Automative diagnostic testing apparatus

• US 5,369,991 A
• Filed: 10/20/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abes Electronics Center Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abes Electronics Center Incorporated
• Inventors: Armstrong, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US08/139,558
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 73/119 A, 73/116, 73/118.1, 324/378, 324/380-382, 324/384, 324/393-399, 324/402, 324/556, 324/552, 340/439, 340/439
• US Class Current: 73/114.61
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 17/02 Checking or adjusting ignition timing
• 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

Abstract

A diagnostic testing apparatus for testing an electrical component normally controlled by pulse signals from the electronic control module (ECM) of an automotive electrical system, which apparatus is coupled between the ECM and the component to be tested and provides first circuits establishing a normal signalling communication therebetween, and second circuits comprising parallel test circuits including indicators and switches constructed and arranged for indicating faults in the component.

Claims

1. A diagnostic testing apparatus for testing an automotive fuel injection system with at least two fuel injector circuits normally directly connected to an electronic control module (ECM) of the automotive fuel injection and being sequentially power controlled only by the ECM, comprising:

first means including coupling means for removably coupling said testing apparatus between the ECM and the fuel injector circuits of the fuel injection system to be tested, and further including first circuit means constructed and arranged for re-establishing normal series power control connections between the ECM and each of the fuel injection circuits; and

second means comprising a plurality of testing circuits, each of which connects across one of the power control connections of the first circuit means in parallel with the associated fuel injector circuit, each testing circuit being responsive to the ECM power control to the associated fuel injector circuit and including at least one separate indicator device for indicating an operating condition of the associated fuel injector circuit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator device comprises a light emitting diode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, including switch means constructed and arranged for selectively disabling or connecting each fuel injector circuit and the associated test circuit therefor with the ECM.

4. The testing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first circuit means includes switch means for selectively disabling or connecting the ECM power control connection from each fuel injector circuit for power balance testing of the fuel injection system, each switch means controlling the series power control connection to one of the fuel injector circuits and the associated testing circuit.

5. The testing apparatus of claim 4 wherein the indicator device of each testing circuit comprises a light emitting diode for detecting the operativeness of the associated fuel injection circuit.

6. The testing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the testing circuits further comprise a current limiting resistor associated with each of the light emitting diodes for restricting current flow therethrough to a predetermined value.

second means constructed and arranged to provide a testing circuit associated with the series circuit connections of the ECM to each signal port of the operating circuits, each testing circuit being connected across the first circuit means in parallel with an operating circuit of the IAC motor and being responsive to the pulse train signals of the ECM to such associated operating circuit, and each testing circuit including an indicator device for indicating an operating condition in the IAC motor.

7. A diagnostic testing apparatus for testing the circuit integrity of a fuel injection system having a plurality of fuel-injector circuits associated with plural signal ports, the fuel injection system being normally directly connected to an electronic control module (ECM) of the automotive electrical system and the sequential operation of the fuel injector circuits being activated in response to power pulse signals generated by the ECM, said testing apparatus comprising:

coupling means for removably coupling said testing apparatus between the ECM and the fuel injector circuits of the fuel injection system to be tested and including first circuit means for re-establishing normal series power control connections of the ECM to the associated signal ports of said fuel injector circuits, and

second means constructed and arranged to provide a testing circuit associated with the series circuit connection to each signal port of each fuel injector circuit, each testing circuit being connected across the first circuit means in parallel with at least one associated fuel injector circuit of the fuel injection system and being responsive to the power control of the ECM to such associated fuel injector circuit, and each testing circuit including an indicator device for indicating an operating condition of the associated fuel injector circuit.

8. A diagnostic testing apparatus for testing a fuel injection system with at least two fuel injector circuits, the sequential operation of the fuel injector circuits being activated in response to power pulse signals generated by an electronic control module (ECM) of the automotive electrical system, the fuel injection system being normally directly connected to and power controlled only by the ECM, said testing apparatus comprising:

coupling means for removably coupling said testing apparatus between the ECM and the fuel injector circuits of the fuel injection system to be tested and including first circuit means constructed and arranged for re-establishing normal series power control connections of the ECM to each fuel injector circuit;

second means constructed and arranged to provide a plurality of testing circuits, each of which connects across the first circuit means in parallel with at least one associated fuel injector circuit, each testing circuit being responsive to the ECM power control to the associated fuel injector circuit and including at least one indicator device for indicating an operating condition of such fuel injector circuit; and

switch means constructed and arranged for selectively disabling or connecting the ECM power pulse signals from the individual fuel injector circuits for power balance testing of the fuel injection system, each switch means controlling the series power control connection to one of the fuel injector circuits and the associated testing circuit.

9. A diagnostic testing apparatus for testing the circuit integrity of a fuel injection system having a plurality of fuel injector circuits associated plural signal ports, the sequential operation of the fuel injector circuits being activated in response to power pulse signals generated by an electronic control module (ECM) of the automotive electrical system, the fuel injection system being normally directly connected to and power controlled only by the ECM, said testing apparatus comprising:

coupling means for removably coupling said testing apparatus between the ECM and the fuel injector circuits of the fuel injection system to be tested and including first circuit means for re-establishing a normal series power control connection of the ECM to the associated signal ports of each fuel injector circuit; and

second means constructed and arranged to provide a plurality of testing circuits, each of which connects across one power control connection of the first circuit means in parallel with the associated fuel injector circuit of the fuel injection system, each testing circuit being responsive to the power control of the ECM to the associated fuel injector circuit and including at least one light emitting diode with an associated current limiting resistor for indicating the integrity of each fuel injector circuit; and

switch means constructed and arranged for selectively disabling or connecting the ECM power pulse signals from the individual fuel injector circuits for power balance testing of the fuel injection system, each switch;

means controlling the series power control connection to one of the fuel injector circuits and the associated testing circuit.