Vehicle system analyzer and tutorial unit

• US 6,055,468 A
• Filed: 08/07/1995
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Research Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Research Products Corporation
• Inventors: Paul, Jack, Kaman, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/511,724
• Time in Patent Office: 1,723 Days
• Field of Search: 364/551.01, 364/570, 340/870.16, 340/870.44, 340/438, 340/439, 342/82, 342/89, 375/200, 375/220, 73/116, 73/117.1, 73/118.1, 455/95, 701/29, 701/35, 701/101, 701/115, 701/33
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A vehicle analyzer and tutorial system is provided. The unit includes an engine analyzer and display unit. The unit further includes a remote controller and display unit, operably interconnected with the engine analyzer and display unit through a radio frequency interface, for remotely monitoring the engine analyzer display and for controlling the engine analyzer.

Claims

1. A vehicle analyzer and tutorial system comprising:

an engine pod adapted to sense and control operation of an engine of a test vehicle;

an engine fault detection analyzer and display unit coupled to the pod through a first radio frequency interface, said engine fault detection analyzer having provisions for local control by a local technician and remote control from a technical center and provisions for transferring a copy of each screen appearing on the display to the technical center;

a remote controller and display unit at the technical center, operably interconnected with the engine analyzer and display unit through a communication interface comprising one of a radio frequency interface, a cellular interface and a telephone interface, for remotely monitoring the engine analyzer display, for displaying the copy of each screen and for optionally controlling the engine analyzer; and

a satellite downlink disposed between the remote controller and display unit at the technical center and a plurality of the engine fault detection analyzer and display units, such downlink adapted for tutoring a plurality of operators of the plurality of engine fault detection analyzer and display units by an operator at the technical center.

2. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 1 further comprising a satellite close-circuit television receiver operably coupled to the engine analyzer and display unit.

3. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency interface further comprises a duplex voice path.

4. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency interface further comprises a duplex data path.

5. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 1 further comprising a first processor for analyzing a test parameter of a test vehicle and displaying such test parameter on a display along with indicia of acceptable values of the test parameter from a manufacturer of the test vehicle.

6. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle system analyzer further comprises an engine pod and a main unit.

7. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 6 wherein the engine pod and main unit exchange data over a wireless data link.

8. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 7 wherein the engine pod further comprises a first processor for communicating a test reading from at least one test connection of the plurality of test connections to a second processor within the main unit.

9. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 8 wherein the main unit further comprises a display for displaying the at least one test reading along with indicia of acceptable readings for the at least one test reading based upon a manufacturer'"'"'s recommendation for the test vehicle.

10. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 9 wherein the main unit further comprises a memory for storing indicia of acceptable readings for the at least one test reading based upon a manufacturer'"'"'s recommendation for the test vehicle.

11. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 6 wherein the engine pod is adapted to be interconnected with a test vehicle.

12. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 6 wherein the engine pod further comprises a plurality of test connections for interconnection with the test vehicle.

13. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system as in claim 1 further comprising means for transferring screens from the remote controller and display unit to the engine fault detection analyzer and display unit.

14. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system as in claim 1 further comprising means for displaying instantaneous test values.

15. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system as in claim 1 further comprising a closed circuit television link coupling the technical center and engine fault detection analyzer and display unit, said closed circuit television link being adapted to allow an instructor located at the technical center to tutor a user of the engine fault detection analyzer and display unit.

16. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system as in claim 15 wherein the closed circuit television link further comprises a two-way audio interconnect between the instructor and user.

17. A vehicle analyzer and tutorial system comprising:

an engine pod secured within an engine compartment of a vehicle to be tested and coupled to an engine of the vehicle;

a vehicle system fault detection analyzer with a memory containing stored data and vehicle specification of the vehicle and a processor for comparing measured values of the vehicle collected by the engine pod with the data and vehicle specifications;

a first set of radio frequency transceivers adapted to form a radio frequency interface between the engine pod and the vehicle system fault detection analyzer and adapted to allow remote control of the engine pod by the vehicle system fault detection analyzer; and

a communication interface, comprising one of a radio frequency interface, a cellular interface and a telephone interface, coupled to the vehicle system analyzer which optionally establishes a two-way data and control interconnect with a vehicle system analyzer technical center and which transfers a copy of each screen appearing on a display of the vehicle system fault detection analyzer to the technical center; and

a satellite downlink disposed between the technical center and a plurality of the vehicle system fault detection analyzers, such downlink adapted for tutoring a plurality of operators of the plurality of vehicle system fault detection analyzers by an operator at the technical center.

18. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 17 wherein the interconnect further comprises a duplex voice path.

19. The vehicle system analyzer and tutorial system of claim 17 wherein the interconnect further comprises a duplex data path.

20. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 17 further comprising a first processor for analyzing a test parameter of a test vehicle and displaying such test parameter on a display.

21. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 20 further comprising means for displaying indicia of acceptable values of the test parameter from a manufacturer of the test vehicle.

22. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 17 wherein the vehicle system analyzer further comprises an engine pod and a main unit.

23. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 22 wherein the engine pod and main unit exchange data over a wireless data link.

24. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 23 wherein the engine pod is adapted to be interconnected with a test vehicle.

25. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 24 wherein the engine pod further comprises a plurality of test connections for interconnection with the test vehicle.

26. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 25 wherein the engine pod further comprises a first processor for communicating a test reading from at least one test connection of the plurality of test connections to a second processor within the main unit.

27. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 26 wherein the main unit further comprises a display for displaying the at least one test reading along with indicia of acceptable readings for the at least one test reading based upon a manufacturer'"'"'s recommendation for the test vehicle.

28. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system of claim 27 wherein the main unit further comprises a memory for storing indicia of acceptable readings for the at least one test reading based upon a manufacturer'"'"'s recommendation for the test vehicle.

29. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system as in claim 17 further comprising means for receiving and displaying screens from the technical center.

30. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system as in claim 17 further comprising means for displaying instantaneous test values.

31. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system as in claim 17 further comprising a closed circuit television link coupling the technical center and engine fault detection analyzer and display unit, said closed circuit television link being adapted to allow an instructor located at the technical center to tutor a user of the engine fault detection analyzer and display unit.

32. The vehicle analyzer and tutorial system as in claim 31 wherein the closed circuit television link further comprises a two-way audio interconnect between the instructor and user.

33. A vehicle analyzer and tutorial system comprising:

an engine pod adapted to sense and control operation of an engine of a test vehicle;

an engine fault detection analyzer and display unit coupled to the pod through a radio frequency interface and to a technical center through a landline; and

a satellite downlink disposed between the technical center and the engine fault detection analyzer and display unit, such downlink adapted for tutoring a operator of the engine fault detection analyzer and display unit by a training operator at the technical center.