Digital engine analyzer

• US 5,245,324 A
• Filed: 10/18/1991
• Issued: 09/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Tools Company LLC (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: Govekar, Craig F., Meeker, Michael B., Piehl, James R., Putrow, Michael C., Sniegowski, John C., Jonker, Gary D.
• Primary Examiner(s): HJERPE, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US07/779,509
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/711, 340/712, 340/720, 340/721, 340/722, 340/723, 340/747, 341/22, 324/379, 324/384, 324/394, 324/121 R, 364/480, 364/481, 364/487, 364/483, 364/431.01, 364/431.03, 364/431.04, 73/117.2, 73/117.3, 358/194.1, 358/210
• US Class Current: 345/440.1
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 17/08 using a cathode-ray oscilloscope F02P17/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A digital engine analyzer has an oscilloscope display and is controlled by microprocessors operating under menu-driven stored program control. The analyzer receives analog input signals from an engine being analyzed. The analyzer is provided with a scanner interface, so that a scanner designed to read data from a vehicle on-board computer, can transfer this data to the analyzer for display on the analyzer oscilloscope. The analyzer processor, when operating in the scanner interface mode, operates under stored program control to reconfigure analyzer keyboard and soft key functions to duplicate scanner control functions, so that the scanner control functions can be effected from the analyzer.

Claims

1. In a vehicle diagnostic system including display means remote from the vehicle and having a display screen, sensing means for monitoring one or more vehicle parameters and generating parameter data signals, and a hand-held controller adapted to be coupled to the sensing means for gaining access to the parameter data signals, said controller having first control members selectively operable for causing the controller to perform control functions for controlling the flow of parameter data signals from the sensing means to the controller when the controller is coupled to the sensing means, the improvement comprising:

coupling means for coupling the controller to the display means for transferring parameter data signals from the controller to the display means, second control members adjacent to the display means, and processing means operating under stored program control and coupled to said second control members and to the display means and to the hand-held controller for controlling information displayed on the display means in response to actuation of said second control members, said processing means including means for causing operation of predetermined ones of said second control members to duplicate the control functions performed by operation of predetermined ones of the first control members and to apply corresponding control signals to said coupling means for transfer to the controller, whereby operation of the hand-held controller and the display means can be effected from adjacent to the display means by operation of said second control members without operation of the first control members.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, and the sensing means monitors engine parameters.

3. The system of claim 2, and further comprising an engine analyzer console including the display means.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing means includes means selectively operable for causing operation of predetermined ones of said second control members to duplicate the control functions performed by operation of predetermined ones of the first control members on a selected one of a plurality of different hand-held controllers.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said second control members include keys of a keyboard.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second control members include soft keys disposed adjacent to the display screen and having the functions thereof identified by indicia displayed on the display screen respectively adjacent to the keys.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said processing means includes means for controlling the information displayed on the display screen in response to actuation of the first control members.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the display means is a cathode-ray tube monitor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the display means is a digital oscilloscope.