The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 29, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 09, 1999
John M Irons, Greenwood, IN (US);
Edward J Lewandowski, Scipio, IN (US);
Scott G Decker, Columbus, IN (US);
Gregg G Greathouse, Columbus, IN (US);
Irfan Tusneem, Columbus, IN (US);
Other;
Abstract
A fault recognition system is implemented as an adjunct to fault determination software of an on-board engine control module (ECM). The ECM activates a 'Type A' or 'Type B' fault code for each signal received from a plurality of sensors disposed about the engine when that signal exceeds a predetermined threshold. A 'Type C' fault is recognized and activated when all of a predetermined group of underlying 'Type A' or 'Type B' fault codes have been activated. The 'Type C' fault is displayed, while the underlying faults may or may not be displayed. The 'Type C' fault provides a better and more immediate indication of the source of the engine problem than any of the underlying faults. Only those underlying faults that aid in the recognition of the source of the engine problem are displayed. The remaining faults underlying the 'Type C' fault are masked. When the 'Type C' fault becomes inactive, any underlying fault codes are unmasked for subsequent evaluation. To avoid false positives or negatives, all of the underlying faults must be activated for a predetermined period before the 'Type C' fault will be activated. Likewise, before the 'Type C' fault is de-activated, at least one of the underlying faults must be inactive for a predetermined period.