JPH0224345B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a distributed automatic test system for vehicles, and more particularly to a test system that reduces the load on a central processing unit and executes tests using synchronized distributed terminals.

In recent years, testing of equipment installed in vehicles (electric vehicles) has become automatic. Test items for these on-board equipment include insulation resistance measurement tests for each electric circuit of the electric car, thyristor stopper type control device for running drive control, air brake system for stopping control, and automatic train test for electric car operation. Confirmation tests are conducted on control equipment, automatic train operation equipment, radio communications equipment, power supply equipment, air compressors, motor generators, door equipment, etc.

Conventional automatic test equipment for vehicles has multiple terminal test equipment installed corresponding to each on-board device of the vehicle, and a built-in computer that operates based on a test program for all on-board equipment. It is composed of a central processing unit that controls the system, and a centralized control method from the central processing unit is adopted. However, with the spread of microcomputers, for the purpose of distributing the load on the central processing unit, distributing risks, and scalability, each terminal tester was given the ability to perform its own tests, and the central processing unit began testing. Distributed automatic test equipment for vehicles that issues commands and collects test result data is being considered. However, the disadvantages of this distributed type are as follows.

The thyristor control devices, air compressors, motor generators, etc. listed in the test items mentioned above are generally
Multiple units are mounted on one vehicle, and these are designed to operate in synchronization as one vehicle. Therefore, when testing these test objects using distributed automatic vehicle test equipment,
Either a set of test objects is tested one by one in series, or a central processing unit acts as a master station, as in centralized vehicle automatic test equipment, and synchronously controls multiple terminal testers. It became necessary to conduct a test. The former has the disadvantage that the test time is doubled, and the latter has the disadvantage of increasing the central load and complicating control.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a decentralized system for vehicles that reduces the load on the central processing unit and can shorten testing time, while also allowing staff to make on-the-spot processing decisions when the test results for each sub-item are NG. Our purpose is to provide automatic testing equipment.

In the present invention, the terminal testers, which are distributed terminals, exchange synchronization signals with each other, input the test results for each small item, make a judgment, and then execute the next test. is only responsible for starting test execution and collecting test result data.

FIG. 1 shows an overall system diagram of this distributed automatic test equipment for vehicles. While the vehicle 1 is stopped at a pit line for inspection and repair, it can be connected via a cable 2 to a terminal tester 3 arranged for each of the on-board equipment of the vehicle. Each terminal tester 3 includes a test execution device 4 that can apply voltage to each on-board device and capture the state on the vehicle, and a microcomputer 5 that controls the test execution device 4.
are each built-in. All programs related to the test are stored in the microcomputer 5, and the central processing unit 6 instructs each terminal tester 3 to start and stop the test, collects the result data after the test, and controls the operation panel 7 and display device 8. Responsible for control.

Here, the central processing unit 6 and each terminal tester 3 are connected via a cable 9, but each terminal tester 3 is a distributed system with the ability to independently perform tests. It is possible to exchange information with the central processing unit 6 by coupling by serial transmission, and the configuration of the cable 9 is extremely simplified.

Each terminal tester 3 is decentralized according to function, and includes, for example, a chipper type control device terminal tester,
There are terminal testers for motor generators, terminal testers for air compressors, and so on. Of these, one identical terminal tester is assigned to each of the two devices in one train. These two terminal testers 3 are connected to the central processing unit 6
At the same time, a test start command is received via the cable 9, and thereafter the test is executed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and the result data is sent back to the central processing unit 6. This will be explained in detail below with reference to FIG.

First, common preparations are made for the test items, and the test is started for each sub-item. The test is a collection of these small items, and when all the small items are completed, a termination process corresponding to test preparation is performed, and the result data of all the test items is returned to the central processing unit. One small item consists of setting conditions for measurement, measuring, determining the results, and storing the result data. If the measurement result is NG, it is sent to the central processing unit and waits for instructions on whether to continue the test, repeat it, or stop it. Synchronization between the two terminal testers is basically achieved in units of these small items. Also, when performing a synchronization test with two devices, it is necessary to know the results of the other terminal tester, so the synchronization signal is OK and NG.
There will be two types. Therefore, the content of the synchronization flag judgment is based on the synchronization signal of the own terminal tester.
Accept OK or NG and proceed to the next sub-item only when both are OK in the AND condition of OK or NG of the synchronization signal received from the partner terminal tester. Further, even if a synchronization signal has not arrived from the other party, the system waits at this determination point, so synchronization in units of small items is ensured.

Next, a block diagram of a terminal tester 3 used in an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Reference numeral 15 designates a main body of the processing device, 11 and 12 each a storage unit, and 13 a transmission unit that converts serial data from the central processing unit (FIG. 1) into parallel data. Further, the test execution device 4 is designed to be directly controlled by the input/output device 14. 16
is a synchronization signal control unit that is a feature of the present invention,
Here, transmission and reception control of synchronization signals, setting of synchronization flags, and determination processing are performed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the shortcomings of distributed automatic test equipment can be covered by the simple method of synchronizing signals, and the effect of load distribution on the central processing unit can be greatly improved.

Another advantage is that it is possible to detect an abnormality in the other terminal tester when a synchronization signal is not received from the other terminal, and this can be notified to the central processing unit.

Furthermore, another effect is that processing decisions can be made quickly from abnormality detection, unlike conventional manual testing.

According to the present invention, since the load on the central processing unit is significantly reduced, the capacity of the auxiliary storage device of the central processing unit can be reduced, and an inexpensive and simple system can be achieved. Furthermore, it is no longer necessary to use a large or medium-sized computer as the central processing unit, and it becomes possible to use an inexpensive microcomputer.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall system diagram of a distributed automatic test device for vehicles, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a synchronous test method, and FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of a terminal tester. 1... Vehicle, 2, 9... Cable, 3... Terminal tester, 4... Test execution device, 5... Microcomputer, 6... Central processing unit, 11, 12...
... Storage device section, 13... Transmission device section, 14... Input/output device section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of vehicle-mounted devices to be tested, including devices that operate synchronously as one vehicle;
A plurality of terminal test means each connected to each of the onboard devices and executing a test consisting of a plurality of sub-items of the onboard device, wherein a plurality of terminal test means of the plurality of onboard devices operate in synchronization. The terminal test means connected to each on-board device receives the test results for each sub-item output from the test means of these terminals, and only when all test results, including your own test results, are normal, will the next sub-item be started. An automatic test device for vehicles equipped with a judgment means for transitioning to item tests.