US6601015B1 — Embedded datalogger for an engine control system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 131 words

A method, comprising: providing an internal combustion engine with a number of reciprocating pistons to power a ground transport vehicle, the engine having a control system with a memory; regulating the engine by periodically monitoring a number of different engine performance parameters with the control system; establishing a first trigger event; storing a first number of values representative of at least a portion of the performance parameters in the memory at a first predetermined rate in response to the first event; establishing a second trigger event; and storing a second number of values representative of at least a portion of the performance parameters in the memory at a second predetermined rate in response to the second event, the second rate being selectably different from the first rate by a predetermined amount.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 131 words

A method, comprising: providing an internal combustion engine with a number of reciprocating pistons to power a ground transport vehicle, the engine having a control system with a memory; regulating the engine by periodically monitoring a number of different engine performance parameters with the control system; establishing a first trigger event; storing a first number of values representative of at least a portion of the performance parameters in the memory at a first predetermined rate in response to the first event; establishing a second trigger event; and storing a second number of values representative of at least a portion of the performance parameters in the memory at a second predetermined rate in response to the second event, the second rate being selectably different from the first rate by a predetermined amount.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the first rate and the second rate are operator selectable.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising: reviewing the first values; changing from the first rate to the second rate in response to said reviewing.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 3 , wherein the second trigger event is defined as a function of a set of the parameters determined in response to said reviewing.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the first event corresponds to external triggering provided by an operator-controlled trigger device and the second event corresponds to internal triggering defined as a function of at least a portion of the parameters.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the first values include a first data segment corresponding to engine operation a first predetermined time interval before the first event and a second data segment corresponding to engine operation a second predetermined time interval after the first event.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the memory is nonvolatile.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 120 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein: the control system includes a circular buffer operatively coupled to the memory to store a pretrigger data segment and a post-trigger data segment in response to each of the first and second events; the parameters are operator-selectable wish service equipment operatively coupled to the control system, and the parameters include at least rotational engine speed, coolant temperature, and a throttle setting; the first rate and the second rate are operator selectable with the service equipment; and the first event and the second event are each established as a function of at least a portion of the parameters defined with the service equipment or an operator-controlled triggering device operatively coupled to the control system.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 172 words

An apparatus, comprising: a vehicle, said vehicle including: an internal combustion engine with a number of reciprocating pistons rotatably coupled to a crankshaft; a number of sensors configured to detect a corresponding number of operating parameters of said engine; an operator compartment including a triggering device operable by a vehicle operator to activate diagnostic data collection; and an engine control system responsive to said sensors to regulate operation of said engine, said control system including a controller operatively coupled to a nonvolatile memory and having an interface to receive operator data from service equipment to customize a diagnostic data collection routine executed by said controller, said routine being selectively responsive to said operator data to recognize activation of said triggering device to store diagnostic data in said memory representative of at least one of said operating parameters, said diagnostic data including a first segment corresponding to a first time interval of engine operation before said activation and a second segment corresponding to a second time interval of engine operation after said activation.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 172 words

An apparatus, comprising: a vehicle, said vehicle including: an internal combustion engine with a number of reciprocating pistons rotatably coupled to a crankshaft; a number of sensors configured to detect a corresponding number of operating parameters of said engine; an operator compartment including a triggering device operable by a vehicle operator to activate diagnostic data collection; and an engine control system responsive to said sensors to regulate operation of said engine, said control system including a controller operatively coupled to a nonvolatile memory and having an interface to receive operator data from service equipment to customize a diagnostic data collection routine executed by said controller, said routine being selectively responsive to said operator data to recognize activation of said triggering device to store diagnostic data in said memory representative of at least one of said operating parameters, said diagnostic data including a first segment corresponding to a first time interval of engine operation before said activation and a second segment corresponding to a second time interval of engine operation after said activation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said routine is further responsive to said operator data to select a rate of storage of said diagnostic data in said memory.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said routine is responsive to said operator data to establish an internal trigger condition as a function of said operating parameters, said routine recognizing triggering by said internal trigger condition or said triggering device in accordance with said operator data.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 54 words

The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said sensors include: a first sensor providing a first signal corresponding to rotational speed of said crankshaft; a second sensor corresponding to setting of a throttle operatively coupled to said control system; and a third sensor corresponding to coolant temperature of a coolant circulating in said engine.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 72 words

The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising: service equipment operatively coupled to said control system to provide said operator data through said interface; a circular buffer operatively coupled to said controller and said memory; and wherein said routine is further responsive to said operator data to define a rate of storage of said diagnostic data and designate at least two of said operating parameters to be represented by said diagnostic data.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 122 words

A method, comprising: coupling service equipment to a ground transport vehicle, the vehicle including an internal combustion engine with a control system having a memory; establishing a trigger condition for diagnostic data collection by the control system, the trigger condition being established with the service equipment coupled to the vehicle; decoupling the service equipment from the vehicle; detecting the trigger condition with the control system while operating the vehicle without the service equipment coupled thereto, the control system storing engine parameter data in the memory in response to the trigger condition, the data including a pretrigger data segment and a post-trigger data segment; and recoupling the service equipment to the vehicle after said triggering to analyze the data stored in the memory.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 122 words

A method, comprising: coupling service equipment to a ground transport vehicle, the vehicle including an internal combustion engine with a control system having a memory; establishing a trigger condition for diagnostic data collection by the control system, the trigger condition being established with the service equipment coupled to the vehicle; decoupling the service equipment from the vehicle; detecting the trigger condition with the control system while operating the vehicle without the service equipment coupled thereto, the control system storing engine parameter data in the memory in response to the trigger condition, the data including a pretrigger data segment and a post-trigger data segment; and recoupling the service equipment to the vehicle after said triggering to analyze the data stored in the memory.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the trigger condition is provided by activation of a triggering device located in an operator compartment of the vehicle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting a rate of storage of the data in the memory with the service equipment when coupled to the vehicle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 79 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the data is stored in a first portion of the memory in response to the first occurrence of the trigger condition and in a second portion of the memory in response to each subsequent occurrence of the trigger condition until storage is deactivated with said service equipment after said recoupling, such that data stored in response to occurrences after the second occurrence overwrite the data recorded in response to the previous occurrence.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the memory is nonvolatile and the engine parameter data is maintained in a circular buffer by the control system before storage in the memory.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 14 , further comprising: changing a characteristic of storage of the engine parameter data with the service equipment after said recoupling; disconnecting the service equipment after said changing; operating the vehicle after said disconnecting; collecting additional data in the memory; reconnecting the service equipment to examine the additional data.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein said changing includes changing the trigger condition from activation of an operator-controlled triggering device to an internal trigger condition established as a function of a number of vehicle operating parameters.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein said changing includes changing a rate of storage of the data in the memory.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein said changing includes changing the type of engine parameter data stored in the memory in response to the trigger condition.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 121 words

A method, comprising: providing a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a control system having a controller operatively coupled to a memory; regulating the engine by periodically monitoring a number of engine performance parameters with the control system; and triggering storage of data in the memory to diagnose engine performance by vehicle operator activation of a triggering device operatively coupled to the control system, the data being representative of a predetermined time interval of engine operation and including at least one of the performance parameters monitored during the predetermined time interval; wherein the predetermined time interval includes a first segment corresponding to the engine operation before said triggering and a second segment corresponding to the engine operation after said triggering.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 121 words

A method, comprising: providing a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a control system having a controller operatively coupled to a memory; regulating the engine by periodically monitoring a number of engine performance parameters with the control system; and triggering storage of data in the memory to diagnose engine performance by vehicle operator activation of a triggering device operatively coupled to the control system, the data being representative of a predetermined time interval of engine operation and including at least one of the performance parameters monitored during the predetermined time interval; wherein the predetermined time interval includes a first segment corresponding to the engine operation before said triggering and a second segment corresponding to the engine operation after said triggering.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 113 words

A method, comprising: providing a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a control system having a controller operatively coupled to a memory; regulating the engine by periodically monitoring a number of engine performance parameters with the control system; and triggering storage of data in the memory to diagnose engine performance by vehicle operator activation of a triggering device operatively coupled to the control system, the data being representative of a predetermined time interval of engine operation and including at least one of the performance parameters monitored during the predetermined time interval; wherein storage of the data is at a rate selected from a range of about 0.125 hertz to about 4 hertz.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 113 words

A method, comprising: providing a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a control system having a controller operatively coupled to a memory; regulating the engine by periodically monitoring a number of engine performance parameters with the control system; and triggering storage of data in the memory to diagnose engine performance by vehicle operator activation of a triggering device operatively coupled to the control system, the data being representative of a predetermined time interval of engine operation and including at least one of the performance parameters monitored during the predetermined time interval; wherein storage of the data is at a rate selected from a range of about 0.125 hertz to about 4 hertz.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 144 words

An apparatus, comprising: an internal combustion engine with a number of reciprocating pistons rotatably coupled to a crankshaft; a number of sensors configured to detect a corresponding number of operating parameters of said engine; an engine control system responsive to said sensors to regulate operation of said engine, said control system including a controller operatively coupled to a nonvolatile memory and a means for diagnosing abnormal operation of said engine, said diagnosing means for prompting storage of diagnostic data representative of at least a portion of said operating parameters in said memory in response to a trigger event, said diagnostic data including a first data segment corresponding to a first predetermined time interval before said event and a second data segment corresponding to a second predetermined time interval after said event; and wherein said event is established by operator input to said control system.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 144 words

An apparatus, comprising: an internal combustion engine with a number of reciprocating pistons rotatably coupled to a crankshaft; a number of sensors configured to detect a corresponding number of operating parameters of said engine; an engine control system responsive to said sensors to regulate operation of said engine, said control system including a controller operatively coupled to a nonvolatile memory and a means for diagnosing abnormal operation of said engine, said diagnosing means for prompting storage of diagnostic data representative of at least a portion of said operating parameters in said memory in response to a trigger event, said diagnostic data including a first data segment corresponding to a first predetermined time interval before said event and a second data segment corresponding to a second predetermined time interval after said event; and wherein said event is established by operator input to said control system.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising a vehicle powered by said engine, said vehicle carrying said engine, said sensors, and said control system.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising service equipment operatively coupled to said control system, said trigger being defined by an operator with said service equipment as a predetermined function of at least a portion of said parameters.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein said diagnosing means includes a means for operator selection of at least a portion of said performance parameters.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 97 words

The apparatus of claim 25 , herein said diagnosing means includes: service equipment operatively coupled to said control system to provide said operator data through said interface; an operator controlled triggering device operatively coupled to said control system; and a circular buffer operatively coupled to said controller and said memory, said circular buffer, said controller, and said memory being configured to capture at least a portion of said operating parameters in said circular buffer during normal operation of said engine, and transferring said diagnostic data from said circular buffer to said memory in response to said event.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the first trigger event and the second trigger event are prevented from causing said storing until an enablement signal is provided in response to a function of at least one of the engine performance parameters.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-07-28	2007-01-27	2007-07-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-07-28	2011-01-27	2011-07-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-07-28	2015-01-27	2015-07-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Embedded datalogger for an engine control system

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