Coolant Pump Diagnostics via Temperature Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing electrification of vehicles has exacerbated chip shortages, leading to higher costs and manufacturing delays in diagnosing coolant pump conditions, as existing methods rely on application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips.
Innovation Solution
Diagnosing coolant pump conditions based on temperature changes across a heater core, omitting the need for an ASIC chip, by measuring temperature changes with existing temperature sensors during unfueled engine conditions and when cabin heating is desired, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ASIC chips are used for coolant pump diagnosis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the diagnostic function from the specialized ASIC chip and relocates it to the existing engine control unit. By removing the dedicated chip and utilizing the processor's existing capabilities to monitor coolant temperature and determine pump status, the system achieves the same diagnostic accuracy without the added manufacturing complexity and cost of ASIC integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the existing engine control unit perform multiple functions: it continues to manage engine operations while simultaneously executing coolant pump diagnostics. The processor leverages existing temperature sensors and control algorithms already present in the system, eliminating the need for specialized hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If ASIC chips are used for coolant pump diagnosis, then diagnostic reliability is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the ASIC chip from the manufacturing process entirely, extracting the diagnostic functionality and implementing it through software in the existing control unit. This eliminates chip procurement, assembly, and testing steps, significantly improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining diagnostic reliability through proven control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing engine control unit, which already contains temperature sensors and processing capabilities for engine management, is made self-sufficient by adding pump diagnostic functionality. This eliminates the need for separate specialized components and their associated manufacturing processes, allowing the system to perform diagnostics using resources already available in the vehicle.
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 approach allows for effective pump condition diagnosis without specialized chips, ensuring desired pump operation while decreasing manufacturing costs and avoiding chip-related delays.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor downstream of a heat exchanger, such as a coolant heater and/or a heater core
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for a coolant system. In one example, a method may include diagnosing a condition of a pump of the coolant system based on a temperature change of coolant. The diagnostic may determine if the pump is stuck on or off.