JPH106885A - Failure diagnosis device for vehicle electrical components - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] When a meter unit M as a vehicle electrical component is switched from a normal display control mode to a failure diagnosis mode to diagnose the failure, the existing unit is used to shift to the failure diagnosis mode. At the same time, the conditions for shifting to the failure diagnosis mode are set strictly so that the operation is not switched to the failure diagnosis mode only by a normal operation performed by the user. SOLUTION: Battery power + B to meter unit M
When the ignition switch 22 is in the O position during a period of 30 seconds from when the switch is turned on to off.
When the state is switched from the FF state to the ON state, and thereafter, the door switch 27 on the driver's seat side is turned ON / OFF three times, and the od / trip meter changeover switch 14 of the meter body 1 is turned ON / OFF three times. First, switch to the failure diagnosis mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a failure diagnosis apparatus for self-diagnosis of a failure of a vehicle electrical component, and more particularly to a technical field relating to conditions under which the electrical component shifts from a normal mode to a failure diagnostic mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a failure diagnosis apparatus for a vehicle electric component of this kind, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-244131, the input state of a normal drive signal to a processing section of an electronic unit is described. When a different diagnostic signal is input from the diagnostic switch, a self-diagnostic function that switches to the failure diagnostic mode and outputs a diagnostic code is added, and the processing unit is switched between the normal operation mode and the failure diagnostic mode by inputting the drive signal and the diagnostic signal. By using the input terminal of the drive signal used for the normal operation mode, the mode is switched from the normal operation mode to the failure diagnosis mode by inputting the diagnostic signal to the input terminal,
It is known to eliminate the need for a dedicated input terminal for the diagnostic mode.

[0003] Further, in the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-29086, a collision judging circuit which detects an acceleration of a vehicle and outputs an operation signal, and a collision judging circuit which is connected to a vehicle-mounted battery via an ignition switch. For an airbag device having an operation circuit for deploying an airbag in response to an operation signal from an airbag device, a collision determination circuit is operated based on an operation of an ignition switch between an allowance mode for outputting an operation signal and a non-permission mode for stopping output. Switchable,
It has been proposed to warn the user when the collision determination circuit is in the non-permission mode.

[0004]

By the way, when performing a failure diagnosis of the electric components of a vehicle, the accuracy of the failure diagnosis can be improved if the electric components are actually mounted on a vehicle while the electric components are actually mounted on the vehicle.

[0005] However, even if a failure diagnosis mode for performing a failure diagnosis is provided for the vehicle electrical components, and the failure diagnosis is performed, even if a service technician switches the electrical components to the failure diagnosis mode to make the failure diagnosis determination, Depending on the user's normal general operation, the device may be accidentally switched to the failure diagnosis mode by mistake, and even if the electrical components should normally operate normally, the normal operation can be performed by shifting to the failure diagnosis mode. Problem arises.

For example, the meter unit of the instrument panel of the vehicle is switched to the failure diagnosis mode, and in the failure diagnosis mode, the failure diagnosis is performed by displaying each step of the failure diagnosis and its diagnosis result on a predetermined display section of the meter. In the case of, when the switching to the failure diagnosis mode is performed carelessly by the normal operation of the user, even in a situation where the display section of the meter should originally display various states of the vehicle, The display will not be performed normally.

In view of the above, the former conventional example (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-2
No. 44131), a changeover switch for outputting a changeover signal to the failure diagnosis mode may be provided, and the switch may be operated to switch from the normal mode to the failure diagnosis mode. It is necessary to provide.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to set a condition for switching an electric component to a failure diagnosis mode to a predetermined condition, thereby utilizing an existing part. The object is to prevent the mode from being switched to the failure diagnosis mode only by a normal operation performed by the user.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a user sets an operation condition which is not normally performed on an existing part of a vehicle, and when the operation is performed, For the first time, electrical components are switched to failure diagnosis mode.

More specifically, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a failure diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component configured to diagnose a failure by switching from a normal mode to a failure diagnosis mode is a battery for the electrical component. Power ON from OFF state
During the time from when the state was reached until the predetermined time elapses,
When at least one signal generating component built in or connected to the electrical component and generating a signal is operated in a predetermined manner,
The electrical component is configured to shift to the failure diagnosis mode.

[0011] With this configuration, when the battery power of the electrical component is changed from the OFF state to the ON state and the signal generating component is operated in a predetermined manner during a predetermined time from that time, the electrical component is activated. Move to failure diagnosis mode,
If the battery power does not switch from the OFF state to the ON state, or if the signal generation component does not perform the predetermined operation until the predetermined time elapses from the switching, the electrical component will fail. Does not shift to diagnostic mode. Simultaneous switching of the battery power supply from the OFF state to the ON state and the predetermined operation of the signal generating component during a period from the time of the switching until a predetermined time elapses are special operations which are not normally performed by the vehicle user. It is a condition that can only be achieved with the intention of a service person. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the electrical component from being erroneously entered into the diagnostic mode by a user operation.

In addition, since the signal generating component is an existing component that is built in or connected to the electrical component and generates a signal, the switching to the failure diagnosis mode is performed using the existing signal generating component. be able to.

Further, the switching to the failure diagnosis mode can be performed in a state where the electric components are installed in the actual vehicle, and the diagnosis accuracy can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the ignition switch is turned on from the OFF state during a predetermined time from when the battery power to the electrical component is turned on from the OFF state. , So that the electrical components shift to the failure diagnosis mode. Thus, when the ignition switch is turned on from the OFF state during a predetermined time from the time when the battery power to the electric component is turned from the OFF state to the ON state, the electric component is set to the failure diagnosis mode. The mode is shifted to the fault diagnosis mode under other conditions. In this case, similarly to the above, it is possible to effectively prevent the user from erroneously entering the diagnosis mode due to the operation of the user, and to switch to the failure diagnosis mode using the existing ignition switch.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the failure diagnosis apparatus for a vehicle electrical component according to the second aspect of the present invention, the vehicle electrical power supply to the electrical component is switched from an OFF state to an ON state until a predetermined time elapses. In the meantime, after the ignition switch is turned ON from the OFF state, when another signal generating component is operated in a predetermined manner, the electrical component is shifted to the failure diagnosis mode. In this case, the ignition switch is turned off during a predetermined time from when the battery power is turned on from the off state.
After the ON operation from the state, the shift to the failure diagnosis mode is performed only when a predetermined operation is performed on another signal generating component. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the diagnostic mode from being erroneously entered by a user operation.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first, second or third aspect of the present invention is provided.
In the apparatus for diagnosing failure of a vehicle electrical component according to the invention, the predetermined operation of the signal generating component is performed by turning the signal generating component on / off multiple times.
This is an operation of switching F. In this manner, the operation of switching the signal generating component on and off a plurality of times is an operation far from the normal operation of the user as compared with the operation of turning on or off the signal generating component only once, and the diagnosis is erroneously performed accordingly. Entering the mode can be effectively prevented.

According to the invention of claim 5, according to claim 1, 2, or 3
In the failure diagnosis apparatus for a vehicle electrical component according to the invention, the predetermined operation of the signal generating component is to operate a plurality of signal generating components. As described above, the signal generating component is turned ON / OF a plurality of times.
One signal generation part is also ON / OF for the operation to switch F.
This is an operation that is not normally performed by the user, as compared with the case where the F switching is performed, and the same effect as that of the above-described fourth aspect is obtained.

In the invention according to claim 6, the vehicle electric component is a meter unit of the vehicle. With this configuration, the failure diagnosis can be performed by switching the meter unit to the failure diagnosis mode. Also, in this case, when the battery power to the meter unit is changed from the OFF state to the ON state and the signal generating component is operated in a predetermined manner during a predetermined time from that time, the meter unit may fail. The mode shifts to the diagnosis mode, but when the battery power is not switched from the OFF state to the ON state, or even when the switching is performed, the signal generating component performs a predetermined operation until a predetermined time elapses from that point. When not performed, the meter unit does not shift to the failure diagnosis mode, and therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the meter unit from accidentally shifting to the failure diagnosis mode by a normal operation of the user.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the failure diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component according to the sixth aspect, the signal generating component is a door switch of the vehicle. As a result, the meter unit shifts to the failure diagnosis mode only when the door switch is operated during a period from the time when the battery power to the meter unit is turned on from the OFF state until the predetermined time elapses. Under the condition (1), the mode does not shift to the failure diagnosis mode. In this case, similarly to the above, it is possible to effectively prevent the erroneous entry into the diagnosis mode due to the operation of the user, and to switch to the failure diagnosis mode using the existing door switch.

According to the invention of claim 8, the door switch is a door switch on the driver's seat side. In this way, when the failure diagnosis mode is switched, the serviceman can operate the door switch on the driver's seat side while sitting on the driver's seat of the vehicle, which facilitates the operation.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the failure diagnosis apparatus for a vehicle electrical component according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the signal generating component is a changeover switch for switching between an odometer and a trip meter in the meter unit. As a result, the meter unit shifts to the failure diagnosis mode only when the changeover switch is operated during a period from the time when the battery power to the meter unit is turned on from the OFF state until the predetermined time has elapsed. Similarly to the above, it is possible to effectively prevent the diagnosis mode from being erroneously entered by the user's operation, and to switch to the failure diagnosis mode using an existing changeover switch.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle electrical component failure diagnosis apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the electrical component (meter unit) receives a vehicle speed signal indicating a running state of the vehicle. It is configured to sometimes cancel the failure diagnosis mode. As a result, even if the electrical component (meter unit) is in the failure diagnosis mode, the failure diagnosis mode is canceled by the input of the vehicle speed signal, so that even if the serviceman forgets to cancel the failure diagnosis mode, the failure diagnosis is automatically performed. It is not performed to the user in the failure diagnosis mode.

[0023]

FIG. 3 shows a meter unit M as an electric component according to an embodiment of the present invention. The meter unit M is an instrument panel in front of a driver's seat of an automobile as a vehicle (both are shown in the drawings). )). This meter unit M is a meter body 1
And a controller 21 having a built-in microcomputer for various display controls in the meter body 1.

A speedometer 2 for displaying the vehicle speed by a pointer 2a is provided at the left and right central portions of the meter main body 1, and a tachometer 3 (engine tachometer) for displaying the rotation speed of an engine (not shown) by a pointer 3a is provided on the right side. ) Are arranged. Further, on the left side of the meter body 1, an upper water temperature gauge 4 for displaying the engine water temperature with a pointer 4a and a lower fuel gauge 5 for displaying the amount of fuel in a fuel tank (not shown) with a pointer 5a. It is arranged so as to be surrounded by a circular frame portion 6.

In the lower part of the speedometer 2, a distance meter 8 serving as an odometer or a trip meter by displaying six digits in a segment is arranged. The transmission range display section 12 displays the transmission range of an automatic transmission (not shown) mounted on the vehicle.
Is arranged.

On the lower side between the speedometer 2 and the tachometer 3, the amount of light emitted from an illumination bulb (not shown) on the back of the meter main body 1 is changed to adjust the light for illumination in the meter main body 1. A dimming switch 13 is provided below the speed meter 2 and the frame 6 of the water temperature gauge 4 and the fuel gauge 5 for selectively switching the display function of the distance meter 8 to an odometer or a trip meter. The changeover switches 14 are respectively arranged.

It should be noted that the meter main body 1 has, in addition to the above-mentioned display section,
Direction indicator displays 16L, 16R, operation displays 17a to 17f for displaying the operation states of various devices by lighting, warning display units 18a to 18 for displaying a warning state of the devices.
1 is arranged.

On the other hand, the controller 21 is connected to the vehicle battery 19. Further, the controller 21 includes the dimming switch 13, the changeover switch 14, and the ignition switch 2 which is turned ON in the operation state of the engine.
2. A vehicle speed sensor 23 for detecting the running speed of the vehicle, an engine rotation sensor 24 for detecting the engine speed, a water temperature sensor 25 for detecting the engine water temperature, a fuel sensor 26 for detecting the amount of fuel in the fuel tank, a driver seat of the vehicle. When the doors (not shown) on the passenger side and the passenger side are opened,
Each signal of the door switches 27 and 28 operating N, and each signal of other various sensors and switches (not shown) are input.

As the operation mode, the controller 21 operates the meters 2 to 5, 8 and the display units 16L and 16R for the direction indicators based on signals input from the sensors and switches, and operates the operation display units. 17a-1
7f and a normal display control mode for lighting and displaying each of the warning display sections 18a to 18l, and a failure diagnosis mode for self-diagnosing an electrical failure of the input / output system and a mechanical failure of the meters. In the failure diagnosis mode, as shown in FIG. 2, of the six-digit segments in the distance meter 8, the left (upper) two-digit segment is used as a code display unit 9 to be diagnosed on the code display unit 9. The code for each part is represented by a numeral, and the right (lower) three-digit segment is displayed as a diagnostic display unit 10 on which a diagnosis result is displayed in a predetermined display state.

The switching between the display of the component code on the code display section 9 and the display of the diagnosis result on the diagnosis display section 10 is performed by operating the switch 14 of the odometer or the trip meter.

Specifically, for example, “0” is displayed on the code display section 9.
When "0" is displayed, a failure diagnosis of the input system of a switch (not shown) that is turned ON when the shift range of the automatic transmission is in the R range (reverse range) is performed, and the shift lever is switched to the R range. Is displayed on the diagnostic display section 10 when
Is displayed, it indicates that the input system of the switch is normal, and if "oFF" is displayed, it indicates that the signal from the switch is not input and the input system is in a failure state. It has become.

In addition, when "16" is displayed on the code display section 9, the output system to the warning display section 18h warns by lighting that the remaining fuel amount in the fuel tank has become less than the set amount. And the diagnostic display unit 18h of the distance display 8 and the warning display unit 18h every two seconds.
Is flashed three times, and when the warning display section 18h is flashed, a signal is sent to the warning display section 18h to indicate that the output system is normal. Are not output, and it is determined that the output system is in a failure state.

If "12" is displayed on the code display section 9, two seconds after the setting of the part code, the pointer 2a is moved to the full scale at 60 km / h after the pointer 2a moves to the full scale. Is output, and when this operation is performed normally, "00" is displayed on the diagnostic display unit 10 as a normal state in which there is no movement obstacle such as interference of the pointer 2a of the speedometer 2, and an abnormal operation is performed. Sometimes, the diagnostic display unit 10 displays “9
9 "is displayed.

In the controller 21, as a condition for switching from the display control mode to the failure diagnosis mode, as shown in FIG. 1, the battery power supply + B to the controller 21 is changed from the OFF state to the ON state. The ignition switch 22 is turned on from the off state until a predetermined time t1 (for example, t1 = 30 seconds) elapses from the time of the switch to the on state, and then the door switch 27 on the driver's seat side is turned on. 3 times ON / O
When the FF switching operation is performed and the switch 14 for switching the odometer and the trip meter in the meter unit M is switched ON / OFF three times, it is set to shift to the failure diagnosis mode.

On the other hand, as a condition for canceling the failure diagnosis mode and returning to the display control mode, as shown in FIG. 1, the ignition switch 22 is turned on for the second time.
The failure diagnosis mode is canceled when it is operated, when a certain time t2 (for example, t2 = 45 minutes) has elapsed from the start of the failure diagnosis mode, or when a vehicle speed signal is input from the vehicle speed sensor 23. Has become.

When the operation mode of the controller 21 is in the display control mode and the brightness of the illumination light in the meter body 1 is adjusted by turning on the dimming switch 13, as shown in FIG. When the light switch 13 is pressed for less than one second (ON operation), the amount of light emitted from the illumination bulb, which is divided into eight levels from the maximum to the minimum brightness, is reduced by one level to reduce the light. In the push operation of 1 second or more, the light emission amount of the light bulb is once increased to the maximum brightness, then decreased by one step every 0.5 seconds, and after reaching the minimum brightness, , And thereafter, the above change is repeated while the light control switch 13 is kept pressed. And
The characteristic in which the dimming amount changes in eight steps from the maximum brightness to the minimum brightness is, for example, a curve of a Log function. The light amount is set to be small. It should be noted that a setting may be made such that after the light is once dimmed to the minimum brightness, the brightness is gradually changed in the direction opposite to that of this embodiment. In addition, both the light increasing direction and the light decreasing direction may be changed stepwise.

The controller 21 sets in advance the maintenance timing determined by the manufacturer, such as the timing of replacing the timing belt of the engine and the timing of replacing the oil of the engine and the automatic transmission, in accordance with the time and the traveling distance. The stored nonvolatile memory (not shown) is built in. A switch 29 for setting the maintenance time on the user side is connected to the controller 21. By operating the switch 29, the user can operate the maintenance time (for example, at the time of replacing the timing belt, a warning display for that purpose). When setting the interval until the lighting of the unit 181), the interval until the warning display unit is turned on is set while displaying the elapsed time, the running distance, and the like on the distance meter 8, and the data is input to the internal memory. It has become. Then, the stored data of each memory is compared with the corresponding time, and when both match,
The corresponding warning display section is turned on to call attention to that effect.

Further, in the controller 21, the type and presence / absence of the operation display sections 17a to 17f and the warning display sections 18a to 18l, the presence / absence of a predetermined function, the finger strength standard of the meter main body 1 and the like are set in accordance with the type of the automobile. Is stored in a non-volatile memory, and after assembling the meter unit M to the vehicle, the controller 21 is connected to a controller on the vehicle side, and the meter unit M is connected to the vehicle type by the recognition data from the vehicle side. Is automatically switched to the one according to.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the controller 21 of the meter unit M normally operates in the display control mode, and each of the meters 2 to 5, 8 and While the direction indicator displays 16L and 16R operate, the respective displays 17a to 17f and 18a to 18l are lit and displayed.

In the display control mode of the controller 21, when the user adjusts the brightness of the illumination light on the meter main body 1, the light can be adjusted by pressing (turning on) the light control switch 13. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, in order to slightly diminish the brightness of the illumination, the dimming switch 13 may be pressed (ON operation) for less than 1 second, and the light emission amount of the illumination bulb is only one step. It is lowered and dim. When the brightness is largely changed, the light control switch 13 is pressed for one second or longer. Thus, the amount of light emitted by the light bulb once increases to the maximum brightness, then decreases by one step every 0.5 seconds, and after reaching the minimum brightness, increases again to the maximum brightness. Thereafter, while the light control switch 13 is kept pressed, the above change is repeated.
Then, at this dimming stage, the pressing operation of the dimming switch 13 may be stopped in a state of required brightness. Like this one
Since the brightness of the illumination is changed using the two light control switches 13, the space of the meter main body 1 of the meter unit M can be effectively used.

At this time, if the light control switch 13 is pressed for more than one second, the brightness temporarily increases to the maximum brightness, so that one light control switch 13 changes the light control. Also, the current dimming state can be easily confirmed.

The characteristic in which the dimming amount changes stepwise from the maximum brightness to the minimum brightness is a Log function curve in which the dimming amount decreases as the darkness decreases. The change in dimming when bright is slow, while the change in dimming when dark is sharp. For a human characteristic, it is possible to make the user feel that the light is dimmed by the same amount one step at a time. Can be improved.

Further, in the display control mode of the controller 21, the mileage of the automobile, the usage period, and the like are compared with the maintenance time data on the manufacturer side stored in the non-volatile memory. A warning display section (for example, 18l for timing belt replacement time) is turned on. This allows the user to easily know the maintenance time. When the maintenance time is set on the user side, the switch 29 is operated to display the elapsed time and the traveling distance on the distance meter 8 and check the maintenance time (interval until the warning display unit is turned on). Just set it. This setting data is stored in a memory inside the controller 21 and compared with the data of the non-volatile memory, such as the mileage of the vehicle and the period of use, and when the two match, the corresponding warning display section is turned on. This allows the user to easily know the maintenance time.

The controller 21 stores the display units 17a to 17g, 1 in its nonvolatile memory in accordance with the type of automobile.
Since the data for setting the type and presence / absence of the 8a to 18l, the presence / absence of the predetermined function, the finger strength standard of the meter main body 1 and the like are stored, when the meter unit M is mounted on the vehicle, the controller 21 When the recognition data from the vehicle is input by connecting to the controller, the meter unit M is automatically switched to one according to the type of the vehicle.
Thus, the same type of meter unit M can be used in correspondence with many types of vehicles, and the number of types of meter unit M can be reduced.

On the other hand, when switching to the failure diagnosis mode for the purpose of failure diagnosis of the meter unit M and the input / output system of the signal, the serviceman performing the operation is, for example, as shown in FIG. The battery power + B to the controller 21 is turned on from the OFF state by disconnecting the connection harness once and then connecting it.
Switch to state. Then, after switching to the ON state, the ignition switch 22 is operated to switch from the OFF state to the ON state by operating the ignition switch 22 until a predetermined time t1 (t1 = 30 seconds) elapses from that point in time. The side door switch 27 is manually turned ON / OFF three times, and the odometer and trip meter switching switch 14 in the meter unit M is turned ON / OFF three times. Then, the mode shifts to the failure diagnosis mode.

Conditions for switching to the failure diagnosis mode, for example, disconnection of battery power supply + B,
At a predetermined time t1 (= 30 seconds) from the reconnection, both the door switch 27 and the changeover switch 14 are continuously turned on three times.
The operation such as the switching of / OFF is a special condition that is not normally performed by the user, and is achieved only when the serviceman intentionally performs the operation. Therefore, as long as the user performs a normal operation, it is possible to effectively prevent the meter unit M from erroneously entering the diagnostic mode and not displaying the information.

In addition, the ignition switch 22 and the changeover switch 1 necessary for switching to the failure diagnosis mode are provided.
4. Since the door switch 27 is an existing one connected to the controller 21 of the meter unit M, the switch to the failure diagnosis mode can be performed without requiring a separate dedicated switching means.

Further, since the switching to the failure diagnosis mode is performed in a state where the meter unit M, the sensor, the switch and the like are actually mounted on the vehicle, the diagnosis accuracy can be improved.

Since the door switch 27 is on the driver's seat side, the changeover switch 14 is set to the meter unit M.
When the failure diagnosis mode is switched, the serviceman can operate the door switch 27 on the driver's seat side while sitting in the driver's seat of the automobile, and the operation is switched. It will be easier.

In this failure diagnosis mode, the code display section 9 consisting of the left (upper) two-digit segment of the six-digit segment of the distance meter 8 of the meter main body 1 of the meter unit M displays each part to be diagnosed. Is the code
The diagnosis results are displayed on the diagnosis display section 10 composed of right (lower) three-digit segments. For this reason, the serviceman switches the odometer and the trip meter in sequence by operating the changeover switch 14, and
It is only necessary to set the component code on the code display unit 9 and confirm the failure state on the diagnosis display unit 10 to proceed with the failure diagnosis, and to easily diagnose the failure state of the meter unit M and its input / output system. Can be. Then, if the failure state is confirmed by the display of the diagnostic display unit 10 in each part code, the parts or the like corresponding to the failed part may be replaced later.

When the serviceman cancels the failure diagnosis mode of the controller 21 and returns to the original display control mode after diagnosing such a failure state, as shown in FIG. 1, the ignition switch 22 is turned ON again. Good (second ON operation).

However, if the service engineer forgets to cancel the failure diagnosis mode by re-operating the ignition switch 22, the user enters a state of using the failure diagnosis mode. In this embodiment, in addition to the above conditions, a fixed time t2 (=
45 minutes), or when a vehicle speed signal indicating the running state of the vehicle is input from the vehicle speed sensor 23,
The failure diagnosis mode is canceled. In this way, the failure diagnosis mode is canceled by the serviceman's intention to turn on the ignition switch 22 again, and the failure diagnosis is automatically performed when a certain time t2 has elapsed from the start of the failure diagnosis mode or when the vehicle speed signal is input. Since the mode is canceled, even if the serviceman forgets to cancel the failure diagnosis mode by re-operating the ignition switch 22, there is no situation in which the user uses the failure diagnosis mode.

In the above embodiment, the meter unit M
The switch is switched to the failure diagnosis mode by using signals from an ignition switch 22 connected to the controller 21, a switch 14 built in the meter unit M, and a door switch 27 on the driver's seat side. Other signal generating components can also be used.

[0054]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, when the vehicle electrical components are switched from the normal mode to the diagnostic failure mode to diagnose the failure, the battery power to the electrical components is changed from the OFF state to the ON state. The condition for switching to the failure diagnosis mode is changed by shifting the electrical components to the failure diagnosis mode when the signal generating component is operated in a predetermined manner during a period from when the predetermined time elapses until the predetermined time elapses. A special operation which is not normally performed by a vehicle user, in which the switching from the OFF state to the ON state of the battery power and the predetermined operation of the signal generating parts during a predetermined time from the time of the switching are simultaneously performed. Condition, so
The failure diagnosis is performed in a state where the electrical components are installed in the actual vehicle, so that the accuracy of the failure diagnosis can be improved. Further, it is possible to effectively prevent the shift to the diagnostic mode by the normal operation of the user while using the existing signal generating components.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the ignition switch is turned ON from the OFF state during a period from the time when the battery power supply is switched to the ON state until a predetermined time elapses, the electric component fails. By shifting to the diagnosis mode, it is possible to effectively prevent the user from erroneously entering the diagnosis mode due to the normal operation of the user, and to switch to the failure diagnosis mode using the existing ignition switch. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the ignition switch is switched from the OFF state to the ON state during a period from when the battery power to the electrical component is switched to the ON state until a predetermined time elapses. When the ON operation is performed and the other signal generating parts are subsequently operated in a predetermined manner,
By shifting the electrical components to the failure diagnosis mode, it is possible to more effectively prevent the switching to the diagnosis mode by the normal operation of the user.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first, second or third aspect of the present invention is provided.
In the invention, the predetermined operation of the signal generating component is a plurality of ON / OFF switching operations of the signal generating component. Also,
In the invention of claim 5, the predetermined operation of the signal generating component is an operation of a plurality of signal generating components. According to these inventions, the predetermined operation of the signal generating component can be an operation far from the normal operation of the user, and the shift to the diagnostic mode can be reliably prevented.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the electrical component is a meter unit of the vehicle, the meter unit can be switched to the fault diagnosis mode to perform the fault diagnosis, and the meter unit can be operated by the user in a normal manner. The operation can be effectively prevented from shifting to the failure diagnosis mode.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the signal generating component is a door switch of the vehicle, so that the shift to the diagnostic mode due to the normal operation of the user can be effectively prevented, and the failure can be prevented. Switching to the diagnostic mode can be performed using an existing door switch.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the door switch is a door switch on the driver's seat side, so that when the failure diagnosis mode is switched, the serviceman operates the door switch while sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle. The operation can be facilitated.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the signal generating component is a changeover switch for switching between the odometer and the trip meter of the meter unit, so that the shift to the diagnostic mode by the user's operation is effectively performed. The switching to the failure diagnosis mode can be performed using the existing changeover switch.

According to the tenth aspect, claims 1 to 9 are provided.
In any one of the inventions, when a vehicle speed signal indicating a running state of the vehicle is input, the failure diagnosis mode for the electrical components is canceled, so that the serviceman automatically cancels the failure diagnosis mode. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the use of the user in the failure diagnosis mode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a time chart showing a state in which a meter unit shifts to a failure diagnosis mode and a state in which the failure diagnosis mode is canceled thereafter in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a distance meter for displaying an odometer or a trip meter in a meter section.

FIG. 3 is an overall view showing a meter unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a time chart illustrating a dimming state of the meter in response to an operation of a dimming switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 M Meter unit (vehicle electrical components) 1 Meter body 8 Distance meter 9 Code display section 10 Diagnostic display section 13 Dimming switch 14 Changeover switch 19 Battery 21 Controller 22 Ignition switch 23 Vehicle speed sensor 27, 28 Door switch t1 Predetermined time

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Kuniyasu Kono, Inventor 3-1, Fuchi-cho, Funaka-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Mazda Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takahiro Tanigawa 3-1-1, Fuchi-cho, Fuchu-cho, Aki, Hiroshima Mazda Inside

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A failure diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component configured to diagnose a failure by switching from a normal mode to a failure diagnosis mode, wherein a battery power supply to the electrical component is changed from an OFF state to an ON state. When a predetermined operation is performed on a signal generating component that is built in or connected to the electrical component and generates a signal during a predetermined time period from the time when the electrical component has changed, the electrical component shifts to the failure diagnosis mode. A fault diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component, wherein the fault diagnosis device is configured as follows. 2. The failure diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component according to claim 1, wherein the ignition switch is turned off during a predetermined time from when the battery power to the electrical component is turned on from an off state. A failure diagnosis apparatus for a vehicle electrical component, wherein the electrical component shifts to a failure diagnosis mode when an ON operation is performed from a state. 3. The failure diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component according to claim 2, wherein the ignition switch is turned off during a predetermined time from when the battery power to the electrical component is turned on from the off state. A fault diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component, wherein the electrical component shifts to a failure diagnosis mode when another signal generating component is operated in a predetermined manner after being turned on from the state. . 4. The failure diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation of the signal generating component includes the step of operating the signal generating component a plurality of times.
An apparatus for diagnosing a failure of a vehicle electrical component, wherein the failure diagnosis apparatus performs N / OFF switching. 5. The fault diagnosis apparatus for a vehicle electrical component according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation of the signal generating component is to operate a plurality of signal generating components. Product failure diagnosis device. 6. The failure diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component according to claim 1, wherein the electrical component is a meter unit of the vehicle. 7. The failure diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component according to claim 6, wherein the signal generating component is a door switch of the vehicle. 8. The failure diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component according to claim 7, wherein the door switch is a door switch on a driver's seat side. 9. The fault diagnosis apparatus for a vehicle electrical component according to claim 6, wherein the signal generating component is a changeover switch for switching between an odometer and a trip meter in the meter unit. 10. The failure diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component according to claim 1, wherein the electrical component cancels the failure diagnosis mode when a vehicle speed signal indicating a running state of the vehicle is input. A fault diagnosis device for a vehicle electrical component, wherein the fault diagnosis device is configured as follows.