Vehicle diagnostic tool providing information on the operating condition of a power plant utilizing voltage data

• US 7,962,271 B1
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bernie C. Thompson, Noal R. Pederson
• Original Assignee: Bernie C. Thompson, Noal R. Pederson
• Inventors: Pederson, Noal R., Thompson, Bernie C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen; Lin B
• Application Number:
  US12/624,052
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 701/30, 701/31, 701/32
• US Class Current: 701/99
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/04 Testing internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/05 by combined monitoring of two or more different engine parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

An analysis tool which extracts all the available parameter identifications (i.e. PIDS) from a vehicle'"'"'s power train control module for diagnostic decisions. This is done by checking these PIDS and other information (e.g., calculated PIDS, Break Points, charts and algorithms) in three states; key on engine off, key on engine cranking, key on engine running. In all three modes the tool is comparing the live data from PIDS and voltage to the other information (e.g., Break Points). If any of this data are outside the programmed values a flag is assigned to the failure or control problem. The relationship between a particular PID and its associated preprogrammed value(s) may be indicated by a light. The depth of the problem (if any) is conveyed by the color of the light. Also included are tests/charts for fuel trim, engine volumetric efficiency, simulated injector, power, catalyst efficiency, and engine coolant range.

Claims

1. A method of providing information on the operating condition of a power plant of a vehicle with diagnostic instrumentation, the diagnostic instrumentation including a microprocessor and at least one indicator, the power plant including an engine and a powertrain control module, the method comprising the steps of:

a. programming the microprocessor with one or more algorithms;

b. programming the microprocessor with values in the form of Break Points;

c. programming the microprocessor to extract parameter identification data (hereinafter “

PID data”

) from the powertrain control module;

d. extracting PID data from the powertrain control module with the diagnostic instrumentation;

e. acquiring voltage data from the power plant with the diagnostic instrumentation;

f. comparing the voltage data acquired from the power plant with at least one parameter selected from the group including at least one algorithm and at least one Break Point; and

g. activating the at least one indicator based on the comparison of the acquired voltage data with the at least one parameter.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the power plant includes a starting system including a key, and wherein the step of acquiring voltage data includes the step of acquiring voltage data when the key is in the on position and the engine is off.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the step of acquiring voltage data further includes the step of acquiring voltage data when the key is in the on position and the engine is cranking, wherein the voltage compared to the at least one parameter is the voltage acquired while the engine is cranking, and wherein the step of activating the at least one indicator is based on a comparison of the at least one parameter to the cranking voltage.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of acquiring voltage data further includes the step of acquiring voltage data when the key is in the on position and the engine is running, wherein the voltage compared to the at least one parameter is the voltage acquired while the engine is running, and wherein the step of activating the at least one indicator is based on a comparison of the at least one parameter to the running voltage.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of providing the at least one indicator includes the steps of:

(1) providing a visual indicator for the voltage when the key in the on position and the engine is off;

(2) providing a visual indicator for the voltage when the engine is cranking; and

(3) providing a visual indicator for the value when the engine is running.

6. The method as set froth in claim 1, wherein the at least one indicator is a visual indicator which can be illuminated in more than one color and wherein the step of activating the at least one indicator includes the step of activating the visual indicator.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the at least one visual indicator can be illuminated in red or, alternately, green, wherein the step of comparing the voltage data acquired from the power plant with the at least one parameter includes the step of determining if the acquired voltage data is within a preselected range representing normal operating values or outside of such preselected range, and wherein the step of activating the at least one visual indicator includes the step of activating the visual indicator as green if the acquired voltage data is within such preselected range and activating the visual indicator as red if the acquired voltage data is outside such preselected range.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of programming the microprocessor to process extracted PID data to generate values in the form of calculated PIDS (hereinafter “

CPIDS”

), further including the step of generating from the extracted PID data with the microprocessor at least one CPID, and wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group including at least one algorithm, at least one Break Point and at least one CPID.