US 6,832,141 B2 · Module for monitoring vehicle operation through onboard diagnostic port

Abstract

An onboard diagnostic memory module is configured to plug into the OBD II port and has a real-time clock and power supply, a microprocessor powered from a standard OBD II port, microprocessor operating firmware, and an attached memory (7 MB). In operation, the onboard diagnostic memory module is preprogrammed with data collection parameters through microprocessor firmware by connection to a PC having programming software for the module firmware. Thereafter, the onboard diagnostic memory module is moved into pin connection with the OBD II port of a vehicle. Data is recorded on a “trip” basis, preferably using starting of the engine to define the beginning of the trip and stopping of the engine to define the end of the trip. Intelligent interrogation occurs by interpretive software from an interrogating PC to retrieve a trip-based and organized data set including hard and extreme acceleration and deceleration, velocity (in discrete bands), distance traveled, as well as the required SAE-mandated operating parameters.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An onboard diagnostic memory module for an onboard diagnostic port of a vehicle comprising:

a connection to an onboard diagnostic port output of a vehicle;
a memory for receiving and emitting recorded data from the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;
apparatus for time stamping the recorded data in the memory for receiving and emitting recorded data;
a microprocessor responsive to operational firmware for manipulating data to and from the memory through the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;
memory operationally connected to the microprocessor for receiving the operational firmware;
the operational firmware including:
data receiving and recording parameters for the memory during the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;
and,
discharge parameters for discharging the recorded data responsive to intelligent interrogation of a computer having a connection to the onboard diagnostic memory module;
and,
resetting parameters for a malfunction indicator light.

8 more elements

A process of recording and analyzing data from the combination of an onboard diagnostic memory module, a vehicle having an onboard diagnostic port, and a computer having intelligent programming for the onboard diagnostic memory module comprising:

providing a vehicle having an onboard diagnostic port for emitting data;
providing an onboard diagnostic memory module including:
a connection to an onboard diagnostic port output of a vehicle;
a memory for receiving and emitting recorded data from the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;
apparatus for time correlation to the recorded data in the memory for receiving and emitting recorded data;
a microprocessor responsive to operational firmware for manipulating data to and from the memory through the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;
memory operationally connected to the microprocessor for receiving the operational firmware;
the operational firmware including:
data receiving and recording parameters for the memory during the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;
and,
discharge parameters for discharging the recorded data responsive to intelligent interrogation of a computer having a connection to the onboard diagnostic memory module;
providing a computer having:
interrogation parameters for the onboard diagnostic memory module;
and,
emitting data receiving and recording parameters to the onboard diagnostic port memory module;
connecting the onboard diagnostic memory module to the computer to receive the data receiving and recording parameters;
sending from the computer to the onboard diagnostic memory module the data receiving and recording parameters;
connecting the onboard diagnostic memory module to the vehicle at the onboard diagnostic port;
recording data during operation of the vehicle at the onboard diagnostic port;
time stamping the recorded speed data with time;
connecting the onboard diagnostic memory module to the computer;
and,
interrogating the onboard diagnostic memory module to recover the recorded time stamped speed data;
downloading the time stamped speed data from the onboard diagnostic port of the vehicle to a computer;
and,
plotting the speed data versus time on a computer;
and,
superimposing indicia of acceleration and/or deceleration.

25 more elements

A process for recording to an onboard diagnostic port memory module for an onboard diagnostic port of a vehicle, the process comprising:

providing an onboard diagnostic port memory module having:
a connection to an onboard diagnostic port output of a vehicle;
a memory for receiving and emitting recorded data from the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;
apparatus for time stamping the recorded data in the memory for receiving and emitting recorded data;
a microprocessor responsive to operational firmware for manipulating data to and from the memory through the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;
memory operationally connected to the microprocessor for receiving the operational firmware;
the operational firmware including:
data receiving and recording parameters for the memory during the connection to the onboard diagnostic port output of the vehicle;
and,
discharge parameters for discharging the recorded data responsive to intelligent interrogation of a computer having a connection to the onboard diagnostic port memory module;
monitoring the engine for engine operation;
recording data for a trip upon starting of engine operation;
ceasing recording of data for a trip upon ceasing the engine operation;
maintaining vehicle operational parameters between the starting of the engine and the stopping of the engine as a block of data indicating a trip;
reading speed data during the trip;
recording in the memory for receiving and emitting the speed data the speed data during the trip;
and,
integrating the recorded speed data to determine distance traveled during the trip;
and,
differentiating the recorded speed data to determine acceleration and deceleration during the trip.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Module for monitoring vehicle operation through onboard diagnostic port

Life of this patent

Module for monitoring vehicle operation through onboard diagnostic port

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13