System for dynamic diagnosis of apparatus operating conditions

• US 8,620,511 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Rother, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US11/036,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20050137762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,273 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/33, 701/32, 701/35, 701/101, 701/76, 701/93, 701/30, 701/102, 701/29.1, 731/172, 731/173, 702/57, 702/58, 702/183, 702/185, 714/38, 714/25, 714/30, 340/825.54, 340/825.52, 340/438
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• 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 adapted for coupling to a scanner to download data from vehicle computers. The system stores information regarding vehicle identifications, drivability symptoms, vehicle system and component tests and service codes which can be registered by the vehicle on-board computer. System software permits user input of vehicle identification and, in one mode, displays a fault library from which the user can select, whereupon the system selects from the library tests pertinent to diagnosing causes of selected faults and displays them in a hierarchically ranked order based on likelihood of success. The user can then 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, whereupon the system highlights icons which can be selected for initiating pertinent test procedures. Selected test procedures include links to engine analyzer or scanner hardware or other appropriate test modules.

Claims

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

receiving into a diagnostic system apparatus identification information;

receiving into the diagnostic system an indication of a fault that can be experienced by an apparatus;

in response to receiving the indication of the fault, using the apparatus identification information and stored diagnostic data to determine, via the diagnostic system, a list of possible causes and a corresponding list of tests that can be performed on the apparatus to diagnose a cause of the fault;

displaying on an electronic device, via the diagnostic system, the list of possible causes and the corresponding list of tests, for selection of a test by a user;

receiving into the diagnostic system from the user, via the electronic device, a selection of a test to perform on the apparatus under diagnosis, wherein the user selects the test from the corresponding list of tests;

in response to the test being performed to diagnose a cause of the fault, collecting, via the diagnostic system, test data and the apparatus identification information in a remote system library; and

receiving into the diagnostic system updated apparatus diagnostic data from the remote system library, wherein the updated apparatus diagnostic data is based upon at least the collected test data and the apparatus identification information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus identification information includes the apparatus'"'"'s geographic location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus identification information includes the time of year the apparatus is being diagnosed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the age of the apparatus is based on its model year.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying on an electronic device the list of possible causes and the corresponding list of tests, for selection of a test by the user, comprises displaying an indication of at least one component of the apparatus on which a test can be performed to diagnose a cause of the fault.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying on an electronic device the list of possible causes and the corresponding list of tests, for selection of a test by the user, comprises accessing a knowledge database that includes a library comprising a plurality of tests.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying on an electronic device the list of possible causes and the corresponding list of tests, for selection of a test by the user, comprises indicating which tests have been previously performed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving apparatus identification information comprises prompting the user to perform an apparatus identification procedure.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting the user to perform a test.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing test data to a data storage mechanism.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

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

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the basis for the apparatus identification information includes the age of the apparatus.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of possible causes and the corresponding list of tests include only one cause and one corresponding test.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the age of the apparatus is based on its mileage.