Electronic control assembly testing system
First Claim
1. A method for diagnosing multiple components of an electrical control assembly, the assembly comprising an electronic control module and a plurality of electrical components electrically connected to the electronic control module by a wiring harness, comprising the steps of:
- connecting an interface module between the electronic control assembly and a local computer, the interface module configured to receive electronic signals from said control module and said electrical components;
sending from the local computer to a remote computer, an identification code identifying the electronic control assembly undergoing diagnosis;
sending from the remote computer to the local computer information specific to the electronic control assembly;
operating the electronic control assembly undergoing diagnosis, said interface module receiving a plurality of individual signals from said electronic control assembly and transmitting said signals, through said local computer to said remote computer;
interpreting said plurality of individual signals at said remote computer; and
receiving at said local computer, a display of data from said remote computer responsive to said received plurality of individual signals, said display including a prioritized listing of electronic components which are not operating within predetermined specifications.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automotive powertrain assembly testing system comprising an interface module adapted to interconnect between an electronic control module of an automotive vehicle and an on-site computer system capable of accessing a remote database and data interpretation system. The interface module includes a four channel signal input capable of sampling data at a rate of 500,000 samples per second, in the range of zero to 250 volts. The interface module further includes a sample buffer capable of storing 32,768 samples per input channel. Electronic samples received by the interface module are transferred via an electronic connection to the on-site computer system, for real-time display to a system operator, and for transfer via a standard phone line or high-speed data connection to a remote database and data interpretation system. The data interpretation system receives the sampled data, compares it with acceptable data values for the vehicle undergoing diagnosis, and generates a component evaluation report. The component evaluation report is transmitted back to the on-site computer system for display to the operator or technicians, and includes a listing of vehicle components generating signals which are outside acceptable ranges. The data interpretation system further indicates to the operator or technician a repair priority for the failed components to facilitate rapid repair of the automotive vehicle.
91 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for diagnosing multiple components of an electrical control assembly, the assembly comprising an electronic control module and a plurality of electrical components electrically connected to the electronic control module by a wiring harness, comprising the steps of:
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connecting an interface module between the electronic control assembly and a local computer, the interface module configured to receive electronic signals from said control module and said electrical components; sending from the local computer to a remote computer, an identification code identifying the electronic control assembly undergoing diagnosis; sending from the remote computer to the local computer information specific to the electronic control assembly; operating the electronic control assembly undergoing diagnosis, said interface module receiving a plurality of individual signals from said electronic control assembly and transmitting said signals, through said local computer to said remote computer; interpreting said plurality of individual signals at said remote computer; and receiving at said local computer, a display of data from said remote computer responsive to said received plurality of individual signals, said display including a prioritized listing of electronic components which are not operating within predetermined specifications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A diagnostic system for coupling to a wiring harness between an electronic control module and a plurality of electrical components of an electrical system to remotely diagnose said electrical system, comprising:
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a local computer; an interface module interconnected between said wiring harness and said local computer, said interface module having a harness connector having a plurality of pins for coupling to said wiring harness between said electronic control module and said plurality of electrical components, at least one output channel electrically coupled to said plurality of pins, said output channel including (a) a multiplexer having an input and an output, said input of said multiplexer coupled to said harness connector for selecting signals received from one of said plurality of pins, (b) a separate voltage limiting circuit electrically connected between each of said pins and said input of multiplexer to limit the voltage level of said received signals, (c) a voltage amplification and range selection circuit coupled to said output of said multiplexer, an output of said voltage amplification and range selection circuit directed to an output of said channel, and a sensor coupled to an output of said output channel, said sensor monitoring the voltage level of said signal received from said selected pin, said voltage level representative of a signal exchanged between said electronic control module and one of said plurality of electrical components of said electrical system; and said local computer configured to receive signals from said output channel to identify a prioritized listing of electronic components which are not operating within a predetermined specifications. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An interface module for interconnection between a wiring harness and a local computer configured with diagnostic software in a diagnostic system capable of being coupled to said wiring harness between an electronic control module and a plurality of electrical components of an electrical system for remotely diagnosing said electrical system comprising:
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a harness connector having one hundred twenty eight coupling pins, each pin corresponding to a separate wire comprising said wiring harness for coupling to said wiring harness between said electronic control module and said plurality of electrical components, said harness connector includes a "T" connector for extracting signals exchanged between said electronic control module and said plurality of electrical components over said wiring harness; at least one output channel electrically coupled to said plurality of pins, said output channel including (a) a multiplexer coupled to said harness connector for selecting signals received from one of said plurality of pins, (b) a separate voltage divider circuit electrically connected between each of said pins and said multiplexer, (c) an amplification and range selection circuit coupled to an output of said multiplexer, (d) an output of said amplification and range selection circuit directed to an output of said channel, (e) an analog to digital converter circuit coupled to the output of said amplification and scaling circuit, said analog to digital converter circuit converting said signal from analog to digital format, said output channel further includes a digital data buffer circuit coupled to the output of said analog to digital converter, said digital data buffer temporarily storing sequential digital signals prior to routing said signals to said output of said channel; and a sensor coupled to an output of said output channel, said sensor monitoring the voltage level of said signal received from said selected pin, said voltage level representative of a signal exchanged between said electronic control module and one of said plurality of electrical components of said electrical system. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method for diagnosing multiple components of an electrical control assembly, the assembly comprising an electronic control module and a plurality of electrical components electrically connected to the electronic control module by a wiring harness, comprising the steps
connecting an interface module between the electronic control assembly and a local computer, the interface module configured to receive electronic signals from said control module and said electrical components; -
sending from the local computer to a remote computer, an identification code identifying the electronic control assembly undergoing diagnosis; sending from the remote computer to the local computer information specific to said electronic control assembly; operating the electronic control assembly undergoing diagnosis, said interface module receiving a plurality of individual signals from said electronic control assembly; utilizing said information specific to said electronic control assembly and said received plurality of individual signals to identify components of said electronic control assembly which are not operating within predetermined specifications; and displaying at said local computer a prioritized list of corrective measures derived from said information specific to said electronic control assembly and said plurality of individual signals. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method for diagnosing multiple components of an electrical control assembly, the assembly comprising an electronic control module and a plurality of electrical components electrically connected to the electronic control module by a wiring harness, comprising the steps of:
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connecting an interface module between the electronic control assembly and a local computer, the interface module configured to receive electronic signals from said control module and said electrical components; establishing a data transfer connection between said local computer and a remote computer; sending from the local computer via said data transfer connection to said remote computer, an identification code identifying the electronic control assembly undergoing diagnosis; sending from the remote computer via said data transfer connection to the local computer information specific to the electronic control assembly; operating the electronic control assembly undergoing diagnosis, said interface module receiving a plurality of individual signals from said electronic control assembly and transmitting said signals via said data transfer connection, through said local computer to said remote computer; interpreting said plurality of individual signals at said remote computer; and receiving at said local computer data via said data transfer connection from said remote computer responsive to said received plurality of individual signals, said data including a prioritized listing of electronic components which are not operating within predetermined specifications. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification