Electronic Control Unit Dynamic Diagnosis Readiness Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electronic control units (ECUs) in vehicles face challenges in quickly diagnosing vehicle abnormalities due to the OBD II standard's requirement for satisfying multiple diagnosis items, which can take a long time, especially in shipping or repair processes, as some diagnosis items are difficult to satisfy and require rare conditions.
Innovation Solution
The electronic control unit employs a relaxed condition for abnormality diagnosis when a normal history is stored, allowing for quicker completion of readiness information storage, and reverts to normal conditions if no normal history exists, facilitating faster diagnosis and service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the OBD II standard's multiple diagnosis items are strictly satisfied, then the abnormality diagnosis accuracy is improved, but the diagnosis time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the diagnosis condition flexible rather than fixed. The ECU dynamically adjusts between normal conditions (strict OBD II compliance) and relaxed conditions (simplified criteria) based on whether a normal history is available, allowing the system to adapt its diagnostic rigor to the current situation and available information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the diagnosis condition from fixed to variable. By introducing a history-based parameter that determines whether to apply normal or relaxed conditions, the system can modify the diagnostic criteria (such as reducing the number of required diagnosis items or simplifying satisfaction requirements) to balance accuracy and speed.
2Reliability
If all abnormality diagnosis items are strictly monitored, then the completeness of diagnosis is improved, but the serviceability and repair efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing a reduced set of diagnosis items under relaxed conditions when a normal history is available. Instead of requiring all OBD II diagnosis items to be satisfied, the system performs a subset of essential checks that are sufficient for quick assessment, enabling faster service while still maintaining adequate diagnostic completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by storing normal history information in advance during previous vehicle operations. This pre-collected data serves as a foundation that enables relaxed condition diagnosis later, allowing the system to leverage past normal operation data to speed up current diagnostic processes without compromising overall diagnosis quality.
3Measurement precision
If the readiness information is stored only after all diagnosis items are satisfied, then the accuracy of readiness determination is improved, but the time required for vehicle shipping or return deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the readiness determination process dynamic by allowing two pathways: storing readiness information after all diagnosis items are satisfied (normal condition for high accuracy), or storing it earlier when relaxed conditions are met and normal history is available (accelerated pathway for time-critical situations). This dynamic approach balances accuracy requirements with time constraints in vehicle shipping and return processes.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic control unit improves a serviceability for a user of a vehicle by performing an abnormality diagnosis of the vehicle based on (i) storing a readiness information indicating that readiness is complete in a readiness storage, (ii) storing a history of normal diagnosis results from an abnormality diagnosis in a history storage, and (iii) relaxing a readiness complete condition for storing the readiness information in the readiness storage under control of a microcomputer, when the history stored in the history storage includes information of existence of the normal history. By using the relaxed condition for the abnormality diagnosis, readiness information is more quickly stored when performing the abnormality diagnosis. Also, diagnostic process is completed more quickly, facilitating the repair process and enabling the user to more quickly receive a desired service.