Description:Complete Specification:

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention is related to a control unit for real-time diagnosis of a fault in a vehicle and a method thereof

Background of the invention
[0002] In case of errors being reported or issues in vehicle, driver will have to take the
vehicle to service centers. Technician will run basic diagnostic tests to identify the
problem through traditional guided trouble shooting method. Vehicle breakdown time
is longer since this entire process is highly time consuming.

[0003] A US11468715 discloses a cloud-based vehicle fault diagnosis method includes receiving monitoring data uploaded by a vehicle; extracting eigenvectors of the monitoring data from the monitoring data; storing the eigenvectors of the monitoring data based on classification using, as a label, a part or a functional system of the vehicle from which the monitoring data comes; and performing, based on a support vector machine algorithm, fault diagnosis in parallel on the eigenvectors stored based on the classification.
Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a control unit for real-time diagonsis of a fault in a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and
[0005] Figure 2 illustrates a method of real-time diagnosing the fault in the vehicle in accordance with this invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0006] Figure 1 illustrates a control unit for real-time diagnosis of a fault in a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The control unit 10 detects an occurrence of the fault when the vehicle 11 comes into a non-operating state. The control unit 10 receives information related to the fault, to a receiver module 12 of the control unit 10, upon communicating with a cloud-based repository 14. The control unit 10 performs at least one action proposed in the received information by the control unit 10. The control unit 10 identifies the fault in a component of the vehicle 11 based on the performed at least one action and updates the cloud-based repository 14 when the identified fault is rectified.

[0007] Further the working of the control unit 10 in real-time diagnosing the fault in the vehicle 11 is explained. The fault is detected in any of the component 16 of the vehicle 11, wherein the fault is chosen from a group of faults comprising a short circuit fault, a ground to battery fault or any kind of fault that is known to a person skilled in the art. The component 16 can be any of the following comprising a vehicle control unit, an engine control unit, a battery and the like. However, it is to be noted that, the list of components is not limited to the above mentioned one’s, but can be of any other component that can be known in the state of the art. For instance, upon detecting a fault in the engine control unit (ECU) 16, the engine ECU 16 transmits a signal to the control unit 10 for identification of the fault and the further processing actions.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit 10 is integrated in a dashboard of the vehicle. According to another embodiment of the invention, the control unit 10 is integrated in any one of the following components of a user of the vehicle 11, comprising a smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a personal digital assistant device, a smart watch.

[0009] Figure 2 illustrates a method of real-time diagnosing the fault in the vehicle in accordance with this invention. In step S1, an occurrence of the fault is detected when the vehicle 11 comes into a non-operating state. In step S2, information related to the fault is received to a control unit 10, upon communicating with a cloud-based repository 14. In step S3, at least one action is performed that is proposed in the received information by the control unit 10. In step S4, the fault in a component of the vehicle 11 is identified based on the performed at least one action. In step S5, the cloud-based repository 14 is updated when the identified fault is rectified.

[0010] The method is explained in detail. During an operational state of the vehicle and when the control unit 10 detects an occurrence of a fault in at least one component 16 of the vehicle 11, the fault information is transmitted to the cloud storage repository 14. The fault information includes the type of the fault, the component 16 in which the fault has occurred, the severity of the fault and the like. Based on the received data, an information which includes a set of instructions/actions to be performed to rectify the fault will be transmitted back to the control unit 10 from the cloud storage repository 14.

[0011] The set of instructions/actions involves the steps to be performed in a sequential manner by the user of the vehicle for rectification of the fault. At least one action comprises multiple operating conditions to be run by the control unit 10, that are related to the rectification of the fault. As mentioned above, the control unit 10 can be integrated in the vehicle 11 or is integrated in any of the communication devices that is carried by the user of the vehicle 11.

[0012] Upon receiving the information from the cloud storage repository 14, the user of the vehicle 11 performs the set of instructions /actions in the prescribed manner for rectification of the fault. If the user does not rectify the fault even after performing the received set of instructions/actions, then the control unit 10 transmits a message or alert via a transmitter module 20 to a nearby service centre for a technical help or to tow the vehicle for the fault rectification. The control unit 10 activates a limp home mode upon detecting the occurrence of the fault in the component of the vehicle 11. However, the control unit 10 activates the limp home mode upon identification of the fault, so that the user of the vehicle 11 can take the vehicle 11 into a safe place.

[0013] Embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A control unit (10) for real-time diagnosis of a fault in a vehicle (11), said control unit (10) adapted to:
- detect an occurrence of said fault when said vehicle (11) comes into a non-operating state;
- receive information related to said fault, to a receiver module (12) of said control unit (10), upon communicating with a cloud-based repository (14);
- perform at least one action proposed in said received information by said control unit (10);
- identify said fault in a component (16) of said vehicle (11) based on said performed at least one action;
- update said cloud-based repository (14) when said identified fault is rectified.
2. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (10) is integrated in said vehicle (11).

3. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (10) is integrated in any one of the following components of a user of said vehicle (11), comprising a smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a personal digital assistant device, a smart watch.

4. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one action comprises multiple operating conditions to be run by said control unit (10), that are related to said rectification of said fault.

5. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (10) transmits a message via a transmitter module (20) of said control unit (10) to a nearby service center (18) when said fault is not rectified.

6. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (10) activates a limp home mode upon detecting said occurrence of said fault in said component of said vehicle (11).
7. A method of real-time diagnosing of a fault in a vehicle (11), said method comprising:
- detecting an occurrence of said fault when said vehicle (11) comes into a non-operating state;
- receiving information related to said fault (11) to a control unit (10), upon communicating with a cloud-based repository (14);
- performing at least one action proposed in said received information by said control unit (10);
- identifying said fault in a component of said vehicle (11) based on said performed at least one action;
- updating said cloud-based repository (14) when said identified fault is rectified.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein transmitting a message to a nearby service center (18) via said transmitter module (20) of said control unit (10) when said fault is not rectified.