Vehicle OBD Intermediary for Real-Time Diagnostic Data Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern passenger vehicle diagnostic systems primarily alert users to malfunctions rather than proactively monitoring system deterioration or remaining useful life, providing limited information on vehicle condition and performance.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced onboard diagnostic system that continuously monitors vehicle systems, provides real-time visual feedback on system status, calculates deterioration, and recommends maintenance, offering users detailed information on system performance and trip data through a user-friendly interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If basic OBD systems illuminate MIL to alert users of malfunctions, then users are notified of problems, but little information is provided about cause or severity of malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (smartphone, tablet, or computer with OBD interface) that acts as a mediator between the vehicle's OBD system and the user. This intermediary retrieves detailed diagnostic data from the vehicle and presents it in an understandable format, providing comprehensive malfunction information without requiring the vehicle's native system to become complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy or representation of the vehicle's diagnostic data on external devices. Instead of displaying all detailed information directly in the vehicle's instrument cluster, the system copies diagnostic data to external screens where it can be fully visualized and analyzed, separating the information display function from the vehicle's core systems.
2Loss of information
If OBD systems monitor more vehicular systems and provide more information, then user awareness of vehicle condition improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal OBD interfaces and standardized communication protocols that can access multiple vehicle systems through a single point of entry. The same basic OBD connector and communication methods work across different vehicle makes and models, allowing comprehensive monitoring without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
External devices serve as intermediaries that handle the complexity of data processing and presentation. These devices retrieve data from multiple vehicle systems through the standard OBD interface and present unified, organized information to the user, allowing the vehicle itself to remain relatively simple while providing comprehensive monitoring.
3Reliability
If systems provide malfunction alerts only, then simple notification is achieved, but proactive monitoring of system deterioration and remaining useful life is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary action by monitoring system parameters continuously and analyzing trends before actual failures occur. The system tracks deterioration patterns, predicts remaining useful life, and alerts users to potential problems before they manifest as malfunctions, allowing preventive maintenance scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where diagnostic data is constantly collected, analyzed, and used to update predictions about system health and remaining life. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to actual vehicle conditions and provide increasingly accurate maintenance recommendations over time.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention includes methods and devices for an improved onboard vehicle diagnostic system. The methods and devices provide for more detailed information and presentation of diagnostic and vehicle performance data for a user. In one example, real time diagnostic and trip system performance data is gathered and displayed relative to time for improved understanding of vehicle performance and operation by a user.