Automotive trouble diagnosing system
First Claim
1. In an automotive vehicle, the improvement comprising:
- computing means onboard the vehicle, said computing means powered by an automotive battery of the vehicle, memory means connected to the computing means for storing data from sensing means in the vehicle;
detachable unit means, including said memory means, coupling means for coupling said memory means to a remote computing means operable for remotely determining service and parts required for correction of a diagnosed problem of the vehicle, and auxiliary battery means for powering said memory means and said coupling means;
said detachable unit means including a plurality of contact points for connection to said computing means onboard the vehicle, including a contact point for charging said auxiliary battery from the automotive battery of the vehicle;
first means for producing electric signals relatable to the diagnosed problem of the automotive vehicle;
said memory means being further operable for memorizing said electrical signals;
second means for pre-diagnosing and indicating a possibility of occurrence of said problem in response to said electric signals memorized in said memory means; and
said coupling means including an acoustical coupler electrically connected to said memory means to convert said electric signals to acoustic signals, said acoustic signals transmitted via a telephone line to a computer in said remote computing means and located remote from said automotive vehicle, said computer being arranged to diagnose the problem of said automotive vehicle in response to said acoustic signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automotive vehicle is equipped with an on-board microcomputer having a function of pre-diagnosing and indicating a possibility of arising of an automotive trouble in response to electrical informations relatable to the trouble which informations are stored in a memory device. Additionally, an acoustical coupler is mounted on the vehicle and electrically connected to the memory device to convert the electrical informations to acoustic signals. The thus converted acoustical signals are to be transmitted via a telephone line to a computer for automotive trouble diagnosis purpose which computer is located remote from the vehicle, for example, in the head office of a service firm, thereby making it possible to achieve automotive trouble diagnosis without carrying the memory device to a service factory.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In an automotive vehicle, the improvement comprising:
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computing means onboard the vehicle, said computing means powered by an automotive battery of the vehicle, memory means connected to the computing means for storing data from sensing means in the vehicle; detachable unit means, including said memory means, coupling means for coupling said memory means to a remote computing means operable for remotely determining service and parts required for correction of a diagnosed problem of the vehicle, and auxiliary battery means for powering said memory means and said coupling means; said detachable unit means including a plurality of contact points for connection to said computing means onboard the vehicle, including a contact point for charging said auxiliary battery from the automotive battery of the vehicle; first means for producing electric signals relatable to the diagnosed problem of the automotive vehicle; said memory means being further operable for memorizing said electrical signals; second means for pre-diagnosing and indicating a possibility of occurrence of said problem in response to said electric signals memorized in said memory means; and said coupling means including an acoustical coupler electrically connected to said memory means to convert said electric signals to acoustic signals, said acoustic signals transmitted via a telephone line to a computer in said remote computing means and located remote from said automotive vehicle, said computer being arranged to diagnose the problem of said automotive vehicle in response to said acoustic signals.
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2. An automotive trouble diagnosing system comprising:
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means mounted to an automotive vehicle for producing electric signals relatable to a trouble of the automotive vehicle; memory means mounted to the automotive vehicle for memorizing said electric signals; means mounted to said automotive vehicle for pre-diagnosing and indicating a possibility of occurrence of the trouble in response to said electric signals memorized in said memory means; a first acoustical coupler mounted to said automotive vehicle and electrically connected to said memory means to convert said electrical signals to acoustic signals; a telephone line; a second acoustical coupler acoustically connectable with said first acoustical coupler via said telephone line to convert said acoustic signals to electric signals; and a computer located remote from said automotive vehicle and electrically connected to said second acoustical coupler, said computer being arranged to diagnose the trouble of said automotive vehicle, wherein said pre-diagnosing and indicating means forms part of a microcomputer mounted in said automotive vehicle, and wherein said memory means and said first acoustical coupler constitute a single unit detachable from said microcomputer so that said memory means is capable of being electrically disconnected from said pre-diagnosing and indicating means, said detachable single unit including an auxiliary battery independent from a battery for operation of said automotive vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. In an automotive vehicle diagnostic system, the improvement comprising:
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first means, at a service headquarters, for remotely determining service and parts required for correction of a diagnosed problem of the vehicle; second means responsive to said first means for determining availability of said required parts; third means responsive to said second means for remotely communicating with the vehicle to identify a location of said required parts; and fourth means in the vehicle for receiving communication from said first means and for outputting to a vehicle driver information identifying service needed for the vehicle and location for obtaining said needed service. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. In an automotive vehicle diagnostic system including computing means onboard the vehicle, said computing means powered by an automotive battery of the vehicle, memory means connected to the computing means for storing data from sensing means in the vehicle, the improvement comprising:
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detachable unit means, including said memory means, coupling means for coupling said memory means to a remote computing means operable for remotely determining service and parts required for correction of a diagnosed problem of the vehicle, and auxiliary battery means for powering said memory means and said coupling means, said detachable unit means including a plurality of contact points for connection to said computing means onboard the vehicle, including a contact point for charging said auxiliary battery from the automotive battery of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification