Universal self-diagnosing appliance control
First Claim
1. An electronic controller having a plurality of appliance function controllers, a digital display, a microprocessor controler comprising at least one internal random access memory and a plurality of internal registers, and further including, external to said microprocessor controller, electrical input and output conductors for said plurality of appliance function controllers, a diagnostic test signal conductor connected to said microprocessor controller, a single plug connector to which said input and output conductors and said diagnostic test signal conductor are connected in circuit, said plug connector and having releasable connections for each of said conductors, a corresponding mating connector releasably engageable with said single plug connector and having releasable connections that match the releasable connections of said single plug connector, said mating plug connector including extension conductors from said input and output conductors to the respective appliance function controllers associated with each input and output conductor, a dummy plug connector releasably engageable with said single plug connector in place of said mating plug connector, said dummy plug connector containing leads which cross connect said input and output conductors and which place a signal on said diagnostic test signal conductor to thereby alter the electrical interconnection of said conductors in said single plug connector, and means in said microprocessor controller interconnecting said random access memory, said internal registers, and connected to said digital display, and responsive to signals on said diagnostic test signal conductor to internally check electrical conductivity integrity of said input and output conductors and of said internal microprocessor random access memory and of said internal microprocessor registers and operative to generate a unique digital code in said digital display indicative of an unsatisfactory check of electrical integrity and the location among said input and output conductors and said microprocessor random access memory and registers at which said unsatisfactory check occurred.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microprocessor based household appliance electronic control device is equipped with self-diagnosing cacapability and with selected option capabilities. The control includes input and output lines from an integrated circuit structure through a plug connection to external circuitry. The input/output line appearances from the microprocessor in the plug connection may be decoupled from external circuitry and cross connected to each other by means of a dummy plug. Connection to the dummy plug automatically establishes a test mode of operation for the microprocessor to cycle through a testing sequence to diagnosis internal and external failures. Error codes are provided in a visual display indicative of different types of failures. The controller is also equipped with function altering circuits which are selectively connected or bypassed with strapping diodes. Customized control features are thereby achieved in a universal electronic controller.
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Citations
27 Claims
- 1. An electronic controller having a plurality of appliance function controllers, a digital display, a microprocessor controler comprising at least one internal random access memory and a plurality of internal registers, and further including, external to said microprocessor controller, electrical input and output conductors for said plurality of appliance function controllers, a diagnostic test signal conductor connected to said microprocessor controller, a single plug connector to which said input and output conductors and said diagnostic test signal conductor are connected in circuit, said plug connector and having releasable connections for each of said conductors, a corresponding mating connector releasably engageable with said single plug connector and having releasable connections that match the releasable connections of said single plug connector, said mating plug connector including extension conductors from said input and output conductors to the respective appliance function controllers associated with each input and output conductor, a dummy plug connector releasably engageable with said single plug connector in place of said mating plug connector, said dummy plug connector containing leads which cross connect said input and output conductors and which place a signal on said diagnostic test signal conductor to thereby alter the electrical interconnection of said conductors in said single plug connector, and means in said microprocessor controller interconnecting said random access memory, said internal registers, and connected to said digital display, and responsive to signals on said diagnostic test signal conductor to internally check electrical conductivity integrity of said input and output conductors and of said internal microprocessor random access memory and of said internal microprocessor registers and operative to generate a unique digital code in said digital display indicative of an unsatisfactory check of electrical integrity and the location among said input and output conductors and said microprocessor random access memory and registers at which said unsatisfactory check occurred.
- 11. In an electronic controller which employs a microprocessor, data input lines connected to said microprocessor and data output lines connected from said microprocessor, the improvement comprising a matrix of a plurality of function alteration circuits coupled to said data input and output lines, said circuits including separate strapping means selectively completing each function alteration circuit for alternative connection and disconnection in said matrix to operate said microprocessor in alternative selected functional modes of operation.
Specification