Audio Sensor Vehicle Fault Diagnostics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle fault diagnosis methods are inefficient due to the difficulty in communicating and identifying mechanical or electrical faults, particularly as the complexity of vehicles increases, and some sounds may not be audible to the driver, leading to time-consuming and resource-intensive inspections.
Innovation Solution
Equipping vehicles with electronic audio sensors that monitor sound signals, compare them to reference signals, and transmit data to a server for further analysis to identify faults, presenting findings on a graphical user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a driver manually communicates vehicle sounds to a mechanic, then the driver can convey audible sounds, but the diagnosis becomes time-consuming and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual system of driver-mechanic communication with an automated electronic audio sensing and processing system. Electronic audio sensors capture vehicle sounds, and signal processing automatically analyzes them to identify faults, eliminating the need for manual driver description and significantly reducing diagnostic time while preserving all sound information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of electronic audio sensors and signal processing equipment between the vehicle components and the mechanic. This intermediary automatically captures, processes, and analyzes sound signals, translating them into diagnostic information without requiring direct driver-mechanic communication about the sounds.
2Measurement precision
If a mechanic performs thorough vehicle inspection, then accurate fault identification is achieved, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces resource-intensive manual inspection with automated electronic audio sensing and signal processing. The system continuously monitors vehicle sounds and uses automated analysis to identify faults with high precision, eliminating the need for extensive manual inspection while maintaining or improving diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous sound monitoring through electronic audio sensors that operate throughout vehicle operation. This continuous automated monitoring provides ongoing fault detection capability without requiring periodic resource-intensive manual inspections, achieving both high accuracy and resource efficiency.
3Productivity
If electronic audio sensors are deployed for automated diagnosis, then diagnostic efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple manual inspection with an automated electronic system that, while more complex in structure, delivers superior diagnostic efficiency. The electronic audio sensors and signal processing equipment work together as an integrated automated system that continuously monitors and analyzes vehicle sounds, providing rapid and accurate fault identification.
4Loss of information
If the driver is present to describe sounds, then audible sounds can be communicated, but inaudible sounds are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human auditory perception with electronic audio sensors that have superior detection capabilities. These sensors can capture a broader range of sound frequencies and intensities that are inaudible to the human ear, providing complete sound information without the limitations of human hearing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system enables efficient and accurate identification of mechanical or electrical faults, reducing diagnostic time and resource consumption by automating the fault detection process and providing real-time feedback to both the driver and analysts.
Implementation Method 1
one or more sensors associated with the plurality of components are configured to sense and identify one or more known sound signals
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a system for diagnosing faults in a vehicle using multiple audio sensors. The audio sensors are placed in predetermined locations within the vehicle. The audio sensors continually detect sound signals being originated from components of the vehicle. The audio sensors process detected sound signals to remove unwanted noise from the detected sound signals. The audio sensors compare processed sounds signals with reference sound signals to identify one or more faulty components. Each reference sound signal is associated with a particular fault. The audio sensors transmit information associated with the one or more faulty components to an analyst computer. An interactive graphical user interface of the analyst computer may present the information to an analyst.