Automotive electronic instructional and diagnostic training apparatus

• US 4,943,238 A
• Filed: 12/14/1988
• Issued: 07/24/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interplex Electronic Company Limited (Interplex Holdings Pte. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Interplex Electronic Company Limited (Interplex Holdings Pte. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gregorio, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US07/284,303
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 434/219, 434/224, 434/366, 434/373, 434/389, 340/425.5, 340/515, 364/424.03, 73/117.3, 371/3, 324/158 R
• US Class Current: 434/224
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/187 for measuring instruments

Abstract

Instructional apparatus for training automotive service technicians in the skills required for isolating, identifying and repairing malfunctions in sophisticated automotive electronic systems uses a group of electronic circuit modules wherein each module simulates at least a portion of an automotive electronic circuit and one or more modules may be connected to form more complex circuits. One or more jumper wires associated with each of the modules may be altered by an instructor to create at least one fault condition representative of an electrical malfunction in the circuit associated with the module.

Claims

1. An automotive electronic instructional and diagnostic training apparatus comprising:

a group of electronic circuit modules, each module having at least one circuit path which simulates at least a portion of an automotive electronic circuit in a group of automotive electronic circuits;

electrical power supply means electrically connectable to said modules for providing electrical power to said modules to activate their respective circuit paths, said electrical power supply means comprising, means for selectively providing a voltage potential which corresponds to the normal voltage potential output of an automotive battery when the enging is off and an increased voltage potential which corresponds to the normal voltage potential output of the automotive battery when the engine is running; and

each module further including means for creating at least one fault condition representative of an electrical malfunction in said module.

2. An automotive electronic instructional and diagnostic training apparatus comprising:

a group of electronic circuit modules each module having at least one circuit path which simulates at least a portion of an automotive electric circuit in a group of automotive electronic circuits;

means for electrically connecting a plurality of said circuit modules selected from said group of electronic circuit modules to simulate at least a portion of an automotive electrical circuit;

electrical power supply means electrically connectable to said modules for providing electrical power to said modules to activate their respective circuit paths, said electrical power supply means comprising means for selectively providing a voltage potential which corresponds to the normal voltage potential output of an automotive battery when the engine is off an an increased voltage potential which corresponds to the normal voltage potential output of the automotive battery when the engine is running; and

each module further including means for creating at least one fault condition representative of an electrical malfunction in said module.

3. The automotive electronic instructional and diagnostic training apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for connecting a plurality of said modules comprises slide brackets and electrical connection plugs mounted on said modules, said connecting plugs including a first terminal means for connection to said electrical power and a second terminal means for connection to electrical ground potential, said connection plugs being located and oriented on said module generally between said brackets and closer to one of said brackets whereby one of said modules may only be connected to another of said modules with said first terminal means of each connection plug connecting to one another and said second terminal means of each connection plug connecting to one another.

4. An automotive electronic instructional and diagnostic training apparatus comprising:

a group of electrical circuit modules each module having at least one circuit path which simulates at least a portion of an automotive electronic circuit in a group of automotive electronic circuits, said modules comprising a printed circuit board having a component side and a non-component side, a plurality of electronic components and at least one diagnostic indication means mounted on the component side of said board, a circuit path mounted on the non-component side of said board, to connected said electronic components and said diagnostic indication means, and a diagrammatic representation of said circuit path illustrated on the component side of said board;

means for connecting a plurality of said circuit modules selected from said group of electronic circuit modules to simulate at least a portion of an automotive electrical circuit, said means for connecting said circuit modules comprising a pair of slide brackets mounted on opposite edges of each one of said printed circuit boards, said brackets mounted on each one of said printed circuit boards adapted to slidably receive another one of said printed circuit boards and at least one electrical connection plug mounted on each one of said printed circuit boards, said plugs adapted to electrically interconnect a plurality of printed circuit boards;

electrical power supply means electrically connectable to said modules for providing electrical power to said modules to activate their respective electronic circuits, said electrical power supply means comprising a transformer adapted to connect to a standard 110 volt AC outlet and further adapted to selectively provide a voltage potential which corresponds to the normal output voltage potential of an automotive battery when the engine is off and an increased voltage potential which corresponds to the normal output voltage potential of the automotive battery when the engine is running;

each module further including means for creating at least one fault condition representative of an electrical malfunction in said module said means for creating at least one fault condition comprising removable circuit connecting elements, said connecting elements including a pluraltity of pin and socket connectors having associated removable wire connectors wherein said connecting elements are utilized to selectively connect a first segment of said circuit path to a second segment of said circuit path and are utilized to interrupt said circuit path;

a power connection module for providing a common electrical connection between said electrical power supply means and said electronic circuit modules, said power connection module further providing reverse voltage protection for said circuit modules;

means for simplifying the design and construction of at least a portion of an automotive electronic circuit, said means for simplifying comprising a circuit breadboard module adapted to connect to said electronic circuit module; and

means for isolating and identifying said at least one fault condition representative of an electrical malfunction, said means for isolating and identifying comprising a logic probe adapted to connect to said electrical power supply means.