Abstract:
Provided are a vehicle information acquisition device and a vehicle information acquisition method which are capable of accelerating the update time of vehicle information that needs to be updated in a short time and enhancing convenience. A vehicle information acquisition device ( 200 ) transmits respective pieces of request data each requesting any one of multiple kinds of vehicle information in a predetermined order via a vehicle diagnosis connector ( 302 ) provided in a vehicle ( 300 ) and receives, from the vehicle ( 300 ) side, respective pieces of response data indicating the respective pieces of vehicle information to thereby periodically acquire the respective pieces of vehicle information. The vehicle information acquisition device is characterized by transmitting, among the respective pieces of request data, request data that requests vehicle information having a higher update priority at a higher frequency than request data that requests vehicle information having a lower update priority.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a vehicle information acquisition device and vehicle information acquisition method for periodically acquiring vehicle information, such as vehicle speed, engine speed, accelerator opening, intake pressure, water temperature and outside air temperature, through a vehicle diagnosis connector provided in a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    A conventional example of a vehicle information display device for acquiring vehicle information from a vehicle-side ECU (electronic control unit) through a vehicle diagnosis connector, such as OBD2 (on-board diagnostics 2), provided in a vehicle and displaying the acquired information is disclosed in PTL 1. 
       CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
       [0003]    PTL 1: JP-A-2008-49731 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0004]    However, conventional methods for acquiring vehicle information through a vehicle diagnosis connector has a problem of taking time to update vehicle information data in attempting to acquire a plurality of types of vehicle information. Specifically, in order to acquire vehicle information from a vehicle-side ECU through the vehicle diagnosis connector, it is necessary to perform processing of sending a data frame (hereinafter also referred to as a request data) requesting one type of vehicle information from a vehicle information acquisition side to the vehicle-side ECU by, for example, CAN (controller area network) communication and receiving a data frame (hereinafter also referred to as a response data) giving the requested type of vehicle information from the vehicle-side ECU. Due to this, it is impossible to update a plurality of types of vehicle information at the same time. In order to acquire a plurality of types of vehicle information, it is necessary to send a plurality of request data requesting respective types of vehicle information in order and receive the respective response data. Thus, in attempting to display a plurality of types of vehicle information at the same time, since updating vehicle information data takes time, engine speed, intake pressure, throttle opening and the like, the numeric value of which changes rapidly and requires fast updating, cannot be smoothly displayed. 
         [0005]    In view of the above problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle information acquisition device and vehicle information acquisition method for acquiring a plurality of types of vehicle information through a vehicle diagnosis connector, capable of reducing update time of vehicle information that needs to be updated in a short time to enhance convenience. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0006]    In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention provides 
         [0007]    a vehicle information acquisition device for sending a plurality of request data in a predetermined order each requesting any one of a plurality of vehicle information through a vehicle diagnosis connector provided in a vehicle and receiving a plurality of response data giving the respective types of vehicle information from the vehicle-side, thereby periodically acquiring the respective types of vehicle information, 
         [0008]    wherein, among the plurality of request data, the request data that requests vehicle information having a higher update priority is sent more frequently than the request data that requests vehicle information having a lower update priority. 
         [0009]    In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention provides 
         [0010]    a vehicle information acquisition method for sending a plurality of request data in a predetermined order each requesting any one of a plurality of vehicle information through a vehicle diagnosis connector provided in a vehicle and receiving a plurality of response data giving the respective types of vehicle information from the vehicle-side, thereby periodically acquiring the respective types of vehicle information, 
         [0011]    wherein, among the plurality of request data, the request data that requests vehicle information having a higher update priority is sent more frequently than the request data that requests vehicle information having a lower update priority. 
       Advantageous Effect of Invention 
       [0012]    According to the invention, a vehicle information acquisition device that acquires a plurality of types of vehicle information through a vehicle diagnosis connector can reduce the update time of vehicle information that needs to be updated in a short time, thereby enhancing convenience. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    [ FIG. 1 ] A block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle information display system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]    [ FIG. 2 ] A diagram showing a display example on a display unit of a mobile phone in accordance with the embodiment. 
           [0015]    [ FIG. 3 ] A flowchart showing a vehicle information acquisition method in accordance with the embodiment. 
           [0016]    [ FIG. 4 ] A diagram showing a data table to be referred to in the vehicle information acquisition method in accordance with the embodiment. 
           [0017]    [ FIG. 5 ] A diagram showing a relation between the elapsed time and the requested vehicle information in the vehicle information acquisition method in accordance with the embodiment and a relation between the elapsed time and the requested vehicle information in a conventional vehicle information acquisition method. 
           [0018]    [ FIG. 6 ] A diagram showing a display example on the display unit of the mobile phone in accordance with the embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    A first embodiment in accordance with the invention is described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the following embodiment (including the drawings). Also, it should be appreciated that modification (including removing a component) may be made to the following embodiment. Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the following description, the description of known technical matters is appropriately omitted in order to facilitate understanding of the invention. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a configuration of a vehicle information display system in accordance with the embodiment. The vehicle information display system includes a mobile phone (an example of external equipment)  100  and a vehicle information acquisition device  200 . The mobile phone  100  and the vehicle information acquisition device  200  are wirelessly connected to enable communication with each other. The mobile phone  100  and the vehicle information acquisition device  200  may also be connected by wire. The vehicle information acquisition device  200  acquires vehicle information from a vehicle-side ECU  301  through a vehicle diagnosis connector  302  provided in a vehicle  300 . Acquired vehicle information includes, but not limited to, vehicle speed, engine speed, throttle opening, water temperature, intake pressure, outside air temperature and voltage. The vehicle-side ECU  301  includes a power train-related ECU for engine control and the like and a body-related ECU for air conditioner control and the like. In the embodiment, the vehicle diagnosis connector  302  includes an OBD2 female connector and performs CAN communication between the vehicle-side ECU  301  and the vehicle information acquisition device  200 . The communication between the vehicle-side ECU  301  and the vehicle information acquisition device  200  may also be performed through K-LINE. 
         [0021]    The mobile phone  100  includes a control unit  101  including a microcomputer, a wireless communication interface  102 , a memory  103 , a display unit  104 , a communication unit  105  and an antenna unit  106 . The wireless communication interface  102  uses a short distance wireless communication method, such as Bluetooth (TM) and wireless LAN. The display unit  104  is a display including a touch panel, performs image displaying and also works as an operation unit for application execution and the like. The mobile phone  100  in the embodiment is an intelligent mobile phone called smartphone, and stores a plurality of types of applications in the control unit  101 . So, the mobile phone  100  has various functions, including conversation, email, navigation, music data reproduction, picture data reproduction, moving picture data reproduction, map displaying and web-browsing, that are started when the applications are executed by the control unit  101 . Furthermore, in the embodiment, the mobile phone  100  includes an application for performing vehicle information display function for displaying vehicle information described later. The display unit  104  of the mobile phone  100  displays an image relating to the application being executed. 
         [0022]    The vehicle information acquisition device  200  includes a control unit  201  including a microcomputer, a connector  202 , a CAN communication interface  203 , a wireless communication interface  204  and a memory  205 . The connector  202  is a connector that can be connected to the vehicle diagnosis connector  302  provided in the vehicle  300 . In the embodiment, the connector  202  includes an OBD2 male connector having wirings including a +12V continuous power supply line, a CAN _H signal line, a CAN_L signal line and a ground line. The CAN communication interface  203  is an interface for performing CAN communication with the vehicle-side ECU  301  through the vehicle diagnosis connector  302 . The wireless communication interface  204  is an interface for wirelessly connecting with the mobile phone  100  and uses a standard similar to the one used by the wireless communication interface  102 . The memory  205  stores vehicle information acquired from the vehicle-side ECU  301 , a data table described later and the like. 
         [0023]    In the vehicle information display system, when the mobile phone  100  and the vehicle information acquisition device  200  are connected to each other, their respective control units  101  and  201  recognize the connection through their respective wireless communication interfaces  102  and  204 . When the control unit  101  of the mobile phone  100  recognizes the connection with the vehicle information acquisition device  200 , the control unit  101  becomes able to receive vehicle information from the vehicle information acquisition device  200 . At this time, the application for performing the vehicle information display function may be automatically or manually started. The control unit  201  of the vehicle information acquisition device  200  sends vehicle information acquired using a method described later to the mobile phone  100  through the wireless communication interface  204 .  FIG. 2  shows a display example on the display unit  104  of the vehicle information display function. In  FIG. 2 , for vehicle information, engine speed and intake pressure are displayed in respective analog meter images each including a needle and index part, while vehicle speed, water temperature, outside air temperature and voltage are digitally displayed. For another information, time is digitally displayed. 
         [0024]    Next, a vehicle information acquisition method using the vehicle information acquisition device  200  is described with reference to  FIG. 3 . The following description takes an example of acquiring four types of vehicle information including engine speed, vehicle speed, water temperature and outside air temperature. 
         [0025]    When powered on, the control unit  201  of the vehicle information acquisition device  200  initializes the request number N to 1 (step S 1 ). 
         [0026]    Then, the control unit  201  generates a data frame (request data) for requesting one type of vehicle information from the vehicle-side ECU  301  (step S 2 ). The vehicle information requested by the request data is specified with reference to a data table stored in the memory  205 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the data table includes a data table containing the request number N and the update priority of vehicle information ( FIG. 4(   a )) and a data table containing the type of vehicle information and the update priority ( FIG. 4(   b )). Thus, the generated request data requests vehicle information according to the request number N and the update priority. For example, according to  FIG. 4 , the first request data (N=1) requests engine speed from the vehicle-side ECU  301 . Furthermore, the data table shown in  FIG. 4(   a ) is configured such that vehicle information having a higher update priority is more frequently requested than vehicle information having a lower update priority (“HIGH” update priority means a frequency higher than “MID,” “LOW- 1 ” and “LOW- 2 .” “MID” update priority means a frequency higher than “LOW- 1 ” and “LOW- 2 .” “LOW- 1 ” update priority means the same frequency as “LOW- 2 ”). Specifically, in the data table, “MID,” “LOW- 1 ” and “LOW- 2 ” update priorities are inserted between successive “HIGH” update priorities in a nested manner. 
         [0027]    Next, the control unit  201  sends the request data generated in the step S 2  from the CAN communication interface  203  to the vehicle-side ECU  301  through the vehicle diagnosis connector  302  (step S 3 ). The request data is sent to a bus line (not shown) in the vehicle and received by the vehicle-side ECU  301 . On receiving the request data, the vehicle-side ECU  301  sends a data frame (response data) giving the type of vehicle information requested by the request data to the bus line. The response data sent to the bus line is received by the control unit  201  through the vehicle diagnosis connector  302  and the CAN communication interface  203 , then the control unit  201  acquires the type of vehicle information. 
         [0028]    Next, the control unit  201  determines whether or not the control unit  201  has received the response data (step S 4 ). If the control unit  201  has not received the response data (step S 4 : NO), then the control unit  201  further determines whether or not a predetermined request time T (e.g., 50 msec) has elapsed since the sending of the request data (step S 5 ). If the request time T has elapsed (step S 5 : YES), the control unit  201  increments the request number N (N=N+1, step S 6 ). If the request time T has not elapsed (step S 5 : NO), the control unit  201  returns to the step S 4  and determines again whether or not the control unit  201  has received the response data. 
         [0029]    If the control unit  201  has received the response data in the step S 4  (step S 4 : YES), the control unit  201  increments the request number N (N=N+1, step S 6 ). 
         [0030]    Next, the control unit  201  determines whether or not the request number N has exceeded the maximum value Nmax (Nmax=8 in  FIG. 4 ) (step S 7 ). If the request number N is equal to or less than the maximum value Nmax (N Nmax, step S 7 : NO), the control unit  201  returns to the step S 2 . If the request number N has exceeded the maximum value Nmax (N&gt;Nmax, step S 7 : YES), the control unit  201  returns to the step S 1  to initialize the request number N to 1, then performs processing in the step S 2  and later. 
         [0031]    The control unit  201  repeats the above-described processing until the power is turned off to periodically acquire the four types of vehicle information including engine speed, vehicle speed, water temperature and outside air temperature. According to the above vehicle information acquisition method, referring to a duration in which the acquisition of the four types of vehicle information completes as one period, the request data that requests vehicle information having a higher update priority is more frequently sent than the request data that requests vehicle information having a lower update priority within one period. Specifically, the sending of the request data that request vehicle information having “MID,” “LOW- 1 ” and “LOW- 2 ” update priorities is inserted in a predetermined order in a nested manner between the successive sending of the request data that request vehicle information having “HIGH” update priority. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows a relation between the elapsed time and the vehicle information which the request data is sent for (requests) according to a conventional vehicle information acquisition method ( FIG. 5(   a )) and a relation between the elapsed time and the vehicle information which the request data is sent for according to the vehicle information acquisition method according to the embodiment ( FIG. 5(   b )). Note that, in the case shown in  FIG. 5 , the request data is sent each time the request time T (T=50 msec) elapses. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 5(   a ), according to the conventional vehicle information acquisition method, since the request data for the four types of vehicle information are sent in order, the update time of each type of vehicle information (the interval in which the request data is sent) is 200 msec each. On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 5(   b ), according to the vehicle information acquisition method according to the embodiment, any of three update priorities (HIGH, MID, LOW) is assigned to the four types of vehicle information, specifically, “HIGH” is assigned to engine speed, “MID” is assigned to vehicle speed, and “LOW” is assigned to water temperature and outside air temperature, and the frequency at which the request data is sent in the duration in which the acquisition of the four types of vehicle information completes depends on the type of vehicle information. Due to this, the update time of the four types of vehicle information is not constant. Specifically, the update time of engine speed having “HIGH” update priority is 100 msec, the update time of vehicle speed having “MID” update priority is 200 msec, and the update time of water temperature and outside air temperature having “LOW” update priority is 400 msec. Thus, the update time of engine speed, the numeric value of which changes rapidly, can be reduce to half in comparison with using the conventional vehicle information acquisition method. On the other hand, the update time of water temperature and outside air temperature having “LOW” update priority is increased twice in comparison with using the conventional vehicle information acquisition method. However, since these vehicle information do not change so rapidly as engine speed and vehicle speed, there is no problem with the increased update time. That is, noting the fact that some types of vehicle information need to be updated in a short time and other types of vehicle information do not need to be updated in a short time depending on the characteristics of vehicle information, the invention provides different update priorities depending on the characteristics and sends the response data at different frequencies to optimize data updating. 
         [0034]    In the vehicle information acquisition method using the vehicle diagnosis connector  302 , a certain amount of time is taken from the sending of the request data to the receiving of the response data, the amount of time varying depending on car model. The problem is that, when the next request data is sent only after the response data is received, actual update time of vehicle information may be longer than a predetermined update time. In view of this problem, in the embodiment, if the response data is received (step S 4 : YES) or if the predetermined request time T has elapsed since the sending of the request data (step S 5 : YES), the process returns to the step S 2  to send the next request data (step S 3 ). This can further reduce the update time of vehicle information when the response data is received before the request time T elapses, or can maintain a desired update time even when the response data is received after the request time T elapses, which can enhance convenience. 
         [0035]    Furthermore, the vehicle information acquisition device  200  may also have an update priority setting function for switching update priorities set for individual types of vehicle information. In the embodiment, for example, the types of vehicle information and their respective update priorities are displayed on the display unit  104  of the mobile phone  100 , then the update priorities are changed by touch panel operation, then the changing data is sent to the vehicle information acquisition device  200  through the wireless communication interface  102 , and then the data table ( FIG. 4(   b )) stored in the memory  205  is rewritten, thereby achieving the update priority setting function.  FIG. 6  shows a display example on the display unit  104  of the update priority setting function. In the embodiment, the number of the update priorities is fixed such that “HIGH” is assigned to one type, “MID” is assigned to one type, and “LOW” is assigned to two types, so the changing of the update priorities is performed among four types of vehicle information. In  FIG. 6 , the update priority of vehicle speed is changed from “MID” ( FIG. 6(   a )) to “HIGH” ( FIG. 6(   b )). At this time, the update priority of engine speed is changed from “HIGH” to “MID.” According to this function, a user can freely change the update time of vehicle information according to the user&#39;s preference or vehicle management need, which can further enhance marketability or functionality. 
         [0036]    The embodiment has been described in connection with the acquisition of four types of vehicle information including engine speed, vehicle speed, water temperature and outside air temperature. However, it should be appreciated that the invention may also be applied to the acquisition of five or more types of vehicle information. Examples of vehicle information that needs to be updated in a short time other than engine speed includes throttle opening and intake pressure. In this case, there may be a plurality of types of vehicle information having “HIGH” update priority. 
         [0037]    The vehicle information acquisition device  200  sends acquired vehicle information to the mobile phone  100 . However, the vehicle information acquisition device  200  may also send vehicle information to a dedicated display device or navigation device, a tablet device or portable internet device similar to a mobile phone, a PDA (personal digital assistant) or the like as the external equipment. Also, the vehicle information acquisition device  200  may be integrated with a display means that can display vehicle information in one case to form a vehicle information display device and may send vehicle information to the display means. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0038]    The invention is suitable for a vehicle information acquisition device and vehicle information acquisition method for periodically acquiring vehicle information, such as vehicle speed, engine speed, accelerator opening, intake pressure, water temperature and outside air temperature, through a vehicle diagnosis connector provided in a vehicle. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           100  mobile phone 
           101  control unit 
           102  wireless communication interface 
           103  memory 
           104  display unit 
           105  communication unit 
           106  antenna unit 
           200  vehicle information device 
           201  control unit 
           202  connector 
           203  CAN communication interface 
           204  wireless communication interface 
           205  memory 
           300  vehicle 
           301  vehicle-side ECU 
           302  vehicle diagnosis connector 
       
     
       FIG. 1 
       [0000]    
       
           301  VEHICLE-SIDE ECU 
           302  VEHICLE DIAGNOSIS CONNECTOR 
           202  CONNECTOR 
           205  MEMORY 
           203  CAN COMMUNICATION INTERFACE 
           201  CONTROL UNIT 
           204  WIRELESS COMMUNICATION INTERFACE 
           105  COMMUNICATION UNIT 
           104  DISPLAY UNIT (TOUCH PANEL) 
           103  MEMORY 
           101  CONTROL UNIT 
           102  WIRELESS COMMUNICATION INTERFACE 
       
     
       FIG. 3 
     VEHICLE INFORMATION ACQUISITION PROCESSING 
       [0000]    
       
         S 2  GENERATE REQUEST DATA 
         S 3  SEND REQUEST DATA 
         S 4  RESPONSE DATA RECEIVED? 
         S 5  REQUEST TIME T ELAPSED? 
       
     
       FIG. 4 
       [0071]    (A) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 REQUEST NUMBER N 
                 UPDATE PRIORITY 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 HIGH 
               
               
                   
                 MID 
               
               
                   
                 HIGH 
               
               
                   
                 LOW-1 
               
               
                   
                 HIGH 
               
               
                   
                 MID 
               
               
                   
                 HIGH 
               
               
                   
                 LOW-2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0072]    (B) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 UPDATE PRIORITY 
                 VEHICLE INFORMATION 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 HIGH 
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 MID 
                 VEHICLE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 LOW-1 
                 WATER TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 LOW-2 
                 OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       FIG. 5 
       [0073]    (A) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 ELAPSED TIME (msec) 
                 REQUESTED VEHICLE INFORMATION 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 VEHICLE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 WATER TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 VEHICLE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 WATER TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 VEHICLE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 WATER TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 VEHICLE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 WATER TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0074]    (B) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 ELAPSED TIME (msec) 
                 REQUESTED VEHICLE INFORMATION 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 VEHICLE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 WATER TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 VEHICLE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 VEHICLE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 WATER TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 VEHICLE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       FIG. 6 
       [0075]    (A) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 UPDATE PRIORITY 
                 VEHICLE INFORMATION 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 HIGH 
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 MID 
                 VEHICLE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 LOW-1 
                 WATER TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 LOW-2 
                 OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0076]    (B) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 UPDATE PRIORITY 
                 VEHICLE INFORMATION 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 MID 
                 ENGINE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 HIGH 
                 VEHICLE SPEED 
               
               
                   
                 LOW-1 
                 WATER TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                   
                 LOW-2 
                 OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE