terminals of the electric generator and the information translating a driving state of the vehicle can be determined by an engine computer, then transmitted by the vehicle's communication means to the server.

[0032] Without limitation, the server communicates with the means of communication using a 4G or 5G type communication protocol.

[0033] The information collected by the server can be received periodically, for example every 100 milliseconds.

[0034] When the information reflecting a driving state of the vehicle reflects that the vehicle is in driving phase, the method 100 includes a step, executed by the server, of comparing 102 the voltage value across the terminals of the storage unit to the voltage value across the terminals of the electric generator.

[0035] In this step, the process 100 analyzes the voltage data from the storage unit and the voltage output from the vehicle's electric generator, as well as the activation status of the vehicle's traction chain, in order to detect if there is an abnormal voltage drop between the electric generator and the storage unit, a sign of a potential wiring fault in the vehicle's on-board network.

[0036] If, during a determined driving time, a voltage difference between the voltage value across the terminals of the storage unit and the voltage value across the terminals of the electric generator is greater than a voltage threshold, the method 100 includes a step of detecting 103 a degradation of the wiring of the vehicle's on-board network 1.

[0037] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the voltage threshold is a function of temperature. For example, over a temperature range from -30°C to +50°C, the voltage threshold may be 1.5V. Above +50°C, the voltage threshold may be 2V.

[0038] According to a non-limiting aspect, the determined driving time is a cumulative driving time of between 1 hour and 5 hours of driving, for example 3 hours.

[0039] According to this aspect of the invention, when a degradation of the onboard network cabling is detected, the method 100 includes a step of transmitting 104, to remote recording means of the server, information reflecting the degradation.

[0040] This information reflecting a degradation recorded on the recording means can be made accessible to the on-board network wiring development teams so that they can trigger a series of additional analyses, aimed at more precisely discriminating the root cause(s) of the abnormal behavior detected by the process and triggering the necessary corrective actions on the vehicle.

[0041] Fig. 2 illustrates another aspect of the invention relating to a vehicle 1 comprising an electrical energy storage unit 2 and an electrical generator 3.

[0042] The electrical energy storage 2 can be formed by a 12V type battery.

[0043] Depending on the type of vehicle 1, namely thermal, hybrid or electric, the electric generator 3 can be formed by a rotating electric machine or a DC-DC converter arranged to electrically supply the storage unit 2 of the on-board network and the on-board network of the vehicle 1.

[0044] Such a direct current-direct current converter is commonly referred to by those skilled in the art as a DC / DC converter for "Direct Current / Direct Current" in English.

[0045] The electrical energy storage unit 2 and the electrical generator 3 are constructed and arranged to electrically supply the vehicle 1's on-board network 4.

[0046] The vehicle 1 further comprises communication means 5 constructed and arranged to communicate with a server 6 remote from the vehicle 1.

[0047] The communication means 5 are constructed and arranged to transmit to the remote server 6: • A voltage value across the terminals of storage unit 2; • A voltage value across the terminals of the electric generator 3; • Information reflecting the vehicle's driving status 1.

[0048] The communication means 5 are further constructed and arranged to receive, from the server 6, information reflecting a degradation of the vehicle 1 wiring.

[0049] The information reflecting a degradation is a function of the voltage value across the terminals of the storage unit 2, the voltage value across the terminals of the electric generator 3, and the information reflecting a driving state of the vehicle 1.

[0050] The vehicle 1 further comprises recording means 7 constructed and arranged to record information reflecting the degradation and display means 8 for the information reflecting the degradation. Thus, by viewing this information, the driver of the vehicle 1 can take his vehicle 1 to a repair center to have it inspected and possibly repaired.

[0051] The entire description is limited to a single vehicle, but it is understood that the server is built and arranged to communicate with a fleet of vehicles and is capable of detecting a degradation in voltage regulation performance. terminals of a storage unit for each vehicle in said fleet.

Claims

Claims

1. Method (100) for detecting a degradation of wiring of an on-board network (4) of a vehicle (1) electrically powered by an electrical energy store (2) and an electrical generator (3), said method (100) being characterized in that it comprises the steps, executed by a server (6) remote from said vehicle (1) constructed and arranged to communicate with communication means (5) of said vehicle (1), of: - Receiving (101), from said communication means (5),: • A voltage value at the terminals of said store (2); • A voltage value at the terminals of said electrical generator (3); • Information reflecting a driving state of said vehicle (1); - When the information translating a driving state of said vehicle (1) reflects that said vehicle (1) is in the driving phase, compare (102) said voltage value at the terminals of said storage device (2) with said voltage value at the terminals of said electric generator (3);- If, during a determined driving time, a voltage difference between said voltage value at the terminals of said storage device (2) and said voltage value at the terminals of said electric generator (3) is greater than a voltage threshold, detect (103) a degradation of said wiring of said on-board network (4) of said vehicle (1).;

2. Method (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the determined driving duration is a cumulative driving duration of between 1 hour and 5 hours.

3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the voltage threshold is a function of a temperature.

4. Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the voltage threshold is between IV and 2V.

5. Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when a degradation of the wiring of the on-board network (4) is detected, the method (100) comprises a step of transmit (104), to recording means (7) remote from the server (6), information reflecting said degradation.

6. Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the voltage value at the terminals of the storer (2), the voltage value at the terminals of the electric generator (3), and the information reflecting a driving state of the vehicle (1) are received by the server (6) periodically according to a predetermined period.

7. Method (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the predetermined period is between 50 and 150 milliseconds.

8. Vehicle (1) comprising: - An electrical energy store (2) and an electrical generator (3) constructed and arranged to electrically supply an on-board network (4) of said vehicle (1), and - Communication means (5) constructed and arranged to communicate with a server (6) remote from said vehicle (1), said communication means (5) being constructed and arranged to: • Transmit to said server (6): - A voltage value at the terminals of said store (2); - A voltage value at the terminals of said electrical generator (3); - Information reflecting a driving state of said vehicle (1).• Receive, from said server (6), information reflecting a degradation of the wiring of the on-board network (4) of said vehicle (1), said information reflecting a degradation being a function of said voltage value at the terminals of said storage device (2), of said voltage value at the terminals of said electric generator (3), and of said information reflecting a driving state of said vehicle (1).

9. Vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the vehicle (1) comprises recording means (7) constructed and arranged to record the information reflecting the degradation and / or display means (8) of said information reflecting said degradation.

10. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the storage device (2) is of the 12V type.

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