Method and device for detecting a vehicle defect by analyzing electromagnetic noise

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for detecting a fault in a vehicle. Indeed, the method comprises the reception (31) of first data representative of a first electromagnetic noise emitted by the vehicle and its environment before starting an engine of the vehicle and the reception (32) of second data representative of a second electromagnetic noise emitted by the vehicle and its environment following the starting of the engine of the vehicle, the first and second data being for example received from an antenna of the vehicle. The method also comprises the detection (33) of a fault by processing the first and second data, for example by comparing a result of a subtraction of the first data from the second data with reference data. Figure for abstract: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for detecting a vehicle fault by analyzing electromagnetic noise Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to methods and devices for detecting a fault in a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The present invention also relates to a method and a device for diagnosing the operation of a vehicle engine. Technological background

[0002] To validate the correct operation of a vehicle engine and / or detect possible defects in a vehicle, numerous tests are carried out, for example at the end of production or assembly of a vehicle or during a vehicle inspection, in particular when a defect is suspected by a user of the vehicle or after a maintenance operation.

[0003] In order to detect defects in a vehicle, a laboratory test consists of placing the vehicle in an anechoic chamber and arranging a multitude of sensors including antennas in order to capture the electromagnetic emissions by the vehicle in different modes, engine off or on for example. These electromagnetic emissions are then analyzed and compared, for example, to recordings or to a reference base associating certain noises with listed defects. Summary of the present invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to facilitate the detection of a defect in a vehicle without having to bring the vehicle to a test laboratory.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to improve the maintenance of a vehicle by reliable and rapid identification of a vehicle defect.

[0007] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for detecting a fault in a vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: - reception of first data representative of a first electromagnetic noise emitted by the vehicle and its environment before starting a vehicle engine; - reception of second data representative of a second electromagnetic noise emitted by the vehicle and its environment following the starting of the vehicle engine; - detection of a fault by processing the first and second data.

[0008] Such a method thus makes it possible to detect a vehicle fault, for example a fault in the vehicle's engine, without having to take the vehicle to a specialized center or a laboratory. Such a method thus makes it possible to carry out a self-diagnosis of the vehicle.

[0009] According to a variant of the method, the processing of the first and second data comprises a subtraction of the first data from the second data.

[0010] According to another variant of the method, the detection of a defect comprises a comparison of a result of said subtraction with a set of reference data representative of a set of defects.

[0011] According to another variant of the method, the first and second data are received from an antenna of the vehicle.

[0012] According to an additional variant of the method, the detection of a fault further comprises the following steps: - transmission of the first and second data to a remote device via a wireless link, - reception of third data representative of said fault via the wireless link.

[0013] According to another variant, the method comprises generating a message intended for a user based on a result of the detection of a fault.

[0014] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for detecting a fault in a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0015] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0016] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a system comprising a vehicle according to the third aspect of the present invention and a remote device connected in wireless communication to the vehicle, the system being configured to implement the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0017] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0018] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0019] According to a sixth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program is recorded. comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0020] On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording means or a hard disk.

[0021] Furthermore, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0022] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question. Brief description of the figures

[0023] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 4, in which:

[0024] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates a communication environment of a vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a passenger compartment of the vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] [Fig.3] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for detecting a fault in the vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0027] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a device configured to detect a fault in the vehicle of [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of implementation

[0028] A method and a device for detecting a fault in a vehicle will now be described in the following with joint reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

[0029] The terms “first(s)”, “second(s)” (or “first(s)”, “second(s)”), etc. are used in this document by arbitrary convention to enable different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) to be identified and distinguished. implemented in the embodiments described below. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0030] According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, the control of a journey of a vehicle, for example by a computer of the vehicle, comprises the reception of first data representative of a first electromagnetic noise emitted by the vehicle and its environment before starting an engine of the vehicle and the reception of second data representative of a second electromagnetic noise emitted by the vehicle and its environment following the starting of the engine of the vehicle, the first and second data being for example received from an antenna of the vehicle.

[0031] The method also comprises detecting a fault by processing the first and second data, for example by comparing a result of a subtraction of the first data from the second data to reference data.

[0032] Such a method has the advantage of allowing the detection of a vehicle fault, for example a fault in the vehicle's engine, without having to take the vehicle to a specialized center or a laboratory. Such a method thus makes it possible to carry out a self-diagnosis of the vehicle with, for example, one or more devices on board the vehicle. The maintenance of such a vehicle is then facilitated thanks to the provision of a diagnostic tool that is easy to implement.

[0033] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a communication environment 1 in which a vehicle operates, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] The vehicle 10 corresponds for example to a vehicle with a thermal engine, with electric motor(s) or even a hybrid vehicle with a thermal engine and one or more electric motors. The vehicle 10 thus corresponds for example to a land vehicle, for example an automobile, a truck, a bus.

[0035] The vehicle 10 has at least one antenna. In general, such an antenna is used to pick up radio waves in order, for example, to power an infotainment system, called an IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) system, of the vehicle. This antenna is for example placed on or in the roof of the vehicle 10, so as to have a maximum free field and to improve the reception of electromagnetic signals. This antenna is for example configured to pick up radio waves associated with different communication protocols such as FM (Frequency Modulation), AM (Amplitude Modulation), DAB or DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting) or SDAR (digital radio broadcasting). English "Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service" or in French "Satellite Digital Radio Service").

[0036] Such an antenna is then capable of perceiving different electromagnetic noises emitted by components of the vehicle 10 such as those emitted by an electric or thermal engine. It is then possible to associate an electromagnetic noise having a characteristic signal with an emitter of this electromagnetic noise. A characteristic signal comprises electromagnetic waves of determined frequency and amplitude. The antenna is for example capable of perceiving electromagnetic waves having a frequency between 150 kHz and 108 MHz. It should be noted that the antenna is for example associated with an amplifier or a filter, for example a high-pass filter or a low-pass filter depending on the frequencies to be picked up.

[0037] According to a particular embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2], the vehicle 10 carries, for example, in its passenger compartment a display system comprising a screen 20 and a computer configured to control the display of content(s) of a graphic Human-Machine Interface, called HMI, on the screen 20. The computer corresponds for example to the computer of the IVI system of the vehicle.

[0038] The screen 20 is for example touch-sensitive and corresponds for example to a screen of the LCD type (from the English “Liquid Crystal Display” or in French “Display à cristals liquide”), for example of the TFT type (from the English “Thin-Film Transistor” or in French “Transistor en film mince”), or OLED type (from the English “Organic Light-Emitting Diode” or in French “Diode électroluminescente biologique”). The screen is for example arranged in the center of the dashboard 21, for example above a central facade. Of course, the position of the screen 20 is not limited to this example, the screen 20 being able to be arranged in any position, for example on the central facade.

[0039] The screen 20 makes it possible to display content intended for the driver and passengers of the vehicle 10. The screen is also configured to allow the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle to interact with one or more systems embedded in the vehicle via a human-machine interface (HMI) displayed on the screen. For example, the screen makes it possible to control the infotainment system, also called IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) system of the vehicle, as well as for example the system responsible for controlling a journey of the vehicle 10, as described below.

[0040] According to another example, not illustrated here, the screen is not integrated into the passenger compartment but corresponds to a screen of a second mobile communication device, such as a smartphone or a tablet, connected in communication, for example wirelessly, with the on-board system of the vehicle.

[0041] According to another particular exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 10 is also configured to communicate, i.e. receive and / or transmit, data with other vehicles and / or a communication network infrastructure using a wireless communication mode, known as V2X.

[0042] For this purpose, the vehicle 10 carries a communication device corresponding for example to a telematic control unit, called TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit”) associated with one or more antennas. These antennas are for example distinct from the antenna previously described and receiving radio waves.

[0043] The communication environment 1 of the vehicle 10 comprises for example a mobile communication infrastructure, for example an infrastructure of a V2X (Vehicle-to-everything) type network, with which the vehicle 10 is configured to communicate data. The communication infrastructure implements for example communications according to LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Avanced (Long-Term Evolution -Advanced), C-V2X (Cellular - Vehicle to Everything) technology which is based on 4G and / or 5G, based on LTE. The vehicle 10 communicates advantageously using a so-called V2X communication system, for example based on the 3GPP LTE-V or IEEE 802.1 lp standards of ITS G5.In such a V2X communication system, each vehicle carries a node to enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and / or vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication.

[0044] The network infrastructure comprises, for example, communication devices 110 corresponding to relay antennas and / or roadside units (RUs), each corresponding to a node of the network.

[0045] The antenna or UBR 110 is advantageously connected to one or more remote servers 111, 112, for example via the “cloud” 100 (or in French “nuage”), via a wired and / or wireless connection. The antenna or UBR 110 is thus configured to act as a relay between the “cloud” 100 (and the remote server 111) and the vehicle 10.

[0046] According to a particular embodiment, the various devices and computers of the vehicle 10 communicate with each other. These devices and computers form, for example, a multiplexed architecture for the implementation of various services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle and for assisting the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle in controlling the vehicle 10. The devices and computers communicate and exchange data with each other via one or more computer buses, for example a communication bus of the CAN (Controller Area Network) or CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate) type. or in French "Flexible Data Rate Controller Area Network"), FlexRay (according to the ISO 17458 standard), LIN (from the English "Local Interconnect Network" or in French "Réseau interconnecté local") or Ethernet (according to the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0047] A process for controlling a journey of the vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by one or more computers of the vehicle 10, for example by the computer of the IVI system.

[0048] In a first operation, first data representative of a first electromagnetic noise emitted by the vehicle 10 and its environment before starting an engine of the vehicle 10 are received.

[0049] The first data are for example received from an antenna of the vehicle 10 such as the radio antenna of the vehicle 10. With the engine off, the antenna then picks up the electromagnetic waves emitted by the environment of the vehicle 10 as well as waves emitted by on-board systems of the vehicle 10 other than those connected to the engine of the vehicle 10. Thus, electromagnetic waves transmitted by air are picked up but also electromagnetic waves traveling through the electrical and electronic system of the vehicle 10. All of the electromagnetic waves picked up then form a noise called electromagnetic background noise. They come for example from the surrounding telecommunications systems, from other vehicles or even from on-board systems of the vehicle 10 generating interference. The first data represent for example a first set of electromagnetic signals.

[0050] In a second operation, second data representative of a second electromagnetic noise emitted by the vehicle 10 and its environment following the starting of the engine of the vehicle 10 are received.

[0051] Second data are for example also received from the radio antenna. They include in particular, when the external conditions are unchanged, waves similar to the electromagnetic waves previously captured and included in the first data, but also electromagnetic waves emitted by the engine and systems associated with the engine now started. The second data represent for example a second set of electromagnetic signals.

[0052] For example, information relating to the type of environment in which the vehicle 10 is located is added to the first and second data, for example, whether it is in a rural or urban environment, whether it is inside a building or outside, or even information, for example, about the weather.

[0053] The second data are, for example, associated with additional information relating to operating parameters of the engine of the vehicle 10, for example its rotation speed or its rpm, an operating temperature, peripherals switched on or not.

[0054] In a third operation, a fault is detected by processing the first and second data.

[0055] According to a particular exemplary embodiment, the first and second data respectively comprise the first and second sets of electromagnetic signals picked up, for example, by the radio antenna of the vehicle. The third operation then comprises a time alignment of the first and second sets of signals, for example by phase alignment of the signals so that a first signal of the first set of signals is aligned with a second signal of the second set of signals, the second signal corresponding to the first signal.

[0056] According to an alternative embodiment, the processing of the first and second data comprises a subtraction of the first data from the second data. Such an operation makes it possible in particular to eliminate the electromagnetic background noise, the electromagnetic signals received during the acquisition of the first data also being received during the acquisition of the second data. Thus, the signals of the third set of electromagnetic signals included in the subtraction result correspond to electromagnetic signals emitted by the engine of the vehicle 10, the only difference between the acquisition of the first and second sets of electromagnetic signals resulting in the fact that the engine of the vehicle 10 was switched on. The subtraction of the first set of signals from the second set of signals thus amounts to filtering the second set of signals to keep, in the third set of signals, only the signals emitted by the engine of the vehicle 10.The detection of a fault then comprises, according to a particular exemplary embodiment, a comparison of the third set of signals with a set of reference data representative of a set of faults, that is to say a comparison of the electromagnetic signals emitted by the engine with a set of typical signals of which each typical signal corresponds to a fault of the vehicle or of the engine. For example, a signal from the set of typical signals corresponds to a fault, that is to say a breakdown or a malfunction of one of the following elements of the vehicle 10: . - an alternator, - an electric actuator, - a computer, or - an electronic component, this list not being exhaustive.

[0057] According to another particular embodiment, the set of typical signals comprises a fourth set of electronic signals representative of an electromagnetic signature of an engine, for example associated with a model, and / or a list of accessories or peripherals, the engine and its accessories or peripherals being healthy, that is to say without fault, and a fifth set of electronic signals representative of an engine and its accessories or peripherals, one of which is defective. defective. An electronic signal from the fifth set of electronic signals is, for example, associated with a maintenance operation or a component to be replaced. The detection of an electronic signal in the third set of electronic signals corresponding to an electronic signal from the fifth set of signals then makes it possible to identify a defective element to be replaced and to plan, for example, a maintenance operation in a garage.

[0058] According to a particular embodiment, the identification of a fault is not implemented by a computer on board the vehicle 10 but is implemented by a remote device. The operation for detecting a fault then comprises the transmission of the first data and the second data to a remote device, for example the remote server 111, or according to another example the third set of data resulting from the operation of subtracting the first data from the second data, for example via a 5G or LTE type wireless link. The operation for detecting a fault then comprises the reception of third data representative of the fault via the wireless link.In this case, the detection of the fault is done by comparing a set of signals determined from the first data and the second data, for example by comparing to the set of typical signals, a database comprising all of the typical signals then being accessible to the remote server 111. Such a database is for example supplied by faults detected on other vehicles, for example from the same manufacturer or from a set of manufacturers. The database is then easily updated according to the faults identified on a set of vehicles.

[0059] According to a particular exemplary embodiment, in a fourth operation, a message is generated for a user based on a result of the detection of a fault. The computer in charge of the fault detection process transmits, for example, data to the IVI computer so as to generate the display of a message or a graphic object on the screen 20 of the vehicle 10. Such a message thus alerts the user of the vehicle 10 that a fault has been detected. The user can, for example, plan a maintenance operation for his vehicle 10 in order to eliminate the detected fault.

[0060] Thus, this process makes it possible to detect a fault in a vehicle and / or its engine without having to go to a workshop or laboratory. It is thus possible to self-diagnose the vehicle without having to add expensive sensors, the radio antenna being very often already present. Fault detection thus makes it possible to prevent possible breakdowns and to communicate to a user the state of health of the vehicle, its engine and / or certain elements of the vehicle.

[0061] [Fig. 4] schematically illustrates a device 4 configured for detecting a fault in a vehicle, for example in the vehicle 10, according to an exemplary embodiment by particular and non-limiting aspect of the present invention. The device 4 corresponds for example to a device on board the vehicle 10, for example a computer.

[0062] The device 4 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations described with regard to figures 1 and 2 and / or the steps of the method described with regard to [Fig.3]. Examples of such a device 4 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the device 4, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components. The device 4 can be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0063] The device 4 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 40 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and / or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 4. The processor 40 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 4 further comprises at least one memory 41 corresponding for example to a volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

[0064] The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the 4L memory.

[0065] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 2 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0066] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 4 comprises a block 42 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 42 comprise one or more of the following interfaces: - RF radio frequency interface, for example Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or Sigfox type using UBN radio technology (from the English Ultra Narrow Band, in French ultra narrow band) narrow), or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (from the English “Long-Term Evolution” or in French “Evolution à long terme”), LTE-Advanced (or in French LTE-advanced); - USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French); - HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface” or “High Definition Multimedia Interface” in French); - LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

[0067] According to another particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 4 comprises a communication interface 43 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 430. The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 430. The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (Controller Area Network) type, CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0068] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 4 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 440, touch-sensitive or not, one or more speakers 450 and / or other peripherals 460 (projection system) via output interfaces 44, 45 and 46 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 4.

[0069] [Fig. 3] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for detecting a fault in a vehicle, for example in the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the vehicle 10 or by the device 4 of [Fig. 4],

[0070] In a first step 31, first data representative of a first electromagnetic noise emitted by the vehicle 10 and its environment before starting an engine of the vehicle 10 are received.

[0071] In a second step 32, second data representative of a second electromagnetic noise emitted by the vehicle 10 and its environment following the starting of the engine of the vehicle 10 are received.

[0072] In a third step 33, a defect is detected by processing the first and second data.

[0073] According to a variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to figures 1 and 2 apply to the steps of the method of [Fig.3].

[0074] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends to a method for diagnosing the operation of a vehicle engine which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for implementing such a method.

[0075] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-based motor vehicle, comprising the device 4 of [Fig. 4], and a system comprising a vehicle and a remote device connected in wireless communication to the vehicle, the system being configured to implement the operations described in relation to Figures 1 and 2 and / or the steps of method 3 of [Fig. 3].

Claims

Claims

1. Method for detecting a fault in a vehicle (10), said method comprising the following steps: - receiving (31) first data representative of a first electromagnetic noise emitted by the vehicle (10) and its environment before starting an engine of the vehicle (10); - receiving (32) second data representative of a second electromagnetic noise emitted by said vehicle (10) and its environment following the starting of the engine of the vehicle (10); - detecting (33) a fault by processing said first and second data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing of the first and second data comprises subtracting the first data from the second data.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said detecting (33) a defect comprises comparing a result of said subtraction to a set of reference data representative of a set of defects.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, for which said first and second data are received from an antenna of the vehicle (10).

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, for which the detection (33) of a fault further comprises the following steps: - transmission of the first and second data to a remote device via a wireless link, - reception of third data representative of said fault via said wireless link.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, which comprises generating a message intended for a user as a function of a result of the detection (33) of a fault.

7. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when these instructions are executed by a processor.

8. Device (4) for detecting a fault in a vehicle, said device (4) comprising a memory (41) associated with at least one processor (40) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9.

10. Vehicle (10) comprising the device (4) according to claim 8. System comprising a vehicle according to claim 9 and a remote device connected in wireless communication to said vehicle, said system being configured to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images