Alternator and Starter Tester with Active Load Control

• US 20140260577A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Service Solutions US LLC
• Inventors: Chinnadurai, Manokar, Miller, Garret
• Granted Patent: US 9,206,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/114.59
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/108 for diagnosis of the starter or its components
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines

Abstract

A diagnostic system configured to testing a performance of a vehicle component may include a processor configured to process test information from the vehicle component and control the vehicle component to be tested. The diagnostic system may also include a memory configured to store the test information of the vehicle component and software that operates the vehicle component. The diagnostic system may further include a monitoring module configured to monitor a power supply provided to perform the testing of the vehicle component and cuts off the power supply when the power exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A diagnostic tool configured to test a performance of a vehicle component, the diagnostic tool comprising:

a processor configured to process test information from the vehicle component and controls the vehicle component to be tested;

a memory configured to store the test information of the vehicle component and software that operates the vehicle component; and

a monitoring module configured to monitor a power supply provided to perform the testing of the vehicle component, wherein if the monitored power supply exceeds a predetermined threshold, then the monitoring module determines to cut off the power supply and wherein the memory and the monitoring module are in communication with the processor.

2. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is a starter motor and the processor is also configured to control the starter motor and process starter motor information.

3. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is an alternator and the processor is also configured to control the alternator and process alternator information.

4. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the power supply is a current or voltage supply.

5. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the monitoring module monitors the power supply continuously or intermittently.

6. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the monitoring module monitors the power supply of at least a first stage and a second stage of the testing of the vehicle component.

7. The diagnostic tool of claim 6, wherein the monitoring module determines whether to continue to the second stage of the testing of the vehicle component based at least in part on the power supply of the first stage.

8. The diagnostic tool of claim 7, wherein the predetermined threshold is determined based at least in part on the test information.

9. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the monitoring module comprises a galvanic isolated monitoring circuitry.

10. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising a drive control circuitry configured to cause a cutoff of the power supply provided to perform the testing of the vehicle component, wherein the monitoring module works with the breaker/switch circuitry.

11. A method of testing of a vehicle component, comprising the steps of:

receiving, via an input device, a selection of the vehicle component for testing;

identifying, via an interface module, information associated with the vehicle component including testing information about the vehicle component;

monitoring, via a monitoring module, a power supply provided to perform the testing of the vehicle component;

determining if the power supply exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

terminating the power supply if the power supply was determined to exceed the predetermined threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying information associated with the vehicle component comprises identifying a power level at which the vehicle component should be tested at.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring of the power supply is continuous.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring of the power supply is intermittent.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein monitoring of the power supply further comprises monitoring the power supply of a first stage of the testing and the power supply of a second stage of the testing of the vehicle component.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining whether to cutoff the power supply of the second stage based at least in part on the power supply of the first stage of the testing of the vehicle component.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising decoupling the power supply provided to perform the testing of the vehicle component when the monitored power supply exceeds the power threshold.

18. A diagnostic tester configured to test a performance of a vehicle component, the tester comprising:

a processor configured to process test information from the vehicle component and controls the vehicle component to be tested;

a memory configured to store database information of the vehicle component and software that operates the vehicle component;

a power lead configured to provide a power supply to perform the testing of the vehicle component; and

a monitoring module configured to monitor the power supply, wherein if the monitored power supply exceeds a predetermined threshold, then the monitoring module determines to cut off the power supply using a drive control system in the tester and wherein the memory and the monitoring module are in communication with the processor.

19. The tester of claim 18, wherein the monitoring module monitors the power supply continuously or intermittently.

20. The tester of claim 18, wherein the monitoring module monitors the power supply of a first stage of the testing and the power supply of a second stage of the testing of the vehicle component, the monitoring module cuts off the power supply of the second stage based at least in part on the power supply of the first stage of the testing of the vehicle component.