Vehicle inspection device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle inspection device with which it is possible to identify whether the vehicle to be inspected is an EV car or an engine car without the need for visual confirmation.SOLUTION: The vehicle inspection device comprises an identification unit for identifying by communication whether the vehicle to be inspected is an engine car or an EV car. The identification unit transmits a first request signal for requesting transmission of an engine car-specific information which is specific to inspection of an engine car and a second request signal for requesting transmission of EV traveling car-specific information which is specific to inspection of a car having a traveling drive motor (steps S1, S5); and identifies that the vehicle to be inspected is an EV car (step S6) when engine car-specific information is not received from the vehicle to be inspected and EV traveling car-specific information is received (Yes in step S5).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle inspection device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that, when inspecting the internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle that is equipped with an engine and a motor for running, a shutdown of the internal combustion engine, which is unique to hybrid vehicles, does not occur. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 2982746 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] While electric vehicles equipped with a traction motor do not require conventional internal combustion engine inspections because they do not have an internal combustion engine, they are subject to inspections specific to electric vehicles. The vehicle-side data used for inspections and the ECU that outputs that data differ between electric vehicles and internal combustion vehicles, so it is necessary to select the ECU that sends the request signal and the type of information requested depending on the vehicle type. In this case, it is desirable to be able to identify whether the vehicle being inspected is an electric vehicle or an internal combustion vehicle without visual inspection.

[0005] However, the conventional technology described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it is not possible to identify whether the vehicle being inspected is an EV vehicle or an internal combustion vehicle.

[0006] The present invention has been made in light of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle inspection device that can identify whether the vehicle being inspected is an EV or an engine vehicle without visually checking it. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention is a vehicle inspection device that inspects engine vehicles that have an engine as a driving source and electric vehicles that do not have an engine as the driving source but have a motor as the driving source as vehicles to be inspected, and is equipped with an identification unit that identifies through communication whether the vehicle to be inspected is the engine vehicle or the electric vehicle, and the identification unit transmits to the vehicle to be inspected a first request signal requesting the transmission of engine vehicle-specific information unique to the inspection of the engine vehicle, and a second request signal requesting the transmission of electric vehicle-specific information unique to the inspection of a vehicle that has a driving motor, and is characterized in that if the engine vehicle-specific information is not received from the vehicle to be inspected but the electric vehicle-specific information is received from the vehicle to be inspected, the identification unit identifies the vehicle to be inspected as the electric vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle inspection device that can identify whether a vehicle to be inspected is an EV vehicle or an internal combustion vehicle without visually checking it. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle inspection device and a vehicle to be inspected according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the identification operation of the vehicle inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A vehicle inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention inspects engine vehicles equipped with an engine as a drive source and electric vehicles equipped with a motor as a drive source as vehicles to be inspected, and includes an identification unit that identifies via communication whether the vehicle to be inspected is an engine vehicle or an electric vehicle, and the identification unit transmits to the vehicle to be inspected a first request signal requesting the transmission of engine vehicle-specific information specific to the inspection of engine vehicles and a second request signal requesting the transmission of electric vehicle-specific information specific to the inspection of vehicles having a drive motor, and identifies the vehicle to be inspected as an electric vehicle if the engine vehicle-specific information is not received but the electric vehicle-specific information is received from the vehicle to be inspected. This allows the vehicle inspection device according to the embodiment of the present invention to identify whether the vehicle to be inspected is an electric vehicle or an engine vehicle without visual inspection. [Example]

[0011] A vehicle inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 and 2 are diagrams illustrating a vehicle inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] In FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 to be inspected includes multiple ECUs 2, 3, and 4, a gateway 5, a communication connector 6, and a communication line 8 that interconnects these components so that they can communicate with each other. In this specification, a vehicle equipped with an engine as a driving source is referred to as an engine vehicle, and a vehicle equipped with a motor as a driving source but not an engine is referred to as an EV vehicle. Hybrid vehicles equipped with both an engine and a motor as driving sources are included in the category of engine vehicles. Also, so-called range extender EVs equipped with an engine for generating electricity and a motor for driving are included in the category of engine vehicles. In other words, a vehicle equipped with an engine that requires exhaust gas inspection is referred to as an engine vehicle, and a vehicle without an engine is referred to as an EV vehicle.

[0013] If the vehicle 1 to be inspected is an engine vehicle, one of the ECUs 2, 3, and 4 is an ECM (Engine Control Module) that controls the engine. If the vehicle 1 to be inspected is an EV vehicle, one of the ECUs 2, 3, and 4 is an EVC (EV Controller). If the vehicle 1 to be inspected is an EV vehicle, it is not equipped with an ECM.

[0014] The gateway 5 comprises a relay that monitors communication signals and converts frames between different protocols.

[0015] The vehicle inspection device 7 inspects the vehicle 1 to be inspected, which is an engine vehicle or an EV vehicle. When inspecting the vehicle 1 to be inspected, the vehicle inspection device 7 is connected to multiple ECUs 2, 3, and 4 via a communication connector 6.

[0016] Recently, OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) inspection has become a common vehicle inspection method. OBD inspection is a vehicle inspection method that utilizes the vehicle's on-board diagnostics (OBD) system, which is a self-diagnostic function of the vehicle. If the OBD diagnosis of a vehicle's equipment determines that a malfunction has occurred, exhaust gas system abnormality data and fault codes (DTCs) are recorded in the vehicle's electronic control unit (ECU). The information recorded in the vehicle is then read by an external device such as a scan tool to detect abnormalities and determine whether the vehicle passed or failed.

[0017] Vehicle inspection device 7 includes an identification unit 7A that identifies through communication whether inspection target vehicle 1 is an engine vehicle or an EV vehicle. Identification unit 7A transmits to inspection target vehicle 1 a first request signal requesting the transmission of engine vehicle-specific information specific to the inspection of engine vehicles, and a second request signal requesting the transmission of EV vehicle-specific information specific to the inspection of vehicles having a drive motor (total motor power consumption, total drive time, motor DTC, etc.).

[0018] When each ECU 2, 3, 4 of the vehicle 1 under test receives a signal with a specific communication ID, it transmits a specific signal or activates an electrical component. If it receives any other signal, the ECU 2, 3, 4 will not operate.

[0019] For example, if any of ECU2, 3, and 4 is an ECM, that ECM will transmit the information it holds when it receives a signal (signal A) with communication ID "A." On the other hand, if any of ECU2, 3, and 4 is an EVC, that EVC will transmit the signal it holds when it receives a signal (signal B) with communication ID "B."

[0020] The identification unit 7A transmits engine vehicle specific information as signal A and EV vehicle specific information as signal B to the vehicle 1 to be inspected, and if the engine vehicle specific information is not received from the vehicle 1 to be inspected but the EV vehicle specific information is received, the identification unit 7A identifies the vehicle to be inspected as an EV vehicle.

[0021] The vehicle inspection device 7 also includes an output unit 7B that outputs the identification result of the vehicle 1 to be inspected. The output unit 7B outputs the identification result in the form of a display output or an audio output. The output unit 7B also outputs the identification result to another vehicle inspection device or the like connected via a network or a server.

[0022] The output unit 7B may output the engine vehicle specific information received from the vehicle 1 to be inspected in response to the first request signal, or the EV vehicle specific information received from the vehicle 1 to be inspected in response to the second request signal, together with or instead of the identification result.

[0023] If the identification unit 7A identifies the vehicle 1 to be inspected as an EV vehicle, it outputs information about the EV vehicle (for example, information related to Annex 125 of the Safety Standards for Road Transport Vehicles). If the identification unit 7A identifies the vehicle 1 to be inspected as an engine vehicle, it outputs information specific to engine vehicles (for example, information related to Annex 48 of the Safety Standards for Road Transport Vehicles).

[0024] The identification operation by the identification unit 7A of the vehicle inspection device 7 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0025] First, the identification unit 7A requests exhaust gas related device specific data (step S1).

[0026] Next, the identification unit 7A determines whether or not a data response has been received (step S2). If a data response has been received (YES in step S2), the identification unit 7A identifies the vehicle 1 to be inspected as an engine vehicle (step S3) and ends this operation.

[0027] If there is no data response (NO in step S2), the recognition unit 7A requests EV-specific data (step S4).

[0028] Next, the identification unit 7A determines whether or not a data response has been received (step S5). If a data response has been received (YES in step S5), the identification unit 7A identifies the inspection target vehicle 1 as an EV (step S6) and ends this operation.

[0029] If there is no data response (NO in step S5), the recognition unit 7A determines that communication has been interrupted (step S7) and ends this operation.

[0030] As described above, in this embodiment, the vehicle inspection device 7 includes an identification unit 7A that identifies through communications whether the vehicle 1 to be inspected is an engine vehicle or an EV vehicle. The identification unit 7A transmits to the vehicle 1 to be inspected a first request signal requesting the transmission of engine vehicle-specific information specific to the inspection of engine vehicles, and a second request signal requesting the transmission of EV vehicle-specific information specific to the inspection of vehicles having a drive motor, and if the engine vehicle-specific information is not received from the vehicle 1 to be inspected but the EV vehicle-specific information is received, the identification unit 7A identifies the vehicle to be inspected as an EV vehicle.

[0031] As a result, if the vehicle 1 to be inspected is an EV, the identification unit 7A receives information specific to EV vehicles, such as integrated / instantaneous data of the drive motor, rather than information specific to engine vehicles, such as data specific to exhaust gas-related devices, and therefore the vehicle 1 to be inspected can be identified as an EV. As a result, it is possible to identify whether the vehicle 1 to be inspected is an EV or an engine vehicle without visually checking it. Furthermore, by providing the gateway 5 or ECUs 2, 3, and 4 with a communication function via a server, it is possible to identify whether the vehicle 1 to be inspected is an EV before it is brought into the vehicle inspection facility, thereby improving the efficiency of inspection work at the vehicle inspection facility.

[0032] In this embodiment, the vehicle inspection device 7 also includes an output unit 7B that outputs the identification result of the vehicle 1 to be inspected.

[0033] This allows the inspection target vehicle 1 to be identified as an EV without visually checking it. Also, by outputting information including the identification result to another inspection device, it is possible to omit the need to manually set the identification result in the other inspection device, improving convenience.

[0034] While an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of this invention, and it is intended that all such modifications and equivalents be included in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1. Vehicles subject to inspection 7 Vehicle inspection equipment 7A Identification part 7B Output section

Claims

1. A vehicle inspection device that inspects engine vehicles equipped with an engine as a driving source and EV vehicles that do not have the engine as the driving source but have a motor as the driving source as a target vehicle, an identification unit that identifies, through communication, whether the vehicle to be inspected is the engine vehicle or the EV vehicle; The identification unit transmit, to the vehicle to be inspected, a first request signal requesting the transmission of engine vehicle-specific information specific to the inspection of the engine vehicle, and a second request signal requesting the transmission of EV vehicle-specific information specific to the inspection of a vehicle having a drive motor; A vehicle inspection device characterized in that, if the engine vehicle-specific information is not received from the vehicle to be inspected and the EV vehicle-specific information is received, the vehicle to be inspected is identified as the EV vehicle.

2. The vehicle inspection device according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit that outputs the identification result of the vehicle to be inspected.

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