Wireless portable automated harness scanner system and method therefor

• US 7,728,605 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ziota Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ziota Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Gervais, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Dole; Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZHU, JOHN X
• Application Number:
  US12/057,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20080238438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 324/539, 324/503, 324/66
• US Class Current: 324/539
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/008 on air- or spacecraft, railway rolling stock or sea-going vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/086 in power transmission or distribution networks, i.e. with interconnected conductors
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/11 using pulse reflection methods
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72

Abstract

The present document describes a system for offline testing of an installed wiring harness, comprising: at least a first and a second testing module, having: a communication module for receiving test specifications and for sending test measurements; testing equipment for generating the test measurements from the test specifications; each of the first and second testing modules being adapted for connection at a connection point in the wiring harness; a central network management module, having: a communication module for providing the test specifications to the testing modules and for receiving the test measurements; and a test management module for controlling the testing modules.

Claims

1. A system for testing an installed wiring harness comprising a first and a second connection points, comprising:

a signal source testing module for connection at the first connection point in the wiring harness;

a measurement termination testing module for connection at the second connection point in the wiring harness; and

a central management module for coordinating each one of the testing modules via a respective one of two communication channels;

the signal source testing module for generating a testing signal based on the coordinating of the central management module, and for sending the testing signal from the first connection point to the second connection point;

at least one of the signal source testing module and measurement termination testing module comprises storage means for recording test measurements of the installed wiring harness; and

at least one of the signal source testing module and measurement termination testing module comprises processing means for processing the test measurements to produce test results to be sent to the central management module by at least one of the signal source testing module and measurement termination testing module.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing said test specifications and said test measurements, and further wherein said test management module is for retrieving said test specifications from said storage means.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said storage means further comprises wiring harness historical data and wherein said central network management module further comprises:

an analysis module for providing a diagnostic and recommendations based on said wiring harness historical data and said test measurements data.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said testing modules comprises at least one of:

a circuit switch and polarity analysis module, a standing wave ratio test module, a TDR test module and a spectrum impedance test module.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a report module for providing a report of said test measurements of said installed wiring harness.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal source testing modules comprises a signal generator for generating the testing signal and a multiplexer for routing said testing signal to one of a plurality of wires connected to said connection point in said wiring harness.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of said testing modules comprises test equipment for generating said test measurements from analysis of said testing signal, once routed through said wiring harness.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the test specifications are indicative of tests to be performed.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing means allows obtaining at least one of:

fundamental electrical characteristics of said wiring harness and a mapping connection of the wiring harness from the test measurements.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two communication channels are wireless.

11. The system of claim 1, comprising a connector module adapted for connection of each one of the testing modules to a respective one of the first and second connection points, and wherein the central network management module comprises a database storing a list of connection points in the wiring harness which are compatible for connection with the connector module.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal source testing module generating the testing signal comprises generating the testing signal based on the test specifications received from the central network management module.

12. A system for testing a wiring harness installed in an installation for which periodic testing is required, said system comprising:

a signal source testing module for connecting at a first node in said wiring harness installed in the installation for which periodic testing is required, the signal source testing module for sending a testing signal in said installed wiring harness to obtain test measurements for said installed wiring harness, the signal source testing module comprising a signal generator for generating the testing signal;

a measurement termination testing module for connecting at a second node in said installed wiring harness; and

a central management module for sending test specifications to at least said signal source testing module to control said testing modules, the test specifications being indicative of test measurements to be obtained, and the testing signal being based on the test measurements to be obtained as indicated by the test specifications;

at least one of said testing modules comprises storage means and processing means for recording the test measurements and for processing the test measurements to produce test results; and

at least said signal source testing module comprises a communication module for receiving the test specifications and for sending the test results to said central management module.

13. A method for testing an installed wiring harness, comprising:

providing a signal source testing module at a first connection point in the wiring harness;

providing a measurement termination testing module at a second connection point in the wiring harness;

providing a central management module;

the central management module coordinating each one of the testing modules via a respective one of two communication channels;

the signal source testing module generating a testing signal based on the coordinating, and sending the testing signal from one of the first and second connection points to another one of the first and second connection points;

at least one of the signal source testing module and measurement termination testing module recording test measurements for the installed wiring harness;

at least one of the signal source testing module and measurement termination testing module processing the test measurements to produce test results; and

at least one of the signal source testing module and measurement termination testing module sending the test results to the central management module.