Diagnostic method and diagnostic device for facilitating diagnosis of a motor vehicle

Abstract

 A diagnostic device (2), which facilitates diagnosis of a motor vehicle (3), includes a plurality of detectors (21), a signal processor (22), and a display unit (23). Each of the detectors (21) detects a state of a corresponding one of components (31) of the motor vehicle (3), and generates a detecting signal indicative of the state of the corresponding one of the components (31) of the motor vehicle (3) as detected thereby. The signal processor (22) determines which of the detecting signals generated by the detectors (21) indicate an abnormal state, and generates a set of signals corresponding to the detecting signals determined thereby as indicating an abnormal state. The display unit (23) shows a set of numeric codes corresponding to the signals generated by the signal processor (22) . A diagnostic method, which facilitates diagnosis of a motor vehicle (3) and which is implemented by the diagnostic device (2), is also disclosed.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a diagnostic device that facilitates diagnosis of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Motorcycles include a large number of components that are of different types. As a consequence, motorcycle repairs are usually handed over to repair shops. In the repair shops, motorcycles are diagnosed by a mechanic based on his/her experience, which is prone to error. To solve these problems, as illustrated in Figure 1, it has been proposed to install a diagnostic light 11 on an instrument panel 1 of a motorcycle, which emits flashing light codes indicative of one or more defects of the motorcycle. This, however, requires a driver or a mechanic to decode the flashing light codes, which is also prone to error. To accurately diagnose these defects in the motorcycle, it has been proposed to use a reader, which reads and displays information from an electronic control unit (ECU). The availability of the reader, however, is limited, i.e., not all repair shops has such instrument.

[0003] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a diagnostic device that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide a diagnostic method that is implemented by the diagnostic device.

[0005] According to an aspect of the present invention, a diagnostic device for facilitating diagnosis of a motor vehicle comprises a plurality of detectors, a signal processor, and a display unit. Each of the detectors is configured to detect a state of a corresponding one of components of the motor vehicle, and to generate a detecting signal indicative of the state of the corresponding one of the components of the motor vehicle as detected thereby. The signal processor is coupled to the detectors, and is configured to determine which of the detecting signals indicate an abnormal state, and to generate a set of first signals corresponding to the detecting signals determined thereby as indicating an abnormal state. The display unit is coupled to the signal processor, and includes a lamp module driven by the first signals generated by the signal processor to emit flashing light, and configured to generate a set of lamp signals corresponding to the first signals generated by the signal processor. The signal processor is further configured to generate a set of second signals corresponding to the lamp signals generated by the lamp module. The display unit further includes a display configured to show a set of numeric codes corresponding to the second signals generated by the signal processor.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, a diagnostic method for facilitating diagnosis of a motor vehicle is implemented by a diagnostic device, and comprises:

A) while an engine of the motor vehicle is running, configuring the diagnostic device to detect states of components of the motor vehicle;

B) configuring the diagnostic device to generate detecting signals, each of which is indicative of the state of a corresponding one of the components of the motor vehicle detected in step A);

C) configuring the diagnostic device to determine which of the detecting signals generated in step B) indicate an abnormal state; and

D) configuring the diagnostic device to show a set of numeric codes corresponding to the detecting signals determined in step C) as indicating an abnormal state.

[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional diagnostic light installed on an instrument panel of a motorcycle;

Figure 2 is a schematic circuit block diagram of the first preferred embodiment of a diagnostic device according to this invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating a motor vehicle on which the first preferred embodiment is applied;

Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating first and second displays of the first preferred embodiment mounted on an instrument panel of the motor vehicle;

Figure 5 is a flow chart of the preferred embodiment of a diagnostic method according to the present invention to be implemented using the first preferred embodiment;

Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating first and second displays of the second preferred embodiment of a diagnostic device according to this invention mounted on the instrument panel of the motor vehicle; and

Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating first and second displays of the third preferred embodiment of a diagnostic device according to this invention mounted on the instrument panel of the motor vehicle.

[0008] Referring to Figure 2, the first preferred embodiment of a diagnostic device 2 according to this invention is shown to include a plurality of detectors 21, a signal processor 22, and a display unit 23.

[0009] With further reference to Figure 3, the diagnostic device 2 of this embodiment facilitates diagnosis of a motor vehicle 3, such as a motorcycle, in a manner that will be described hereinafter.

[0010] Each of the detectors 21 is coupled to a corresponding one of components 31, i.e., an engine, a battery, a throttle valve, an ignition coil, and an idle bypass valve, of the motor vehicle 3.

[0011] The signal processor 22 includes a receiving module 221 connected to the detectors 21, a diagnostic module 222 connected to the receiving module 221, and an output module 223 connected to the diagnostic module 222. In this embodiment, the signal processor 22 is an electronic control unit (ECU).

[0012] With further reference to Figure 4, the display unit 23 includes a display module 231, a lamp module 232, an input module 233, and a control module 234. The display module 231 is mounted on an instrument panel 32 of the motor vehicle 3, and includes first and second displays 235, 236. The lamp module 232 is mounted on the instrument panel 32 of the motor vehicle 3, and is connected to the receiving module 221 and the diagnostic module 222 of the signal processor 22. The input module 233 is coupled to the display module 231, and is connected to the output module 223 of the signal processor 22. The control module 234 is coupled to the display module 231. In this embodiment, each of the first and second displays 235, 236 of the display module 231 of the display unit 23 is a liquid crystal display.

[0013] The first preferred embodiment of a diagnostic method for facilitating diagnosis of the motor vehicle 3 to be implemented using the aforementioned diagnostic device 2 according to this invention will now be described with further reference to Figure 5.

[0014] In step 51, when the engine 31 of the motor vehicle 3 is started and while the engine 31 of the motor vehicle 3 is running, each of the detectors 21 detects a state of a corresponding one of the components 31 of the motor vehicle 3.

[0015] In step 52, each of the detectors 21 generates a detecting signal indicative of the state of the component 31 of the motor vehicle 3 detected in step 51.

[0016] In step 53, the receiving module 221 of the signal processor 22 receives the detecting signals generated in step 52.

[0017] In step 54, the diagnostic module 222 of the signal processor 22 determines which of the detecting signals received in step 53 indicate an abnormal state.

[0018] In step 55, when none of the detecting signals is determined as indicating an abnormal state in step 54, the flowproceeds to step 60. Otherwise, the flowproceeds to step 56.

[0019] In step 56, the diagnostic module 222 of the signal processor 22 analyzes the detecting signals determined in step 55 as indicating an abnormal state, and generates a set of first signals that correspond to the detecting signals thus analyzed.

[0020] The first signals generated in this step drive the lamp module 232 of the display unit 23 to emit flashing light.

[0021] In step 57, the lamp module 232 of the display unit 23 generates a set of lamp signals that correspond to the first signals generated in step 56.

[0022] In step 58, the diagnostic module 222 of the signal processor 22 reads the lamp signals generated by the lamp module 232, and generates a set of second signals that correspond to the lamp signals read thereby.

[0023] The second signals generated in this step are sent to the first and second displays 235, 236 of the display module 231 of the display unit 23 through the output module 223 of the signal processor 22 and the input module 233 of the display unit 23.

[0024] In step 59, as best shown in Figure 4, the first display 235 shows a set of numeric codes corresponding to the second signals generated in step 58, whereas the second display 236 shows a set of graphic codes corresponding to the second signals generated in step 58. Thereafter, the flow goes back to step 51.

[0025] In step 60, the first display 235 of the displaymodule 231 of the display unit 23 displays thereon information, such as time or temperature, and the second display 236 of the display module 231 of the display unit 23 displays thereon a symbol associated with the information displayed on the first display 235, such as a clock or a thermometer. Thereafter, the flow goes back to step 51.

[0026] In this embodiment, step 51 includes the sub-step of turning on the lamp module 232 to thereby provide a message indicating that the states of the components 31 of the motor vehicle 3 are being detected, and step 60 includes the sub-step of turning off the lamp module 232 to thereby provide a message indicating that the states of the components 31 of the motor vehicle 3 are all normal.

[0027] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in step 59, the numeric codes are shown in succession, and the control module 234 of the display unit 23 is configured to set time intervals at which the numeric codes are respectively shown in step 59.

[0028] From the above description, the diagnostic device 2 of this invention shows thereon numeric codes that correspond to components 31 of the motor vehicle 3 having an abnormal state. As such, with the diagnostic device 2 of this invention, a driver or a mechanic can accurately diagnose the components 31 of the motor vehicle 3 having an abnormal state in real-time.

[0029] Figure 6 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of a diagnostic device 2 according to this invention. Unlike the previous embodiment, the first display 235 of the display module 231 of the display unit 23 is a light-emitting diode display.

[0030] Figure 7 illustrates the third preferred embodiment of a diagnostic device 2 according to this invention. Unlike the previous embodiments, the first display 235 of the display module 231 of the display unit 23 is a numeric light display that includes ten numeric-shaped lights that represent numbers from one to ten. In this case, the first display 235 shows the numeric codes by lighting one or more of the numeric-shaped lights thereof.

Claims

1. A diagnostic device (2) for facilitating diagnosis of a motor vehicle (3) that includes a plurality of components (31), said diagnostic device (2) comprising:

a plurality of detectors (21), each of which is configured to detect a state of a corresponding one of the components (31) of the motor vehicle (3) and to generate a detecting signal indicative of the state of the corresponding one of the components (31) of the motor vehicle (3) as detected thereby;

a signal processor (22) coupled to said detectors (21), and configured to determine which of the detecting signals indicate an abnormal state, and to generate a set of first signals corresponding to the detecting signals determined thereby as indicating an abnormal state; and

a display unit (23) coupled to said signal processor (22), and including a lamp module (232) driven by the first signals generated by said signal processor (22) to emit flashing light, and configured to generate a set of lamp signals corresponding to the first signals generated by said signal processor (22),

wherein said signal processor (22) is further configured to generate a set of second signals corresponding to the lamp signals generated by said lamp module (232), and
wherein said display unit (23) further includes a display configured to show a set of numeric codes corresponding to the second signals generated by said signal processor (22).

2. The diagnostic device (2) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said display of said display unit (23) shows the numeric codes in succession, said display unit (23) further including a control module (234) coupled to said displaymodule (231) andconfiguredto set time intervals at which the numeric codes are respectively shown by said display module (231).

3. The diagnostic device (2) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said display unit (23) further includes a second display (236) configured to show a set of graphic codes corresponding to the second signals generated by said signal processor (22).

4. The diagnostic device (2) as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said second display (236) of said display unit (23) is a liquid crystal display.

5. The diagnostic device (2) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said display of said display unit (23) is one of a liquid crystal display, a light-emitting diode display, and a numeric light display.

6. The diagnostic device (2) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said signal processor (22) is an electronic control unit (ECU).

7. A diagnostic method for facilitating diagnosis of a motor vehicle (3) to be implemented by a diagnostic device (2), said diagnostic method comprising:

A) while an engine (31) of the motor vehicle (3) is running, configuring the diagnostic device (2) to detect states of components (31) of the motor vehicle (3);

B) configuring the diagnostic device (2) to generate detecting signals, each of which is indicative of the state of a corresponding one of the components (31) of the motor vehicle (3) detected in step A);

C) configuring the diagnostic device (2) todetermine which of the detecting signals generated in step B) indicate an abnormal state; and

D) configuring the diagnostic device (2) to show a set of numeric codes corresponding to the detecting signals determined in step C) as indicating an abnormal state.

8. The diagnostic method as claimed in Claim 7, wherein step A) includes the sub-step of configuring the diagnostic device (2) to provide a message that the states of the components (31) of the motor vehicle (3) are being detected, said diagnostic method further comprising:

E) when none of the detecting signals is determined as indicating an abnormal state in step C), configuring the diagnostic device (2) to remove the message provided in step A).

9. The diagnostic method as claimed in Claim 8, wherein, in step A), the message is provided using a lamp module (232).

Drawing