METHOD FOR DETECTING DETERIORATION OF WIRING IN A VEHICLE'S ON-BOARD NETWORK

Abstract

The invention relates to a method 100 for detecting a deterioration of wiring of an on-board network of a vehicle electrically powered by an electrical energy store and an electrical generator, said method 100 comprising the steps, executed by a remote server of said vehicle constructed and arranged to communicate with communication means of said vehicle, of: When information reflecting a driving state of said vehicle reflects that said vehicle is in the driving phase, comparing 102 a voltage value at the terminals of said storer with a voltage value at the terminals of said electrical generator; If, during a determined driving duration, a voltage difference between said voltage value at the terminals of said storer and said voltage value at the terminals of said electrical generator is greater than a voltage threshold, detecting 103 a deterioration of said wiring of said on-board network of said vehicle. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD FOR DETECTING DETERIORATION OF WIRING IN AN ON-BOARD NETWORK OF A VEHICLE

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

[0002] As is known, current vehicles comprise an electrical energy store electrically supplying an on-board network and an electrical generator constructed and arranged to supply a desired voltage level to the terminals of the on-board network and to recharge the store.

[0003] Depending on the type of vehicle, namely thermal, hybrid or electric, the electric generator can be formed by a rotating electric 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 device, 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 storage device receive at their terminals a minimum required voltage level, it is important that the voltage drops between the electrical generator, the electrical components and the storage device are controlled. These voltage drops are evaluated during the design of the vehicle.

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

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

[0008] In this context, the invention thus relates, in its broadest acceptance, to a method for detecting degradation of wiring in an on-board network of a vehicle electrically powered by an electrical energy store and an electrical generator, the method being remarkable in that it comprises the steps, executed by a remote server of the vehicle constructed and arranged to communicate with means of communication of the vehicle, of: • Receive means of communication, • A voltage value at the terminals of the storage device; • A voltage value at the terminals of the electric generator; • Information reflecting the vehicle’s driving condition; • When the information reflecting a vehicle's driving state reflects that the vehicle is in the driving phase, compare the voltage value at the terminals of the storage device with the voltage value at the terminals of the electric generator; • If, during a given driving period, a voltage difference between the voltage value at the terminals of the storage device and the voltage value at the terminals of the electric generator is greater than a voltage threshold, detect damage to 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 device, so as to detect a possible fault in the on-board network wiring. Once detected, it is possible to apply additional analyses and appropriate corrective actions.

[0010] Thus, thanks to the method according to the invention, the diagnostics of the vehicle, the responsiveness of fault processing and the prevention of future breakdowns are improved.

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

[0012] In addition to the characteristics which have just been mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the method according to the invention may have one or more complementary characteristics 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 wiring of the on-board network is detected, the method comprises a step of transmitting, to recording means remote from the server, information reflecting said degradation.

[0017] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the voltage value across the terminals of the storer, the voltage value at the terminals of the electric generator, and the information reflecting the driving status of the vehicle 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 store and an electrical generator constructed and arranged to electrically supply an on-board network of the vehicle, and • Communication means constructed and arranged to communicate with a server remote from the vehicle, the communication means being constructed and arranged to: • Transmit to said server: • A voltage value at the terminals of the storage device; • A voltage value at the terminals of the electric generator; • Information reflecting the vehicle’s driving condition. • Receive, from the server, information reflecting a deterioration in the wiring of the vehicle's on-board network, the information reflecting a deterioration being a function of the voltage value at the terminals of the storage device, the voltage value at the terminals of the electric generator, and the information reflecting a driving state of the vehicle.

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

[0021] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the electrical energy store 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, in a schematic manner, a non-limiting example of an embodiment of a method according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

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

[0025] The figures are presented for information purposes only and in no way limit the invention.

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

[0027] [Fig.l] represents the steps of a method 100 for detecting degradation of wiring of an on-board network of a vehicle according to a non-limiting aspect of the invention.

[0028] The on-board network is electrically powered by an electrical energy store and an electric generator.

[0029] The method 100 comprises a step, executed by a remote server of the vehicle constructed and arranged to communicate with communication means of the vehicle, of receiving 101, from the communication means, • A voltage value at the terminals of the storer; • A voltage value at the terminals of the electric generator; and • Information reflecting the vehicle’s driving condition.

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

[0031] The voltage at the terminals of the electric generator and the information reflecting 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] In a non-limiting manner, the server communicates with the communication means using a 4G or 5G type communication protocol.

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

[0034] When the information translating a driving state of the vehicle reflects that the vehicle is in the driving phase, the method 100 comprises a step, executed by the server, of comparing 102 the voltage value at the terminals of the storer with the voltage value at the terminals of the electric generator.

[0035] In this step, the method 100 analyzes the voltage data of the storage device and the output voltage of the vehicle's electric generator, as well as the activation state of the vehicle's powertrain so as to detect whether there is an abnormal voltage drop between the electric generator and the storage device, a sign of a potential wiring fault in the vehicle's on-board network.

[0036] If, during a determined driving duration, a voltage difference between the voltage value at the terminals of the storage device and the voltage value at the terminals of the electric generator is greater than a voltage threshold, the method 100 comprises a step 103 of detecting a deterioration in the wiring of the on-board network of the vehicle 1.

[0037] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the voltage threshold is a function of a 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 wiring of the on-board network is detected, the method 100 comprises a step of transmitting 104, to recording means remote from the server, information reflecting the degradation.

[0040] This information reflecting a degradation recorded on the recording means can be accessible to the on-board network wiring development teams so that the latter can trigger a series of additional analyses, aimed at more precisely discriminating the root cause(s) of the abnormal behavior detected by the method and at initiating 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 store 2 and an electrical generator 3.

[0042] The electrical energy store 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 direct-direct current 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 store 2 and the electrical generator 3 are constructed and arranged to electrically supply the on-board network 4 of the vehicle 1.

[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 at the terminals of storer 2; • A voltage value at the terminals of the electric generator 3; • Information reflecting the driving status of vehicle 1.

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

[0049] The information reflecting a degradation is a function of the voltage value at the terminals of the storage device 2, the voltage value at 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 the information reflecting the degradation and display means 8 for displaying the information reflecting the degradation. Thus, by viewing this information, the driver of the vehicle 1 can bring his vehicle 1 to a repair center in order to carry out an inspection and possibly a repair.

[0051] The entire description is limited to one vehicle but it is understood that the server is constructed and arranged to communicate with a fleet of vehicles and is able to detect a degradation in the voltage regulation performance at the 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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