# US 9,434,237 B2 · Periodic system diagnostic of a transport refrigeration system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,237 B2 - Document ID: US9434237B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/432,510 - Filed: 2013-10-01 - Published: 2015-10-15 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-01 - Assignees: Thermo King Corporation - Applicants: Thermo King Corporation - Inventors: Omosola Waidi Olaleye - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434237B2 ## CPC - F25D 29/003: {for movable devices} - B60H 1/00014: {for load cargos on load transporting vehicles} - B60H 1/00428: {electric} - B60H 1/00792: {Arrangement of detectors (B60H1/00742, B60H1/0075, B60H1/00785 take precedence)} - B60H 1/32: Cooling devices {(B60H1/00478, B60H1/005 take precedence)} - B60H 1/3232: {particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles (B60H1/3226 takes precedence)} - B60P 3/20: Refrigerated goods vehicles (air treatment of goods space B60H; {air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048}) - F25D 11/003: {Transport containers} - G01M 99/008: {by doing functionality tests} - F02N 11/08: Circuits specially adapted for starting of engines - F25D 2600/02: Timing - F25D 2600/06: Controlling according to a predetermined profile - Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract Methods and systems for periodic system diagnostic of a TRS are provided. In particular, a TRS controller is configured to periodically activate an engine control unit (ECU) of a genset to acquire engine sensor information while the engine is not running. The TRS controller is configured to determine an efficient time to bring the ECU out of a minimum electrical power consumption stage into a medium power consumption stage in order to determine a next action of the TRS. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for periodic system diagnostic of a transport refrigeration system for a refrigerated transport unit, the transport refrigeration system including a transport refrigeration unit controlled by a transport refrigeration system controller and powered by an electrically controlled engine having an engine control unit, the method comprising: the transport refrigeration system controller sending a medium electrical power consumption stage activation signal, via a keyswitch connection, to an electronic control unit when the electronically controlled engine is set to an engine operating mode in which the electronically controlled engine is not running, the medium electrical power consumption stage activation signal instructing the electronic control unit to activate and operate at a medium electrical power consumption stage; the transport refrigeration system controller obtaining engine sensor data from the electronic control unit via a Controller Area Network (CAN) communication interface bus; the transport refrigeration system controller determining a periodic system diagnostic time period based on the engine sensor data obtained from the electronic control unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: activating the electronic control unit at the medium electrical power consumption stage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a temperature of an interior space of the refrigerated transport unit; the transport refrigeration system controller determining that the electronically controlled engine is to be set to an engine operating mode in which the electronically controlled engine is running when the temperature of the interior space above or below a desired temperature threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: the transport refrigeration system controller sending a run signal to the electronically controlled engine when the transport refrigeration system controller determines that the electronically controlled engine is to be set to an engine operating mode in which the electronically controlled engine is running. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transport refrigeration system controller determines the periodic system diagnostic time period based on one or more of the engine sensor data, a real-time ambient temperature outside of the refrigerated transport unit, and a condition of a radiator of the transport refrigeration system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: the transport refrigeration system controller sending a minimum electrical power consumption stage activation signal, via the keyswitch connection, to the electronic control unit, the minimum electrical power consumption stage activation signal instructing the electronic control unit to activate and operate at a minimum electrical power consumption stage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the minimum electrical power consumption stage of the electronic control unit occurs when the keyswitch connection and the run signal connection are at an inactive logic state, and a main battery of the transport refrigeration system provides a minimum power required to activate the electronic control unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the medium electrical power consumption stage occurs when the keyswitch connection is at an active logic state and the run signal connection is at an inactive logic state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the transport refrigeration system controller determining the periodic system diagnostic time period based on one or more of a system clock data, a transport refrigeration unit operating mode data, an engine type data, a transport refrigeration unit configuration data and an engine sensor data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the transport refrigeration system controller determining the periodic system diagnostic time period includes: matching one or more of the system clock data, the transport refrigeration unit operating mode data, the engine type data, the transport refrigeration unit configuration data and the engine sensor data to temperature decay curve data. ### Claim 11 A transport refrigeration system for a refrigerated transport unit, the transport refrigeration system comprising: an electronically controlled engine including an electronic control unit; a transport refrigeration unit attached to the refrigerated transport unit, the transport refrigeration unit including a transport refrigeration system controller; a Controller Area Network (CAN) communication interface bus configured to connect the transport refrigeration system controller to the electronic control unit, wherein the transport refrigeration system is programmed to receive engine sensor data from the electronic control unit via the CAN communication interface bus; and a keyswitch connection configured to connect the transport refrigeration system controller to the electronic control unit; wherein the transport refrigeration system controller is programmed to determine a periodic system diagnostic time period based on the engine sensor data obtained from the electronic control unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The transport refrigeration system of claim 11, further comprising: a run signal connection configured to connect the transport refrigeration system controller to the electronic control unit, wherein the transport refrigeration system controller is programmed to send a run signal to the electronically controlled engine when the transport refrigeration system controller determines that the electronically controlled engine is to be set to an engine operating mode in which the electronically controlled engine is running. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The transport refrigeration system of claim 11, wherein the transport refrigeration system controller is programmed to determine the periodic system diagnostic time period based on one or more of the engine sensor data, a real-time ambient temperature outside of the refrigerated transport unit, and a condition of a radiator of the transport refrigeration system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The transport refrigeration system of claim 11, wherein the transport refrigeration system controller is programmed to send a minimum electrical power consumption stage activation signal, via the keyswitch connection, to the electronic control unit, and wherein the minimum electrical power consumption stage activation signal is configured to instruct the electronic control unit to activate and operate at a minimum electrical power consumption stage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The transport refrigeration system of claim 14, further comprising: a main battery connected to the transport refrigeration system controller and the electronic control unit, wherein the minimum electrical power consumption stage of the electronic control unit is defined by the keyswitch connection and the run signal connection being set to an inactive logic state, and the main battery of the transport refrigeration system is configured to provide a minimum power required to activate the electronic control unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The transport refrigeration system of claim 11, wherein the transport refrigeration system controller is programmed to send a medium electrical power consumption stage activation signal to the electronic control unit via the keyswitch connection when the electronically controlled engine is set to an engine operating mode in which the electronically controlled engine is not running, the medium electrical power consumption stage activation signal configured to instruct the electronic control unit to activate and operate at a medium electrical power consumption stage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The transport refrigeration system of claim 16, wherein the medium electrical power consumption stage is defined by the keyswitch connection being set to an active logic state and the run signal connection being set to an inactive logic state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The transport refrigeration system of claim 11, wherein the transport refrigeration system controller is programmed to determine the periodic system diagnostic time period based on one or more of a system clock data, a transport refrigeration unit operating mode data, an engine type data, a transport refrigeration unit configuration data and an engine sensor data. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The transport refrigeration system of claim 18, wherein the transport refrigeration system controller is programmed to determine the periodic system diagnostic time period by matching one or more of the system clock data, the transport refrigeration unit operating mode data, the engine type data, the transport refrigeration unit configuration data and the engine sensor data to temperature decay curve data.