Method and apparatus for throttle position sensor testing

• US 5,686,840 A
• Filed: 05/08/1996
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Standard Motor Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Automotive Controls Corp.
• Inventors: Johnson, Arthur D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US08/646,601
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 324/556, 324/538, 324/503, 324/542, 324/539, 340/653, 340/654, 340/660, 320/48
• US Class Current: 324/556
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/04 Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals
• 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 31/2829 Testing of circuits in sensor or actuator systems testing of apparatus for measuring electric or magnetic variables G01R35/00; testing of indicating or recording apparatus G01D; in airbag systems B60R21/0173; checking gas analysers G01N33/007; monitoring or fail-safe circuits for electromagnets H01F7/1844

Abstract

A harness for testing a throttle position sensor having wires operatively connected therein terminating in a connector. The harness comprises a card and a first cable of multiple wires hard-wired to the card at one end and terminating in a connector at the other. The connector of the first cable is removably connectable to the throttle position sensor connector. The card further comprises a second cable of multiple wires hard-wired to the card at one end and operably attached to a connector at another end. The connector of the second cable is a mate for the connector of the first cable. At least two terminals are mounted on the card and connected between the wires of the first and second cables for connecting the card to a digital volt/ohm meter. A light is mounted on the card and connected between wires of the first and second cables to determine and visually indicate the continuity of the throttle position sensor wires. In another preferred embodiment, the first cable comprises a plurality of other ends. Each of the other ends of the first cable terminates in a different connector, wherein each of the different connectors of the first cable is removably connectable to a different throttle position sensor connector. The second cable also comprises a plurality of other ends. Each of the other ends of the second cable terminates in and is attached to a different connector, each being a mate for the connectors of the first cable.

Claims

1. A harness for testing at least one throttle position sensor of a vehicle, the throttle position sensor having wires operatively connected therein terminating in a connector, the harness comprising:

a card;

a first cable of multiple wires having at least two ends, one end being hard-wired to the card and another end terminating in and operably attached to a connector, the connector of the first cable being sized and shaped to be removably connectable to the throttle position sensor connector;

a second cable of multiple wires having at least two ends, one end being hard-wired to the card and another end terminating in and operably attached to a connector, the connector of the second cable being a mate for the connector of the first cable, the connector of the second cable being removably connectable to a connector of an electronic control unit of the vehicle;

at least two terminals mounted on the card and electrically and operably connected between wires of the first and second cables, the at least two terminals for connecting the card to a digital volt/ohm meter; and

a light mounted on the card and electrically and operably connected between wires of the first and second cables to determine and visually indicate whether the proper voltage is being received by the throttle position sensor.

2. The harness of claim 1, the first cable comprising a plurality of other ends, each of the other ends terminating in and operably attached to a different connector, wherein each of the different connectors of the first cable is sized and shaped to be removably connectable to a different throttle position sensor connector.

3. The harness of claim 2, the second cable comprising a plurality of other ends, each of the other ends terminating in and operably attached to a different connector, wherein each of the different connectors of the second cable is sized and shaped to be mated with only one of the different connectors of the first cable.

4. The harness of claim 1, the wires of the first and second cable comprising a supply voltage line and a reference voltage line, wherein one terminal is operably connected to the supply voltage line and the other terminal is operably connected to the reference voltage line.

5. The harness of claim 1, the multiple wires of the first and second cable comprising a supply voltage line, a reference voltage line and a ground line, the light being electrically and operably connected between the supply voltage line and the ground line.

6. The harness of claim 1, wherein the connector of the first cable comprises either a plug or receptacle connector.

7. The harness of claim 1, wherein the connector of the second cable comprises either a plug or receptacle connector.

8. A multi-end wire harness for use with at least a first throttle position sensor of a first vehicle and second throttle position sensor of a second vehicle, the first and second throttle position sensors each having a unique connector, the multi-end wire harness comprising:

a card;

a first cable having multiple wires therein and a plurality of ends, at least one end being hard-wired to the card, at least a second end terminating in and operably attached to a first connector, the first connector being sized and shaped to be removably connected to the first throttle position sensor connector, and at least a third end terminating in and operably attached to a second connector, the second connector being sized and shaped to be removably connected to the second throttle position sensor connector; and

a second cable having multiple wires therein and a plurality of ends, at least one end being hard-wired to the card, at least a second end terminating in and operably attached to a first connector, the first connector of the second end of the second cable being a mate for the first connector of the second end of the first cable, the first connector of the second end of the second cable being removably connectable to a connector of an electronic control unit of the first vehicle, and at least a third end terminating in and operably attached to a second connector, the second connector of the third end of the second cable being a mate for the second connector of the third end of the first cable, the second connector of the third end of the second cable being removably connectable to a connector of an electronic control unit of the second vehicle;

whereby the multi-end wire harness can be used with at least the unique connectors of the first and the second vehicles.

9. The multi-end wire harness of claim 8, the first cable comprising a plurality of other ends, each of the other ends terminating in and operably attached to a different connector, wherein each of the different connectors is sized and shaped to be removably connectable to a different throttle position sensor connector.

10. The multi-end wire harness of claim 9, the second cable comprising a plurality of other ends, each of the other ends terminating in and operably attached to a different connector, wherein each of the different connectors is sized and shaped to be mated with only one of the different connectors of the first cable.

11. The multi-end wire harness of claim 8, the card further comprising at least two terminals mounted on the card and electrically connected between wires of the first and second cables for connecting the card to a digital volt/ohm meter.

12. The multi-end wire harness of claim 11, the wires of the first and second cable comprising a supply voltage line and a reference voltage line, wherein one terminal is operably connected to the supply voltage line and the other terminal is operably connected to the reference voltage line.

13. The multi-end wire harness of claim 8, the card further comprising a light mounted on the card and electrically connected between wires of the first and second cables for determining and visually indicating whether the proper voltage is being received by any of the throttle position sensors.

14. The multi-end wire harness of claim 13, the multiple wires of the first and second cable comprising a supply voltage line, a reference voltage line and a ground line, the light being electrically and operably connected between the supply voltage line and the ground line.

15. The multi-end wire harness of claim 8, wherein the connectors of the first cable comprise either plug or receptacle connectors.

16. The multi-end wire harness of claim 8, wherein the connectors of the second cable comprise either plug or receptacle connectors.

17. A multi-end wire harness for use with at least a first throttle position sensor of a first vehicle and second throttle position sensor of a second vehicle, the first and second throttle position sensors each having a unique connector, the multi-end wire harness comprising:

a card;

a first cable having multiple wires therein and a plurality of ends, at least one end being hard-wired to the card, at least a second end terminating in and operably attached to a first connector, the first connector being sized and shaped to be removably connected to the first throttle position sensor connector, and at least a third end terminating in and operably attached to a second connector, the second connector being sized and shaped to be removably connected to the second throttle position sensor connector;

a second cable having multiple wires therein and a plurality of ends, at least one end being hard-wired to the card, at least a second end terminating in and operably attached to a first connector, the first connector of the second end of the second cable being a mate for the first connector of the second end of the first cable, the first connector of the second end of the second cable being removably connectable to a connector of an electronic control unit of the first vehicle, and at least a third end terminating in and operably attached to a second connector, the second connector of the third end of the second cable being a mate for the second connector of the third end of the first cable, the second connector of the third end of the second cable being removably connectable to a connector of an electronic control unit of the second vehicle;

whereby the multi-end wire harness can be used with at least the unique connectors of the first and the second vehicles;

at least two terminals mounted on the card and electrically connected between wires of the first and second cables, the at least two terminals for connecting the card to a digital volt/ohm meter; and

a light mounted on the card and electrically connected between wires of the first and second cables for determining and visually indicating whether the proper voltage is received by any of the throttle position sensors.

18. The harness of claim 17, the first cable comprising a plurality of other ends, each of the other ends terminating in and operably attached to a different connector, wherein each of the different connectors is sized and shaped to be removably connectable to a different throttle position sensor connector.

19. The harness of claim 18, the second cable comprising a plurality of other ends, each of the other ends terminating in and operably attached to a different connector, wherein each of the different connectors is sized and shaped to be mated with only one of the different connectors of the first cable.

20. The harness of claim 17, the wires of the first and second cable comprising a supply voltage line and a reference voltage line, wherein one terminal is operably connected to the supply voltage line and the other terminal is operably connected to the reference voltage line.

21. The harness of claim 17, the multiple wires of the first and second cables comprising a supply voltage line, a reference voltage line and a ground line, the light being electrically and operably connected between the supply voltage line and the ground line.

22. The harness of claim 17, wherein the connectors of the first cable comprise either plug or receptacle connectors.

23. The harness of claim 17, wherein the connectors of the second cable comprise either plug or receptacle connectors.