Methods and apparatus for engine diagnostics
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A diagnostic method for an engine including an ECU, the method utilizing a diagnostic computer including a display screen, said method comprising the steps of:
- coupling the computer to the engine ECU;
operating said computer through a plurality of a screen displays relating to engine diagnostics and testing, said screen displays generated on the display screen, at least one of said display screens requiring selection between (a) provision of service reports and (b) provision of an item of engine component information, or (c) return to a display displaying, in response to selection of provision of service reports, one or more displays on the monitor allowing printing of a service report including a printed record of a plurality of switch positions of the engine.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for testing operation and diagnosing faults in an engine including an electronic control unit. A diagnostic computer is coupled to the electronic control unit and displays engine testing and diagnostic text messages in any one of a plurality of selectable languages, energize ignition circuits on demand, display menu screen displays associated with engine testing, diagnostics and service, and generate summary screen displays and reports for later use.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. A diagnostic method for an engine including an ECU, the method utilizing a diagnostic computer including a display screen, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling the computer to the engine ECU;
operating said computer through a plurality of a screen displays relating to engine diagnostics and testing, said screen displays generated on the display screen, at least one of said display screens requiring selection between (a) provision of service reports and (b) provision of an item of engine component information, or (c) return to a display displaying, in response to selection of provision of service reports, one or more displays on the monitor allowing printing of a service report including a printed record of a plurality of switch positions of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
causing, responsive to selection of provision of service reports in response to said screen display requiring selection, a second screen display allowing selection between one or more saved service reports and a current service report.
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15. Apparatus A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein operating said computer causes a screen display allowing selection between printing a saved service report, viewing a saved service report, viewing a current service report, printing a current service report and saving a current service report.
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16. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying one or more screen displays on the display screen allowing printing of a service report including a print of a name of an owner of the engine.
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17. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying, in response to selection of provision of service reports, one or more screen displays on the display screen allowing printing of a service report including a print of a model number of the engine.
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18. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying, in response to selection of provision of service reports, one or more displays on the display screen allowing printing of a service report including a print of a serial number of the engine.
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19. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying, in response to selection of provision of service reports, one or more screen displays on the display screen allowing printing of a service report including a print of an ECU program number of the engine.
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20. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying, in response to selection of provision of service reports, one or more screen displays on the display screen allowing printing of a service report including a print of ECU version number of the engine.
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21. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing a plurality of switch positions, and said service report includes at least one switch position from said display screen.
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22. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing switch positions, said service report including all said switch positions.
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23. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing a plurality of sensor positions, said service report including a plurality of sensor positions from said screen display.
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24. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing sensor positions, and said service report includes at least one sensor position from said screen display.
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25. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing sensor positions, said service report including all sensor positions from said display screen.
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26. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing an engine speed profile and said service report includes said engine speed profile.
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27. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing an engine speed and said service report includes a profile which includes said engine speed.
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28. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test involving various engine speeds producing a screen display showing an engine speed and said service report includes an engine speed profile showing various engine speed ranges in RPM and the percentage of time during the test that the engine speed was in each engine speed range.
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29. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing a service fault code and said service report includes said service fault code.
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30. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said method further comprises conducting a diagnostic test producing a screen display showing a plurality of service fault codes and said service report includes said all of said plurality of service fault codes.
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31. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising saving the service report to a memory unit operatively connected to said processor.
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32. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of causing, responsive to selection of provision of engine component information a second screen display that facilitates an injector serial number screen display.
- 12. A method in accordance with claim,wherein said engine is a marine engine.
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33. Apparatus for diagnostic operation of an engine including an ECU, said apparatus comprising:
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a processor configured to be coupled to the engine ECU;
a display screen coupled to said processor;
said processor is programmed to cause a screen display on said display screen to require selection between;
(a) provision of engine specific service reports, (b) provision of a specific item of engine component information, and (c) return to a prior display said processor is also programmed to conduct a diagnostic test and provide a screen display showing an engine profile and said service report includes said engine profile. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. Apparatus for testing operation of and diagnosing a fault in an outboard engine including an ECU, said apparatus comprising:
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a processor configured to be coupled to the outboard engine electronic control unit;
a screen display coupled to said processor;
said processor adapted to cause display of at least a single screen display divided into and having a sensor section, a switch section, a voltage section and an engine results section. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A diagnostic method of servicing an engine including an ECU, diagnostic the method utilizing a processor including a memory and a display screen coupled to the processor, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling the processor to the engine ECU;
displaying on said display screen a plurality of screen displays in a user selected language, at least one of said screen displays facilitating;
provision of a service report, at least one screen display facilitating provision of a first item of engine component information, and at least one screen display facilitating testing of an ignition circuit, said processor energizing said ignition circuit upon receipt of a user predetermined operator command. - View Dependent Claims (79)
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Specification