Electronic ignition control module test system

• US 5,635,841 A
• Filed: 03/31/1995
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Inventors: Taylor, Bobby D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arana, Louis M.
• Application Number:
  US08/414,628
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 324/402, 324/384, 324/383, 324/380
• US Class Current: 324/380
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 17/00 Testing of ignition installations, e.g. in combination with adjusting testing fuel injection apparatus F02M65/00; testing ignition installations in general F23Q23/00; Testing of ignition timing in compression-ignition engines
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00

Abstract

A method for testing an electronic ignition control module utilizes the steps of: placing the electronic ignition control module in electrical communication with an electronic ignition control module tester; the tester identifying the electronic ignition control module in electrical communication therewith so as to determine the type thereof; the tester performing testing of the electronic ignition control module, the particular tests performed being dependent upon the particular electronic ignition control module type being tester; the tester indicating pass/fail condition of the electronic ignition control module. Having the tester identify the electronic ignition control module type and perform testing which depends upon the particular electronic ignition control module type being tested eliminates the need for a user to define the tests to be performed. An adaptor cable being dedicated for use with a particular electronic ignition control module type is preferably utilized to electrically interconnect the electronic ignition module tester and the electronic ignition control module. The adaptor cable preferably facilitates identification of the electronic ignition control module type.

Claims

1. A method for testing an electronic ignition control module, said method comprising the steps of:

a) manually placing the electronic ignition control module in electrical communication with an electronic ignition control module tester via a first multiple pin electrical connector;

b) electronically identifying the electronic ignition control module type by sensing shorted and open conditions between the multiple pins of the electrical connector; and

c) performing a plurality of tests upon the electronic ignition control module, the particular tests performed being dependent upon the identification of the particular electronic ignition control module type being tested.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of placing the electronic ignition control module in electrical communication with the electronic ignition control module tester comprises:

a) placing a first electrical connector of an adaptor cable in electrical communication with the electronic ignition control module to be tested, the adaptor cable being dedicated for use with a particular electronic ignition control module type; and

b) placing a second electrical connector of the adaptor cable in electrical communication with the electronic ignition control module tester.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the step of placing the first electrical connector of the adaptor cable in electrical communication with the electronic ignition control module to be tested comprises attaching the electronic ignition control module to a first electrical connector physically configured to attach to only one electronic ignition control module type.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of indicating a pass/fail condition of the electronic ignition control module.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

a) the step of identifying the electronic ignition control module comprises an electronic ignition control module tester identifying the adaptor cable; and

b) the step of the electronic ignition control module tester performing testing of the electronic ignition control module comprises the micro controller selecting a stored list of predefined test instructions, selection of the stored list being dependent upon the identification of the adaptor cable.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of performing a plurality of tests upon the electronic ignition control module comprises performing:

a) a Reference/PIP test;

b) an EST/SPOUT test;

c) a bypass test;

d) a low RPM test; and

e) a high RPM test.

7. An electronic ignition control module test system, said system comprising:

a) a plurality of adaptor cables, each adaptor cable being configured for testing a particular ignition module type and being electrically connectable thereto, each of the adaptor cables having a multiplicity of selectively shorted pins; and

b) an electronic ignition control module tester to which said adaptor cables are electrically connectable, said electronic ignition control module tester comprising identification circuitry for identifying the particular adaptor cable electrically connected thereto, by sensing shorted and open conditions between multiple pins of the adaptor cables, the identification of the particular adaptor cable defining tests to be performed based upon the ignition module electrically connected thereto.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein said electronic ignition control module tester comprises:

a) a micro controller and

b) a memory;

c) wherein in said micro controller a selected list of predefined test instructions is stored in said memory, selection of the stored list being dependent upon the identification of the particular adaptor cable.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein said list of predefined test instructions comprises instructions for performing:

a) a Reference/PIP test;

b) an EST/SPOUT test;

c) Bypass test;

d) a low RPM test; and

e) a high RPM test.