System for Dynamic Diagnosis of Apparatus Operating Conditions
First Claim
1. A diagnostic system comprising:
- a processor operating under stored program control,a storage mechanism coupled to the processor and storing a knowledge database including a library of information items relating to faults which can be experienced by an apparatus under diagnosis and a library of tests which can be performed on the apparatus for the purpose of diagnosing the causes of the faults,a user interface including a display screen and a data input device both coupled to the processor for interactive control thereby,and a computer routine executed by the processor for controlling the operation of the display device, said computer routine including;
(a) a first portion operative to display a collection of information items, and(b) a second portion responsive to user selection of one or more displayed information items by use of said data input device for selecting from the library of tests those tests applicable to diagnosing of the cause of the fault related to the selected information item or items, hierarchically arranging the selected tests in a list in the order of their likelihood of successfully diagnosing of the cause of the fault, and displaying the hierarchically arranged list of tests.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A diagnostic platform includes a processor, storage media and user interfaces, including a display screen, the processor being coupled to engine analyzer hardware and adapted to be coupled to a scanner for downloading data from vehicle on-board computers. The system stores libraries of information regarding vehicle identifications, drivability symptoms exhibited by vehicles, vehicle system and component tests and service codes which can be registered by the vehicle on-board computer. System software permits the user to input an identification of the vehicle under test and, in one mode of operation, displays a library of faults, such as symptoms or service codes, from which the user can select those exhibited by the vehicle, whereupon the system selects from the test library those tests pertinent to diagnosis of the causes of the selected faults and displays them in a hierarchically ranked order based on likelihood of successful diagnosis of the faults. The user can then select and initiate any displayed test. In other modes, the system initially displays one of the libraries of system or component tests, from which the user selects those deemed appropriate, whereupon the system highlights icons which can be selected for initiating pertinent test procedures. Selected test procedures may include links to the engine analyzer or scanner hardware or other appropriate test modules.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A diagnostic system comprising:
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a processor operating under stored program control, a storage mechanism coupled to the processor and storing a knowledge database including a library of information items relating to faults which can be experienced by an apparatus under diagnosis and a library of tests which can be performed on the apparatus for the purpose of diagnosing the causes of the faults, a user interface including a display screen and a data input device both coupled to the processor for interactive control thereby, and a computer routine executed by the processor for controlling the operation of the display device, said computer routine including; (a) a first portion operative to display a collection of information items, and (b) a second portion responsive to user selection of one or more displayed information items by use of said data input device for selecting from the library of tests those tests applicable to diagnosing of the cause of the fault related to the selected information item or items, hierarchically arranging the selected tests in a list in the order of their likelihood of successfully diagnosing of the cause of the fault, and displaying the hierarchically arranged list of tests. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A diagnostic system comprising:
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a processor operating under stored program control, a storage mechanism coupled to the processor and storing a knowledge database including a library of information items relating to faults which can be experienced by an apparatus under diagnosis and a library of tests which can be performed on the apparatus for the purpose of diagnosing the causes of the faults, a user interface including a display screen and a data input device both coupled to the processor for interactive control thereby, a test probe assembly coupled to the processor and adapted to be coupled to an apparatus for acquiring parameter data therefrom for testing thereof; and a computer routine executed by the processor for controlling the operation of the display device, said computer routine including; (a) a first portion operative to display a collection of information items, (b) a second portion responsive to user selection of one or more displayed information items by use of said data input device for selecting from the library of tests those tests applicable to diagnosing of the cause of the fault related to the selected information item or items, hierarchically arranging the selected tests in a list in the order of their likelihood of successfully diagnosing of the cause of the fault, and displaying the hierarchically arranged list of tests, and (c) a third portion responsive to user selection of one of the displayed tests by use of said data input device for initiating a display sequence associated with performance of the selected test procedure by use of the test probe assembly. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An automotive diagnostic system comprising:
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a processor operating under stored program control, a storage mechanism coupled to the processor and storing a knowledge database including a library of apparatus parameters which can be tested, a user interface including a display screen and a data input device both coupled to the processor for interactive control thereby, hardware and software diagnostic modules coupled to the processor with the hardware modules adapted to be coupled to the apparatus, each of said modules being associated with test procedures which can be performed on the apparatus for the purpose of diagnosing the causes of faults, and a computer routine executed by the processor for controlling the operation of the display device, said computer routine including; (a) a first portion operative to display a list of the apparatus parameters from the library, (b) a second portion responsive to user selection of a displayed parameter by use of said data input device for indicating one or more diagnostic modules associated with test procedures pertinent to the selected parameter, and (c) third portion responsive to user selection of an indicated module by use of said data input device for initiating a display sequence for performance of associated test procedures. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification