Method of testing electronic automotive parts

• US 4,673,868 A
• Filed: 07/11/1986
• Issued: 06/16/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rolin Jones Jr
• Original Assignee: Rolin Jones Jr
• Inventors: Jones, Rolin Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Application Number:
  US06/885,373
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 324/51, 324/52, 324/158 R, 324/158 D, 324/73 R, 340/52 F, 340/52 R, 73/118
• US Class Current: 324/545
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58

Abstract

A method for testing electronic automotive components. Apparatus required is an electrical device which includes a pair of probes, a source of direct current, and a bifunctional current detector. The current detector includes a buzzer and an incandescent lamp. The positive terminal is connected to the current detector, and the negative terminal to one of the probes. The current detector is connected to the other probe. The probes are then placed in contact with the component being tested, and an observation is made as to whether or not a current is detected by the current detector. The detection or failure to detect a current provides a signal indicative of the condition of the component tested.

Claims

1. A method for testing a voltage regulator 13 including a pair of ground posts 14, a first connector post 15, and a second connector post 16, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing

(1) a source of direct electrical current, including positive and negative terminals;

(2) a buzzer which serves as a current detector;

(3) first and second contact probes 6 and 7, respectively, for making electrical contact with the voltage regulator to be tested; and

(4) means for connecting the source of current, the current detector, and the first and second probes;

(b) connecting the positive terminal of the currenet source to the buzzer;

(c) connecting the buzzer to the first probe;

(d) connecting the negative terminal of the current detector to the second probe;

(e) contacting the first connector post with the first probe, and one of the ground posts with the second probe;

(f) contacting the second connector post with the first probe, and one of the ground posts with the second probe; and

(g) rating the voltage regulator as in satisfactory condition if, and only if, a low buzzing sound was heard in step (e) and a loud buzzing sound in step (f).

2. A method for testing a solid-state voltage regulator 17 including a ground post 18, an ignition post 19, an alternator post 20, a stator post 21, and a field post 22, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing

(1) a source of direct electrical current, including positive and negative terminals;

(2) a current detector comprising a buzzer and an incandescent lamp;

(3) first and second contact probes, for making electrical contact with the voltage regulator to be tested; and

(4) means for connecting the source of current, the current detector, and the first and second probes;

(b) connecting the positive terminal of the current source to the current detector;

(c) connecting the current detector to the first probe;

(d) connecting the negative terminal of the current source to the second probe;

(e) electrically grounding the first probe while establishing electrical contact between the second probe and the ignition post;

(f) electrically grounding the first probe while establishing electrical contact between the second probe and the alternator post;

(g) electrically grounding the first probe while establishing electrical contact between the second probe and the stator post;

(h) electrically grounding the first probe while establishing electrical contact between the second probe and the field post; and

(i) rating the condition of the solid-state voltage regulator as satisfactory if, and only if, (1) a buzzing sound was heard in steps (e), (f), and (h), but not in step (g); and

(2) the lamp was dimly illuminated in step (g).

3. A method for testing a mechanical voltage regulator 23 including a ground post 24, an ignition post 25, an alternator post 26, a stator post 27, and a field post 28, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing

(1) a source of direct electrical current, including positive and negative terminals;

(2) a buzzer which serves as a current detector;

(3) first and second contact probes, for making electrical contact with the voltage regulator to be tested; and

(4) means for connecting the source of current, the buzzer, and the first and second probes;

(b) connecting the positive terminal of the current source to the buzzer;

(c) connecting the buzzer to the first probe;

(d) connecting the negative terminal of the current source to the second probe;

(e) electrically grounding the first probe while contacting the ignition post 25 with the second probe;

(f) electrically grounding the first probe while contacting the alternator post 26 with the second probe;

(g) electrically grounding the first probe while contacting the stator post 27 with the second probe; and

(h) rating the condition of the voltage regulator as satisfactory if, and only if, (1) a buzzing sound was heard in steps (e) and (g), but (2) not in step (f).

4. A method for testing a built-in voltage regulator 29 including three ground posts 30, a field lead 31, and a positive lead 32, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing

(1) a source of direct electrical current, including positive and negative terminals;

(2) a buzzer which functions as a current detector;

(3) first and second contact probes, for making electrical contact with the voltage regulator to be tested; and

(4) means for connecting the source of current, the current detector, and the first and second probes;

(b) connecting the positive terminal of the current source to the buzzer;

(c) connecting the buzzer to the first probe;

(d) connecting the negative terminal of the current source to the second probe;

(e) electrically grounding the first probe;

e.g., by establishing electrical contact with any one of the ground posts 30;

while contacting the field lead 31 with the second probe;

(f) electrically grounding the first probe while contacting the positive lead 32 with the second probe; and

(g) rating the condition of the voltage regulator as satisfactory if, and only if, a buzzing sound was heard in step (f) but not in step (e).

5. A method for testing an electronic module 33 including a first terminal 34, a second terminal 35, a first connector post 36, and a second connector post 37, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing

(1) a source of direct electrical current, including positive and negative terminals;

(2) a current detector selected from the group consisting of a buzzer and an incandescent lamp;

(3) first and second contact probes, for making electrical contact with the electronic module; and

(4) means for connecting the source of current, the current detector, and the first and second probes;

(b) connecting the positive terminal of the current source to the current detector;

(c) connecting the current detector to the first probe;

(d) connecting the negative terminal of the current source to the second probe;

(e) contacting the first terminal 34 with the first probe, and the first connector post 36 with the second probe;

(f) contacting the first terminal 34 with the first probe, and the second connector post 37 with the second probe;

(g) contacting the second terminal 35 with the first probe while contacting the second connector post 37 with the second probe;

(h) contacting the second terminal 35 with the first probe while contacting the first connector post 36 with the second probe; and

(i) rating the condition of the electronic module as satisfactory if, and only if, a flow of electrical current was detected by the current detector in each and every step (e), (f), (g), and (h).

6. A method for testing an electronic module 47 including first, second, third, fourth, and fifth contact points 48, 49, 50, 51, and 52, respectively, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing

(1) a source of direct electrical current, including positive and negative terminals;

(2) a buzzer which serves as a current detector;

(3) first and second contact probes, for making electrical contact with the electrical module; and

(4) means for connecting the source of current, the current detector, and the first and second probes;

(b) connecting the positive terminal of the current source to the current detector;

(c) connecting the current detector to the first probe;

(d) connecting the negative terminal of the current source to the second probe;

(e) grounding the first probe while contacting the first contact point 48 with the second probe;

(f) grounding the first probe while contacting, one at a time, the second, third, fourth, and fifth contact points with the second probe; and

(g) rating the condition of the electronic module as satisfactory if, and only if, a flow of current was detected when each and every contact point was contacted in step (f), and a flow of current was not detected in step (e).

7. A method for testing an electronic module 56 including first, second, third, and fourth lead wires 57, 58, 59, and 60, respectively, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing

(1) a source of direct electrical current, including positive and negative terminals;

(2) a current detector including a buzzer and an incandescent lamp;

(3) first and second contact probes, for making electrical contact with the electronic module; and

(4) means for connecting the source of current, the current detector, and the first and second probes;

(b) connecting the positive terminal of the current source to the current detector;

(c) connecting the current detector to the first probe;

(d) connecting the negative terminal of the current source to the second probe;

(e) contacting the fourth wire 60 with the first probe while contacting the first wire 57 with the second probe;

(f) contacting the fourth wire with the first probe while contacting the second wire 58 with the second probe;

(g) contacting the fourth wire with the first probe while contacting the third wire 59 with the second probe; and

(h) rating the condition of the electronic module as satisfactory if, and only if, (1) the buzzer did not buzz in step (e), and (2) the lamp was illuminated in step (f) and (g).