MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A RECORDING OF COMPUTER DATA PROHIBITING RESTARTING FOR MAINTENANCE, METHOD AND PROGRAM BASED ON SUCH A VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising:- a powertrain comprising an engine (M) and a gearbox (BV) and their computers (CMM, eVCU, TCU);- preferably at least one auxiliary computer (BSI, CD, ESP, FSE);the computers (TCU, BSI, CD, ESP, FSE) being connected to said engine computer (CMM, eVCU) so as to transmit a signal (S) authorizing or prohibiting restarting,said engine computer (CMM, eVCU) comprising a stop-restart module restarting the thermal engine (M) if said engine computer (CMM, eVCU) receives the signal (S) authorizing restarting,said engine computer (CMM) comprising a module for recording data relating to the signals (S) and computers (CMM, eVCU, TCU, BSI, CD, ESP, FSE) prohibiting restarting, for display. The invention also relates to a method and a program based on such a vehicle. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A RECORDING OF COMPUTER DATA PROHIBITING RESTARTING FOR THE MAINTENANCE, METHOD AND PROGRAM BASED ON SUCH A VEHICLE

[0001] The invention relates to the field of maintenance functions for motor vehicles comprising a thermal engine.

[0002] In motor vehicles, several computers are used in the powertrain control chain, including in stop-start systems (or "stop and start" in English). Currently, no solution is proposed to identify the computer that prohibits restarting the powertrain.

[0003] Thus, when a user reports a fault of non-automatic restart of the powertrain after an automatic stop of the traction motor (for example at a stop sign, at a red light, etc. with the stop-start function): - either the maintenance service carries out fault searches on all the computers and must consult a fault log in the hope of finding a clue to a fault in a vehicle computer; - either the maintenance service updates all the calculators one by one, or even changes the calculators one by one.

[0004] This involves a significant number of hours of research.

[0005] An objective of the present invention is to remedy the defects of the prior art, and in particular to propose a solution making it possible to determine, in the event of a restart problem, which computer is faulty and does not authorize the restart of the powertrain(s), in order to limit the investigation time and avoid unnecessary changes to computers.

[0006] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a motor vehicle comprising: - at least one powertrain which comprises a thermal engine and a disengageable gearbox, or having at least one neutral gear, one driving gear, and preferably one parking gear; - at least one engine computer connected to the thermal engine; - a gearbox computer connected to the gearbox; - preferably at least one additional calculator; said engine computer comprising a stop-start module which stops the thermal engine when it is below a speed threshold, and which restarts the thermal engine when the gearbox is disengaged or leaves neutral or parking gear, the gearbox calculator, and preferably said auxiliary calculator being connected to said engine calculator so as to transmit a signal authorizing or prohibiting restarting, the stop-restart module restarting the thermal engine if said engine computer receives the signal authorizing restarting, characterized in that said engine computer further comprises a module for recording data relating to the signals prohibiting restarting and to each computer having generated them, and a module for sending the data to a display.

[0007] Advantageously, the invention proposes recording the information data relating to the computers having prohibited restarting, so that in the event of a restart failure, the computer having prohibited restarting during the last attempt is identified quickly while limiting search times.

[0008] Preferably, said engine computer comprises a primary computer connected to the engine, and a powertrain computer supervising the powertrain.

[0009] This makes it possible to adapt to the applicant's computer architectures. Furthermore, this makes it possible to identify whether a restart failure comes from the supervisor or the engine computer.

[0010] Preferably, the motor vehicle further comprises at least one of a power steering system, a braking system, a parking brake system, and said annex calculator comprises at least one of: - a steering computer controlling and supervising the steering assistance system; - a braking computer controlling and supervising the braking system; - a parking brake computer controlling and supervising the parking brake system; and - a central vehicle computer supervising the engine computer, the gearbox computer, the steering computer, the braking computer, and the parking brake computer.

[0011] This makes it possible to adapt to the applicant's computer architectures. Furthermore, this makes it possible to identify whether a restart failure comes from one of these computers.

[0012] Preferably, said engine computer further comprises a local memory, and data relating to the signals prohibiting restarting and to each computer having generated them, are recorded in the local memory.

[0013] This allows these data to be stored over a long period of use so that they can be transmitted to the maintenance service.

[0014] Preferably, the data sending module sends the data to a diagnostic device comprising the display.

[0015] This makes it possible to be adapted to the diagnostic devices commonly used by the applicant.

[0016] Preferably, the diagnostic device is connectable to said engine computer via the CAN network.

[0017] This makes it possible to be adapted to data transmissions commonly used in the applicant's diagnostic devices.

[0018] The invention further relates to a diagnostic device comprising a display, connectable to at least one engine computer of at least one motor vehicle according to the invention, characterized in that it receives data relating to the signals prohibiting restarting and to each computer having generated them.

[0019] Another object of the invention relates to a method for controlling restart failure in a motor vehicle according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - a recording step in which the data relating to the signals prohibiting restarting and to each computer having generated them are recorded; and - a step of sending data to a display.

[0020] Preferably, the control method further comprises a recording step in which the data relating to the signals prohibiting restarting are recorded for each computer having generated them, in a local memory.

[0021] The invention further relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the control method according to the invention, when said program operates on a computer.

[0022] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates different elements of a motor vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and the interactions between its computers; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a recovery of data from activation signals in the context of vehicle maintenance according to the preferred embodiment.

[0023] Currently, all new hybrid or even thermal vehicles are equipped with the stop-start function (or "Stop and Start" in English). Thus, when the user goes below a speed threshold with the foot on the brake, or goes below a speed threshold in "Neutral" or "Park" gear position, the M combustion engine cuts out under certain conditions.

[0024] When the user disengages the clutch (in the case of a manual gearbox) or leaves the “Neutral” or “Parking” gear (in the case of an automatic gearbox), the stop-start function must immediately restart the thermal engine M if it has the authorization of all the computers concerned by the restart of the thermal engine M.

[0025] And when this restart does not take place, the driver must manually restart the thermal engine M via the key or the start push button.

[0026] The aim of the invention is to reduce the fault finding time as well as the number of computer changes during maintenance, when a user complains that his vehicle does not restart automatically after stopping.

[0027] Thus, there is a gain for the maintenance service, when the problem occurs during the manufacturer's warranty period, or a gain for the user when the problem occurs after the manufacturer's warranty period.

[0028] The computers that must authorize restarting with the stop-restart function are the following: - the powertrain supervisor (called eVCU or CMM or FZCU - reference eVCU) which controls and supervises all the computers that make up the powertrain; - the engine computer (called CMM and MCU - reference CMM) which more specifically controls and supervises the thermal engine M; - the vehicle's central computer (called and referenced by BSI) which supervises all of the vehicle's computers; - the gearbox computer (called and referenced by TCU) which controls and supervises the piloted or automatic BV gearbox; - the CD power steering computer which controls and supervises the DA power steering; - the braking system computer (called ESP / ABS referenced by ESP) which controls and supervises the vehicle's braking system F; - the electric parking brake computer (called and referenced by FSE) which controls and supervises the P parking brake system.

[0029] In use, if one or more of these computers detects a problem, it may not send its restart authorization (signal S) to the eVCU powertrain supervisor and therefore to the stop-start function. In this case, the function The stop-start function is not authorized to restart the M combustion engine automatically. Therefore, the driver must manually restart the M combustion engine using the key or the start button.

[0030] The invention relates to the development of a functional both in the maintenance service diagnostic tool and in the eVCU powertrain supervisor.

[0031] In the diagnostic tool, the maintenance service has a fault identification menu on its tool, including a new function for testing an “automatic restart fault of the thermal engine”.

[0032] When the maintenance service calls this function on its diagnostic tool, this diagnostic tool sends commands to the eVCU powertrain supervisor via the CAN network to which the tool is connected to carry out the fault finding.

[0033] These commands are called requests. Each request received by the diagnostic tool corresponds, in the powertrain supervisor, to a function which returns to the diagnostic tool the information corresponding to the request received.

[0034] Indeed, when the stop-restart function must initiate a restart of the thermal engine M, the function requests authorization from the computers seen above (in particular the seven computers if they are present on the vehicle: a thermal vehicle is not always equipped with an automatic gearbox for example), and it stores the information received from these computers in the read-only memory of the eVCU powertrain supervisor.

[0035] Thus, when the maintenance service selects the “thermal engine restart fault” test function, the tool launches a series of requests to the eVCU powertrain supervisor to know the status of the information (data D) received by the eVCU powertrain supervisor during the last attempt to restart the thermal engine M and which have been stored in the ROM of the eVCU powertrain supervisor.

[0036] A first request asks the stop-restart function what information is coming from the eVCU powertrain supervisor to the stop-restart function, when the stop-restart function last asked the eVCU powertrain supervisor if it was authorized to restart the heat engine M from a powertrain inerrant problem point of view.

[0037] In the preferred variant, the messages coming from the eVCU powertrain supervisor to the stop-start function are 5 in number: - 0 = No request; - 1 = Restart request; - 2 = Urgent restart request; - 3 = Request immediate restart; - 4 = Request cut-off.

[0038] A second similar request is requested for the corresponding information coming from the CMM thermal engine computer.

[0039] In the preferred variant, there are 2 messages coming from the CMM thermal engine computer to the stop-restart function: - 0 = no restart requested; - 1 = restart requested.

[0040] A third similar request is requested for the corresponding information coming from the central computer of the vehicle B SI.

[0041] In the preferred variant, there are 2 messages coming from the central computer of the BSI vehicle, to the stop-start function: - 0 = restart prohibited; - 1 = restart authorization.

[0042] A fourth similar request is requested for the corresponding information coming from the gearbox computer TCU.

[0043] In the preferred variant, there are 2 messages coming from the gearbox computer TCU, to the stop-start function: - 0 = no restart permission; - 1 = Restart permission.

[0044] A fifth similar request is requested for the corresponding information coming from the CD power steering computer.

[0045] In the preferred variant, there are 2 messages coming from the CD power steering computer to the stop-start function: - 0 = no restart permission; - 1 = Restart permission.

[0046] A sixth similar request is requested for the corresponding information coming from the ESP braking system computer.

[0047] In the preferred variant, there are 2 messages coming from the ESP braking system computer to the stop-start function: - 0 = no restart permission; - 1 = Restart permission.

[0048] A seventh similar request is requested for the corresponding information coming from the FSE electric parking brake computer.

[0049] In the preferred variant, there are 3 messages coming from the FSE electric parking brake computer: - 0 = No restart inhibition request; - 1 = Request for restart inhibition for application of said brake; - 2 = Request for restart inhibition to release said brake.

[0050] Thus, the diagnostic tool is capable of identifying the computer which caused the thermal engine M to not restart, in fact: - if the information at the first request is “0” or “4”, the problem comes from the eVCU supervisor which did not accept the restart of the thermal engine M; - if the information in the second request is "0" and the other requests are correct, the problem comes from the CMM thermal engine computer which has not received the request to restart the M thermal engine; - if the information in the third request is “0”, the problem comes from the central computer of the BSI vehicle which did not accept the restart of the thermal engine M; - if the information in the fourth request is “0”, the problem comes from the TCU gearbox computer which has not accepted the restart of the thermal engine M; - if the information in the fifth request is “0”, the problem comes from the CD power steering computer which has not accepted the restart of the M thermal engine; - if the information in the sixth request is “0”, the problem comes from the ESP brake system computer which has not accepted the restart of the thermal engine M; - if the information in the seventh request is "1" or "2", the problem comes from the FSE parking brake system computer which has not accepted the restart of the M thermal engine.

[0051] Thus, the diagnostic tool is able to say that the prohibition on restarting the thermal engine M comes from such and such a computer or such and such a computer.

[0052] There is a specific feature, which is that if the restart of the thermal engine M has not taken place, and the response to the second request is missing (is at "0"), another request can incriminate another computer. However, if only the second request is in restart failure, it is because the computer of the thermal engine CMM has not received the restart information while all the other computers authorized the restart, therefore the computer at fault is necessarily the computer of the thermal engine CMM.

[0053] And if all the requests are in accordance for a restart of the thermal engine M, the problem is mechanical and the maintenance service must check the spark plugs, the fuel supply etc.

[0054] Then, when the “thermal engine restart fault” test function is performed and the computer(s) causing the thermal engine restart fault M is identified, the diagnostic tool consults the fault read-only memory of this computer, to identify the origin of this refusal to restart the thermal engine M.

[0055] Furthermore, the diagnostic tool writes on its screen (display A) all the faults present in the read-only memory as well as the time of the fault of the computer(s) in question.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle comprising: - at least one powertrain which comprises a thermal engine (M) and a gearbox (BV) which can be disengaged, or which has at least one neutral gear, one driving gear, and preferably one parking gear; - at least one engine computer (CMM, eVCU) connected to the thermal engine (M); - a gearbox computer (TCU) connected to the gearbox (BV); - preferably at least one auxiliary computer (BSI, CD, ESP, FSE);said engine computer (CMM, eVCU) comprising a stop-start module which stops the thermal engine (M) when it is below a speed threshold, and which restarts the thermal engine when the gearbox (BV) is disengaged or leaves neutral or parking gear, the gearbox computer (TCU), and preferably said auxiliary computer (BSI, CD, ESP, FSE) being connected to said engine computer (CMM, eVCU) so as to transmit a signal (S) authorizing or prohibiting restarting, the stop-start module restarting the thermal engine (M) if said engine computer (CMM, eVCU) receives the signal (S) authorizing restarting, characterized in that said engine computer (CMM) further comprises a data recording module (D) relating to the signals (S) prohibiting restarting and to each computer (CMM, eVCU, TCU, BSI, CD, ESP, FSE) having generated them, and a module for sending the data (D) to a display (A).;

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said engine computer comprises a primary computer connected to the engine (CMM), and a powertrain computer (eVCU) supervising the powertrain.

3. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 2, further comprising at least one of a power steering system (DA), a braking system (F), a parking brake system (P), characterized in that said auxiliary computer comprises at least one of: - a steering computer (CD) controlling and supervising the steering assistance system (DA); - a braking computer (ESP) controlling and supervising the braking system (F); - a parking brake computer (FSE) controlling and supervising the parking brake system (P); and - a central vehicle computer (BSI) supervising the engine computer (CMM, eVCU), the gearbox computer (TCU), the steering computer (CD), the braking computer (ESP), and the parking brake computer (FSE).

4. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said engine computer (eVCU) further comprises a local memory, and the data (D) relating to the signals (S) prohibiting restarting and to each computer (CMM, eVCU, TCU, BSI, CD, ESP, FSE) having generated them, are recorded in the local memory.

5. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the data sending module (D) sends the data to a diagnostic device comprising the display (A).

6. Motor vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the diagnostic device is connectable to said engine computer (eVCU) via the CAN network.

7. Diagnostic device comprising a display (A), connectable to at least one engine computer of at least one motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it receives data (D) relating to the signals (S) prohibiting restarting and to each computer (CMM, eVCU, TCU, BSI, CD, ESP, FSE) having generated them.

8. Method for controlling restart failure in a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - a recording step in which the data (D) relating to the signals (S) prohibiting restarting and to each computer (CMM, eVCU, TCU, BSI, CD, ESP, FSE) having generated them are recorded; and - a step of sending the data (D) to a display (A).

9. Control method according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a recording step in which the data (D) relating to the signals (S) prohibiting the re- start at each calculator (CMM, eVCU, TCU, BSI, CD, ESP, FSE) having generated them, in a local memory.

10. A computer program comprising program code instructions for carrying out the steps of the control method according to any one of claims 8 to 9, when said program is running on a computer.

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