Alternator and starter tester with other failures determination functionality and method

• US 9,128,156 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Jardine, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, John H
• Application Number:
  US13/463,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20130297247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 702/58, 702/113, 702/183, 731/145.9, 701/29.6, 701/32.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general

Abstract

The diagnostic tool for testing the performance of a component of a vehicle may include a processor configured to process test information from a component of the vehicle and control and activate the component of the vehicle having identification information to be tested. The diagnostic tool may also include a memory configured to store the test information of the component and software that operates the component of the vehicle. The diagnostic tool may further include an interface module configured to provide information in addition to that of the test information of the component, wherein the additional information is related to the performance of a different vehicle component from the component, and wherein the means for storing and the means for providing are in communication with the means for processing.

Claims

1. An alternator/starter tester for testing a performance of a component of a vehicle, comprising:

a processor configured to process test information from an alternator component of the vehicle and control and activate the alternator component to be tested by the alternator/starter tester;

a memory configured to store the test information of the alternator component and software that operates the alternator component of the vehicle;

an interface module configured to receive additional repair procedure information to repair the vehicle when the alternator component passes the test; and

a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) interpreter configured to interpret diagnostic trouble codes to provide the additional repair procedure information, wherein the additional repair procedure information is related to the performance of a different vehicle component from the alternator component and a starter motor, and wherein the memory and the interface module are in communication with the processor.

2. The tester of claim 1, wherein said processor is also configured to control and activate the starter motor component of the vehicle and process starter motor information.

3. The tester of claim 1, wherein the additional repair procedure information is from at least one of a plurality of technical service bulletins.

4. The tester of claim 3, wherein the plurality of technical service bulletins comprises procedures for diagnostic and/or repairing various components of vehicles hosted by original equipment manufacturers.

5. An alternator/starter tester for testing a performance of a component of a vehicle, comprising:

a processor configured to process test information from a starter motor component of the vehicle and control and activate the starter motor component be tested by the alternator/starter tester;

a memory configured to store the test information of the starter motor component and software that operates the starter motor component of the vehicle;

an interface module configured to receive additional repair procedure information to repair the vehicle when the starter motor component passes the test; and

a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) interpreter configured to interpret diagnostic trouble codes to provide the additional repair procedure information, wherein the additional repair procedure information is related to the performance of a different vehicle component from the starter motor component and an alternator component, and wherein the memory and the interface module are in communication with the processor.

6. The tester of claim 5, wherein said processor is also configured to control and activate the alternator component of the vehicle and process alternator component information.

7. The tester of claim 5, wherein the additional information is from at least one of a plurality of technical service bulletins.

8. The tester of claim 7, wherein the plurality of technical service bulletins comprises procedures for diagnostic and/or repairing various components of vehicles hosted by original equipment manufacturers.

9. A method of testing of a component of a vehicle with an alternator/starter tester, comprising the steps of:

activating, with a processor of the alternator/starter tester, an alternator component to generate test information;

processing, with the processor, the test information from the alternator component of the vehicle;

receiving the test information associated with the alternator component of the vehicle via an input device;

performing, with the processor, a diagnostic test on the alternator component;

receiving, with an interface module of the alternator/starter tester, information resulting from the diagnostic test indicating pass or fail of the diagnostic test by the alternator component;

interpreting diagnostic trouble codes by a diagnostic trouble code interpreter to provide additional repair procedure information when the alternator component passes the test;

querying a memory of the alternator/starter tester by the interface module for additional repair procedure information regarding a different vehicle component from the alternator component and a starter motor when the alternator component passes the test; and

receiving the additional repair procedure information by the interface module.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

activating the starter motor component to generate test information; and

performing a diagnostic test on the starter motor component.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the additional information is from at least one of a plurality of technical service bulletins.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of technical service bulletins comprise procedures for diagnostic and/or repairing various components of vehicles hosted by original equipment manufacturers.

13. A method of testing of a component of a vehicle with an alternator/starter tester, comprising the steps of:

activating, with a processor of the alternator/starter tester, a starter motor component to generate test information;

processing, with the processor, the test information from the starter motor component of the vehicle;

receiving the test information associated with the starter motor component of the vehicle via an input device;

performing, with the processor a diagnostic test on the starter motor component;

receiving, with an interface module of the alternator/starter tester, information resulting from the diagnostic test indicating pass or fail of the diagnostic test by the starter motor component;

interpreting diagnostic trouble codes by a diagnostic trouble code interpreter to provide additional repair procedure information when the starter motor component passes the test;

querying a memory of the alternator/starter tester by the interface module for additional repair procedure regarding a different vehicle component from the starter motor component and an alternator component when the starter motor component passes the test; and

receiving the additional repair procedure information by the interface module.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

activating the alternator component to generate test information and performing a diagnostic test on the starter motor component.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the additional information is from at least one of a plurality of technical service bulletins.

16. An alternator/starter tester for testing the performance of a component of a vehicle, comprising:

means for processing test information from an alternator component or a starter motor of the vehicle, the means for processing controlling and activating the alternator component or the starter motor to be tested by the alternator/starter tester;

means for storing the test information of the alternator component or the starter motor component and software that operates the alternator component or the starter motor component of the vehicle;

means for providing information configured to receive additional repair procedure information when the alternator component or the starter motor component passes the test; and

a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) interpreter configured to interpret diagnostic trouble codes to provide the additional repair procedure information, wherein the additional repair procedure information is related to the performance of a different vehicle component from the alternator component and the starter motor component, and wherein the means for storing and the means for providing are in communication with the means for processing.