Alternator and starter tester with warranty code functionality and method

• US 10,055,711 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2012
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Simon, Michael, Miller, Garret
• Primary Examiner(s): Mincarelli, Jan P
• Application Number:
  US13/402,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20130218781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,372 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/319 Tester hardware, i.e. output processing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services

Abstract

An alternator and starter tester system capable of generating a warranty claim code. The warranty claim code can contain information regarding a diagnostic test and the tested components. The alternator and starter tester system can also encode and transmit the warranty claim code to a supplier or a manufacturer to verify warranty credit.

Claims

1. An alternator and starter motor tester, comprising:

a reader configured to read the identification information of a component, the component including the alternator or the starter, wherein the reader is a bar code reader or RFID (radio frequency identification) reader;

a memory configured to store the information and software to operate the tester;

a motor configured to simulate an engine of a vehicle;

wherein the tester is configured to test the component based on the identification information;

a processor configured to communicate with the reader, the memory, the motor, and the tester, the processor being configured to execute the software and control the tester in response to computer readable instructions in the software, wherein in response to the computer readable instructions, the processor is configured to receive the identification information of the component and access a database for storing information associated with the tested components and information associated with the diagnostic test performed by the alternator and starter tester;

the processor being further configured to generate a warranty claim code, the warranty code having the identification information of the component, a date of testing, a time of testing, an identity of the tester, a weather condition of the testing, and a test result of the component;

the processor further again configured to provide a summary report of a plurality of diagnostic tests performed over time, wherein the processor is in communication with a point-of-sale terminal and wherein the processor is configured to transmit the warranty claim code and the summary report to the point-of-sale terminal to verify the validity of a warranty credit; and

wherein the processor is further again configured to access and compare the database to the component identification information to determine if the component is connected to a proper cable connector prior to initiating testing of the component and lock out the cable connector in response to the connector failing.

2. The tester of claim 1, wherein the identification information of the component comprises at least one of part'"'"'s number, model, make and year.

3. The tester of claim 1 further comprising a printer operably coupled to the processor and prints the warranty claim code.

4. The tester of claim 1, wherein warranty claim code comprises information associated with, a location of the test and a user of the tester.

5. The tester of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the test result comprises at least one of a diagnostic test specification, values, date, time and results.

6. The tester of claim 4, wherein an interface module encodes and encrypts the warranty claim code.

7. The tester of claim 1, wherein the warranty claim code comprises a checksum code.

8. A method of testing a starter motor or an alternator, comprising the steps of:

receiving information associated with a component via an input device;

comparing the information associated with the component to a database entry for the component, the component including the alternator or the starter motor;

determining a proper cable connector for the component;

sensing if the component is connected to the proper cable connector for the component;

locking out the connector in response to determining the connector is not the proper cable connector for the component;

performing a diagnostic test on the component with a component tester;

determining if the component is under warranty in response to the component failing the diagnostic test, wherein the determination of the component being under warranty is based on the information associated with the component and a result of the diagnostic test performed on the component;

generating, via a processor, a warranty claim code based at least in part on the information associated with the component, the determination of whether the component is under warranty, a weather condition during the test, a location of the test, a user of the component tester, and a test result;

generating, via a processor, a summary report based on a plurality of diagnostic tests performed over time based at least in part on the information associated with the component, the determination of whether the component is under warranty, and a plurality of test results;

transmitting the warranty claim code and the summary report to a point-of-sale terminal via an interface module; and

verifying a validity of a warranty claim based on the warranty claim code.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information associated with the component comprises at least one of part'"'"'s number, model, make and year.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

encoding and encrypting the warranty claim code with the interface module.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

providing a credit for a failed component that is still under warranty based on the warranty claim code.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

determining if fraud has occurred based on the user or location information; and

generating a claim dispute when fraud is determined.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the test results comprises at least one of a diagnostic test specification, values, date, time and results.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the warranty claim code further comprises generating a check sum.

15. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

comparing known component information with the information in the warranty claim code; and

determining if the component is still under warranty based on the comparison.