Cruise control tester
First Claim
1. A tester for testing a cruise control system on a vehicle, said cruise control system being of any one of three different types of which all three types have a control module which produces a cruise engage signal, and a cruise engage signal conductor, wherein, in said first type said cruise engage conductor is coupled with a cruise engage lamp on said vehicle which is coupled with the positive terminal of the vehicle battery, in said second type there is no cruise engage lamp on said vehicle and in said third type said cruise engage conductor is coupled with a power train computer module on said vehicle, and whereineach type there is a disconnectible connector having first and second connector elements which are manually connectable and disconnectable from each other, said first connector element being electrically connected to said control module and said second connector element being electrically connected to said cruise engage signal conductor,said tester having a continuity testing circuit for testing the electrical continuity of said cruise engage signal conductor, said continuity testing circuit comprising:
- a third connector element,a tester battery,a light emitting diode having its cathode coupled with the negative terminal of the tester battery,a transistor having a base, an emitter and a collector, said emitter being coupled with the anode of the light emitting through a current limiting resistor, said collector being coupled to the positive terminal of the tester battery, and said base being coupled through a bias resistor to said third connector element, which is manually connectable to and disconnectible from the second connector element,whereby the continuity testing circuit may be connected to said cruise engage signal conductor to test for electrical continuity,and whereby the light emitting diode will be turned on to indicate continuity of the cruise engage signal conductor when the cruise control system is of the first type and whereby the light emitting diode will be turned on to indicate continuity of the cruise engage signal conductor when the cruise control system is of the third type, and whereby a cruise control system of the second type will be ineffective to turn on the light emitting diode.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tester is disclosed for any one of three different types of cruise control systems on a vehicle, each of which has a cruise engage signal conductor which is tested for circuit continuity. The continuity testing circuit includes a battery, light emitting diode (LED) and a transistor with its base connected through a bias resistor to a connector element which is connected to the cruise engage signal conductor for testing its continuity. The circuit continuity is indicated by turn-on of the LED for two types of cruise control systems and by failure to turn-on the LED for the third type of cruise control system.
-
Citations
1 Claim
-
1. A tester for testing a cruise control system on a vehicle, said cruise control system being of any one of three different types of which all three types have a control module which produces a cruise engage signal, and a cruise engage signal conductor, wherein, in said first type said cruise engage conductor is coupled with a cruise engage lamp on said vehicle which is coupled with the positive terminal of the vehicle battery, in said second type there is no cruise engage lamp on said vehicle and in said third type said cruise engage conductor is coupled with a power train computer module on said vehicle, and wherein
each type there is a disconnectible connector having first and second connector elements which are manually connectable and disconnectable from each other, said first connector element being electrically connected to said control module and said second connector element being electrically connected to said cruise engage signal conductor, said tester having a continuity testing circuit for testing the electrical continuity of said cruise engage signal conductor, said continuity testing circuit comprising: -
a third connector element, a tester battery, a light emitting diode having its cathode coupled with the negative terminal of the tester battery, a transistor having a base, an emitter and a collector, said emitter being coupled with the anode of the light emitting through a current limiting resistor, said collector being coupled to the positive terminal of the tester battery, and said base being coupled through a bias resistor to said third connector element, which is manually connectable to and disconnectible from the second connector element, whereby the continuity testing circuit may be connected to said cruise engage signal conductor to test for electrical continuity, and whereby the light emitting diode will be turned on to indicate continuity of the cruise engage signal conductor when the cruise control system is of the first type and whereby the light emitting diode will be turned on to indicate continuity of the cruise engage signal conductor when the cruise control system is of the third type, and whereby a cruise control system of the second type will be ineffective to turn on the light emitting diode.
-
Specification
-
- Resources
-
Current AssigneeThomas F. Hornung
-
Original AssigneeThomas F. Hornung
-
InventorsHornung, Thomas F.
-
Primary Examiner(s)Ballato, Josie
-
Assistant Examiner(s)Hollington, Jermele M.
-
Application NumberUS09/032,287Time in Patent Office901 DaysField of Search324/503, 324/555, 324/556, 324/383, 340/652, 340/653, 340/654, 340/438, 73/1.37, 180/177, 180/179, 701/93, 701/97US Class Current324/503CPC Class CodesG01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. auto...
