Universal automotive maintenance component controller apparatus

• US 20060178792A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Opus Inspection, Inc. (Opus Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Environmental Systems Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Ortiz, David L., Newton, James R., Davis, Mark A., Pandey, Arun Raj, Sulik, Charles M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,272,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0234 related to maintenance or repairing of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A computer-implemented universal automotive maintenance component controller apparatus that may be used as common core enabling a user to interface with, control, and analyze data from, various modular automotive maintenance or diagnostic equipment and/or components regardless of the type or manufacturer of the component. The universal controller of the invention may include a processor and a control application, the control application including one or more software modules that enable the processor to control one or more connected automotive maintenance components. The universal controller may also include one or more component interfaces operatively connected to the processor, wherein each of the one or more component interfaces is configured for one of the plurality of automotive maintenance components. Each of the one or more component interfaces may also include one or more component modules specific to one of the plurality of automotive maintenance components and a port for operatively connecting one of the plurality of automotive maintenance components to the apparatus.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented universal automotive maintenance component controller apparatus, wherein the apparatus serves as the common-core of a modular vehicle maintenance and diagnostic system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

one or more component interfaces operatively connected to the processor, wherein each of the one or more component interfaces is configured to interface with a particular automotive maintenance component; and

a control application including one or more software modules enabling the processor to control one or more connected automotive maintenance components.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more component interfaces further comprises:

one or more component modules, each specific to an automotive maintenance component to be connected to the apparatus, wherein the one or more component software modules enable recognition and control of the automotive maintenance component via the control application; and

a port for operatively connecting one of the plurality of automotive maintenance components to the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface, a display device, and a user input device, wherein the graphical user interface enables user control of a connected automotive maintenance component, and wherein the display device and the user input device enables a user to interact with the graphical user interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the display device includes an LCD screen enabling the display of one or more menus to the user, and wherein the user input device includes a digital keypad enabling the user to scroll through and select items from the one or more menus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communications port enabling connection of an alternative control device to the processor, wherein the alternative control device enables a user to control the one or more connected automotive maintenance components.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the communication port enables a connection with the alternative control device over a computer network.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the communication port enables a wireless connection with the alternative control device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alternative control device includes one of a server, a personal computer, a laptop computer, or a personal digital assistant.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communications port enabling updates to the one or more software modules and the component modules via a serial or network connection.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the port includes a universal serial bus port.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of automotive maintenance components includes components for one or more of emissions testing, vehicle weighing, sideslip testing, suspension testing, brake testing, speedometer testing, headlight testing, engine testing, fuel economy testing, fuel tank testing, gas cap testing, on-board-diagnostic testing, alignment testing, or noise testing.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein some or all of the apparatus is housed in a NEMA 3R rated cabinet.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising electrical outlet receptacles for providing electrical power to the one or more connected automotive maintenance components.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motor controller assembly that is operatively connected to the processor, wherein the motor controller assembly enables speed control of a motor associated with a connected automotive maintenance component.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more connected automotive maintenance components is a dynamometer.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more software modules include a control setting module that performs one or more of:

setting a horsepower load of the component dynamometer as commanded by a user;

controlling a speed of the dynamometer by increasing or decreasing a load from a power absorbing unit of the dynamometer;

or

measuring a roll speed of the dynamometer by sensing pulses from roll speed sensors of the dynamometer.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more software modules include a drive trace module that performs one or more of:

generating a vehicle drive trace for a vehicle being tested on the dynamometer;

simulating a perfect drive trace for a user depending on specific vehicle test mode requirements;

logging total time accumulated during a vehicle test drive trace;

or

calculating and logging an actual distance driven by a vehicle during a drive trace test.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more software modules include an augmented braking module that applies augments breaking to a vehicle undergoing testing on the dynamometer.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the one or more software modules include a speed synchronization module to monitor a speed signal from front and rear speed sensors of the dynamometer and alert a user if synchronization between the front and rear speed sensors exceeds a predetermined threshold.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more software modules include a calibration module which performs calibration procedures for any of the one or more connected automotive maintenance devices.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the calibration module that receives calibration values for specific automotive maintenance components and applies the calibration values to the specific automotive maintenance components.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a communication port, wherein the calibration module receives calibration values for specific automotive maintenance components from the plurality of automotive maintenance components via the communication port and a serial or network connection.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more modules include a vehicle position module that calculates a vehicle position in a vehicle maintenance environment.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more modules include a vehicle restraint module that controls vehicle restraint equipment of a connected automotive maintenance component.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more modules include an emergency stop module that enables an emergency shut down of a connected automotive maintenance component.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more modules include a vehicle lift module that controls a vehicle lift system of a connected automotive maintenance component.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more modules include a diagnostic module that may perform one or more of:

identifying internal faults-or errors of connected automotive maintenance components;

logging internal faults or errors of connected automotive maintenance components;

displaying internal faults or errors of connected automotive maintenance components to a user;

or

a self-check of one or more of;

internal components of the apparatus, or

the internal components of a connected automotive maintenance component.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a warning beacon that alerts a user to a fault or error detected by the diagnostic module.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency remote control device to control one or more of stop, start, or emergency stop functions of a connected automotive maintenance components from a remote location.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more software modules include a data analysis module that performs one or more of:

gathering test data returned by the one or more connected automotive maintenance components;

storing test data returned by the one or more connected automotive maintenance components;

processing test data returned by the one or more connected automotive maintenance components;

or

reporting test data returned by the one or-more connected automotive maintenance components.