System for dynamic diagnosis of apparatus operating conditions

• US 6,845,307 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rother, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/441,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33, 701/32, 701/29, 701/35, 731/172, 731/173
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A diagnostic platform includes a processor, storage media and user interfaces, including a display screen, the processor being coupled to engine analyzer hardware and adapted to be coupled to a scanner for downloading data from vehicle on-board computers. The system stores libraries of information regarding vehicle identifications, drivability symptoms exhibited by vehicles, vehicle system and component tests and service codes which can be registered by the vehicle on-board computer. System software permits the user to input an identification of the vehicle under test and, in one mode of operation, displays a library of faults, such as symptoms or service codes, from which the user can select those exhibited by the vehicle, whereupon the system selects from the test library those tests pertinent to diagnosis of the causes of the selected faults and displays them in a hierarchically ranked order based on likelihood of successful diagnosis of the faults. The user can then select and initiate any displayed test. In other modes, the system initially displays one of the libraries of system or component tests, from which the user selects those deemed appropriate, whereupon the system highlights icons which can be selected for initiating pertinent test procedures. Selected test procedures may include links to the engine analyzer or scanner hardware or other appropriate test modules.

Claims

1. A method for a user to diagnose an apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving apparatus identification information, including apparatus make information;

using the apparatus identification information and stored apparatus diagnostic data to determine at least one test that can be performed on an apparatus to diagnose cause of a fault that can be experienced by the apparatus;

in response to a test being performed to diagnose a cause of a fault begin experienced by the apparatus, collecting test data comprising whether or not the test diagnose a cause of the fault;

transmitting the test data and the apparatus identification information to remote system library; and

receiving updated apparatus diagnostic data from the remote system library.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying at least one test to the user for the user to select; and

receiving from the user a selection of a test to perform on the apparatus under diagnosis.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying at least one test to the user for the user to select comprises:

displaying an indication of at least one system of the apparatus on which a test can be performed to diagnose a cause of a fault that can be experienced by the apparatus.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying least one test to the user for the user to select comprises:

displaying an indication of at least one component of the apparatus on which a test can be performed to diagnose a cause of a fault that can be experienced by the apparatus.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying least one test to the user comprises accessing a knowledge database that includes a library comprising a plurality of tests.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying least one test to the user comprises indicating which tests have been previously performed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving apparatus identification information comprises:

prompting the user to perform an apparatus identification procedure.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting the user to perform the test.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing test data to a data storage mechanism.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote system library updates the apparatus diagnostic data.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating the test data and displaying at least one diagnostic conclusion to the user.