Portable type automobile repair estimate issuing device

• US 4,435,769 A
• Filed: 03/16/1981
• Issued: 03/06/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Audatex Company Limited, Mitsubushi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Japan Audatex Company Limited, Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Makino, Tomoaki, Nagano, Susumu, Yasuda, Yoshinori, Iruya, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Daniel K.
• Application Number:
  US06/244,475
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/403, 364/405, 364/400, 364/406, 364/464
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles

Abstract

An automobile repair estimate issuing device having a part data file made up of a first file for storing part data other than name data and a second file for storing the name data. The data file is stored in a memory having a reduced memory capacity. Input and output devices, a central processing device, the memory and a printing devices are reduced in size and weight thereby to provide a portable type automobile repair estimate issuing device which can issue a repair estimate at an automobile repairing place on the spot.

Claims

1. A portable type automobile repair issuing device comprising:

memory means in which at least name coded data corresponding to automobile part names, name data corresponding to said automobile part names, data representing automobile types, and part data corresponding to automobile parts are stored;

input means for inputting selected name coded data entries corresponding to said automobile part names and data representing an automobile type;

central processing means;

printing means for printing an automobile repair estimate in which the part data stored in said memory means is extracted selectively according to name coded data entries and said data representing said automobile type applied to said central processing means to provide estimation data, said printing means printing an estimate according to said estimation data;

said memory means being provided with a first file for storing said part data other than said name data and a second file for storing said name data corresponding to said automobile part names;

said central processing means, according to each name coded data entry applied to said central processing means and said data representing said automobile type, combining corresponding part data stored in said first file and corresponding name data stored in said second file to provide estimation data,

said printing means printing an estimate according to said estimation data.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said memory means comprises a random access memory and said output means comprises a keyboard.

3. A portable type automobile repair estimate issuing device comprising memory means in which at least name coded data corresponding to automobile part names, name data corresponding to said automobile part names, data representing automobile types, and part data corresponding to automobile parts are stored, said memory means being provided with a first file for storing said part data other than name data and a second file for storing said name data corresponding to said automobile part names;

central processing means for performing predetermined data processing operations according to each name coded data entry applied to said central processing means and data representing an automobile type, wherein said central processing means combines for each name coded data entry and data representing an automobile type corresponding part data stored in said first file and corresponding name data stored in said second file to provide estimation data including compound name data;

printing means for providing a printed output according to said estimation data;

each segment of said compound name being data obtained by combining a plurality of names comprising first and second name portions, and a name common portion code being assigned to said first name portions, and a name auxiliary code being assigned to said second name portion.

4. A portable type automobile repair estimate issuing device comprising:

memory means in which at least name coded data corresponding to automobile part names assigned according to automobile types, name data corresponding to said automobile part names and part data corresponding to said automobile part names are stored;

input means for inputting said name coded data and data corresponding to an automobile type;

central processing means;

printing means for printing automobile repair estimates wherein said central processing means, according to each segment of name coded data applied to said central processing means, extracts part data stored in said memory means separately according to automobile types selectively to provide estimation data, and said printing means prints an estimate according to said estimation data;

said name coded data corresponding to said automobile types and said name data corresponding to said automobile types being unified by said central processing means for all said automobile types into one type of name coded data and name data;

said memory means being provided with a first file for storing said part data other than said name data and a second file for storing said name data corresponding to said automobile part names;

said central processing means operating to combine according to each name coded data entry applied to said central processing means corresponding part data stored in said first file and corresponding name data stored in said second file to provide estimation data; and

said printing means printing an estimate according to said estimation data.

5. A portable type automobile repair estimate issuing device comprising:

memory means in which data concerning automobile parts is stored;

input means for inputting part name coded data entries corresponding to an automobile part names and identification coded data for identifying automobile types;

central processing means; and

printing means for printing an automobile repair estimate;

said central processing means operating to extract according to data applied to said central processing means corresponding part data stored in said memory means to provide estimation data;

said printing means printing an automobile repair estimate according to said estimation data;

a repeat print switch for effecting a repeat printing function for repeatedly printing said estimate;

a manual print switch for effecting a manual print function in which a part of said estimation data is replaced by data which is newly inputted by said input means; and

a test print switch for effecting a test printing function for causing said printing means to print predetermined data.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 which further comprises a decision switch control circuit for reading states of said repeat print switch, said manual print switch and said test print switch, said decision switch control circuit being coupled to said central processing means.

7. A method for preparing an automobile repair estimate, comprising the steps of:

inputting to a first memory name coded data corresponding to automobile part names and data representing an automobile type in which the automobile parts are to be used;

extracting from a first file of a second memory groups of data having the same name coded data as inputted in said step of inputting;

extracting from said groups of data entries containing the same automobile type as inputted in said step of inputting;

unifying with the extracted data entries a part time by retrieving said part name from a second file of said second memory to thus assemble completed repair estimation data; and

printing an estimate in accordance with the assembled repair estimation data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said name data comprises compound name data comprising a name common portion code and a name auxiliary code, and wherein said step of unifying comprises extracting said compound name data in segments from said second file.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of effecting a manual print function in which a part of said estimation data is replaced by newly inputted data.