ELECTRICAL IN-SYSTEM PROCESS CONTROL TESTER

• US 20180017608A1
• Filed: 07/12/2016
• Published: 01/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: NITHYANANDAN, Kishan, TJONG, Jimi, ALOYSIUS, Bede, WASEEM, Usman
• Application Number:
  US15/207,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20180017608A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/088 Aspects of digital computing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/67 Testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic

Abstract

A tester apparatus includes a wireless network interface and a device-under-test interface; and a processor, in communication with the network interface and the device-under-test interface. The processor is programmed to identify parameters of an electrical test from a remote server via the wireless network interface, perform the electrical test to an assembly electrically connected to the device-under-test interface, and report results of the electrical test to the remote server via the wireless network interface. A server may be in wireless communication with the tester apparatus and a station of an assembly line via a network access point. The server is programmed to send parameters of an electrical test of an assembly to the tester apparatus; receive test results from the tester apparatus, the test results indicating a wiring connection fault; and graphically display a fault indication overlaid on an image of the assembly to indicate location of the wiring fault.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a wireless network interface;

a device-under-test interface; and

a processor, in communication with the network interface and the device-under-test interface, programmed to

identify parameters of an electrical test from a remote server via the wireless network interface,

perform the electrical test to an assembly electrically connected to the device-under-test interface, and

report results of the electrical test to the remote server via the wireless network interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the parameters of the electrical test include data indicative of connections of the assembly to be tested.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

synchronize with the remote server to determine a unique identifier of a vehicle in which the assembly is to be included; and

identify the parameters of the electrical test according to a build configuration associated with the unique identifier of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the unique identifier is a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical test includes a continuity test between connections of the assembly to the device-under-test interface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical test includes a resistance test between connections of the assembly to the device-under-test interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical test includes a capacitance test between connections of the assembly to the device-under-test interface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface is configured to access the remote server by communicating with a Wi-Fi access point in communication with the server.

9. A system comprising:

a server, in wireless communication with a tester apparatus and a station of an assembly line via a network access point, programmed to;

send parameters of an electrical test of an assembly to the tester apparatus;

receive test results from the tester apparatus, the test results indicating a wiring connection fault; and

graphically display a fault indication overlaid on an image of the assembly to indicate location of the wiring connection fault.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the server is further programmed to:

receive, from the tester apparatus, a request to synchronize the tester apparatus to a unique identifier of a vehicle in which the assembly is to be included; and

identify the parameters of the electrical test according to a build configuration associated with the unique identifier of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the server is further programmed to associate the tester apparatus with the station of the assembly line.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the electrical test includes one or more of:

a continuity test between connections of the assembly;

a resistance test between connections of the assembly;

or a capacitance test between connections of the assembly.

13. A method comprising:

identifying parameters of an electrical test from a remote server via a network interface;

performing the electrical test by a tester apparatus to an assembly electrically connected to a device-under-test interface; and

reporting results of the electrical test to a remote server via the network interface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the results indicate a wiring fault, and further comprising graphically displaying a fault indication overlaid on an image of the assembly to indicate location of the wiring fault.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising

synchronizing the tester apparatus with the remote server to determine a unique identifier of a vehicle in which the assembly is to be included;

and

identifying the parameters of the electrical test according to a build configuration associated with the unique identifier of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising performing the electrical test by one or more of:

performing a continuity test between connections of the assembly;

performing a resistance test between connections of the assembly;

or performing a capacitance test between connections of the assembly to the device-under-test interface.