Vehicle Fault Code Categorization for Collision Repair Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle diagnostic systems fail to distinguish between collision-related and mechanical fault codes, leading to potential misattribution of repair costs and insurance coverage.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle diagnostic system that categorizes fault codes into collision and mechanical fault codes using a fault code evaluation program, utilizing a database of designated fault codes and damage information to generate an electronic report for accurate repair assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a diagnostic scan is performed to identify all fault codes in a vehicle, then comprehensive fault detection is achieved, but the ability to distinguish between collision-related and mechanical failure fault codes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments fault codes into distinct categories (collision-related vs. mechanical failure) by introducing a categorization system that divides the unified fault code data into separate groups. This segmentation allows the system to maintain comprehensive fault detection while simultaneously providing precise categorization of fault origins through structured data organization and analysis algorithms.
2Productivity
If all fault codes are treated equally without categorization, then simplified processing is achieved, but repair cost attribution and insurance coverage determination become inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by categorizing fault codes into collision-related and mechanical failure groups during the diagnostic scanning process itself, rather than requiring separate analysis steps later. This preliminary categorization is embedded in the data collection phase, enabling both efficient processing and accurate repair cost attribution without requiring additional time-consuming analysis steps.
3Measurement precision
If a detailed analysis of each fault code is performed to determine collision relevance, then accurate repair identification is achieved, but diagnostic time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual or mechanical analysis of each fault code with an automated electronic classification system that uses pre-programmed criteria and algorithms to rapidly categorize fault codes. This substitution of automated electronic processing for manual analysis maintains high accuracy in identifying collision-related repairs while dramatically reducing diagnostic time and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system of diagnosing a vehicle electrical system and categorizing fault codes includes using a vehicle diagnostic computer tool that is configured to be connected to a diagnostic port of a vehicle to be in communication with an electronic system of the vehicle and running a diagnostic application program with the vehicle diagnostic computer tool to determine fault codes present in the electronic system of the vehicle. The method and system further include processing the fault codes with a fault code evaluation program to categorize the fault codes into collision fault codes that are deemed to have resulted from collision damage to the vehicle or mechanical fault codes that are deemed to not have resulted from collision damage to the vehicle. The vehicle diagnostic system generates a report file listing the fault codes as categorized.