Vehicle electrical system tester with encoded output

• US 6,445,158 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Troy, Michael E., Bertness, Kevin I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US09/575,629
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/134, 320/132, 320/137, 320/139, 324/426, 324/427, 324/430, 324/433, 324/434
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/367 Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/386 using test-loads
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables

Abstract

An automotive vehicle electrical system tester includes a starter motor or charging system voltage measurement circuit configured to measure a voltage of an electrical system of a vehicle. A microprocessor is configured to diagnose the electrical system as a function of the measured voltage and responsively output the diagnosed condition on a display. The microprocessor is further configured to encrypt the diagnosed condition and responsively output encrypted information related to the condition.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle electrical system tester, comprising:

a starter motor voltage measurement circuit configured to measure a starter voltage of a starter motor of a vehicle;

a display;

a microprocessor configured to determine a starter motor condition as a function of the starter voltage and responsively output the starter motor condition on the display, the microprocessor further configured to encrypt information and responsively output an encrypted output which includes information related to the starter voltage.

2. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt date information related to a date of a test and wherein the encrypted output includes date information.

3. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt time information related to a time of a test and wherein the encrypted output includes time information.

4. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is configured to measure a battery voltage of a battery of the electrical system and wherein the encrypted output includes information related to the battery voltage.

5. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the encrypted output includes information related to the starter motor condition.

6. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to measure an alternator voltage and wherein the encrypted output includes information related to the alternator voltage.

7. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to measure an alternator ripple voltage and wherein the encrypted output includes information related to an alternator ripple voltage.

8. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to perform an alternator test and wherein the encrypted output includes information related to a result of the alternator test.

9. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to perform a battery test and wherein the encrypted output includes information related to a result of the batter test.

10. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt a rating related to the automotive vehicle electrical system and wherein the output includes rating information.

11. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor maintains a number of sequence of a test and the encrypted output includes number of sequence information.

12. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt information which identifies a vehicle under test and wherein the encrypted output includes vehicle identification information.

13. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 12 wherein the vehicle information comprises a VIN for the vehicle.

14. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt information related to an operator who performed the test.

15. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt information related to a dealer who performed the test and the encrypted output includes encrypted information which identifies the dealer.

16. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to obtain voltage measurements from the voltage measurement circuitry while an engine of the vehicle is running at different speeds and/or different loads are applied to the electrical system and responsively provide an alternator diagnostic output.

17. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 16 wherein the encrypted output includes information related to the alternator diagnostic output.

18. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 16 wherein the microprocessor further preforms a battery test and the starter motor condition is further a function of the battery test.

19. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the starting motor condition comprises a cranking voltage low indication.

20. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the starting motor condition comprises a cranking voltage normal indication.

21. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the starting motor condition comprises a replace battery indication.

22. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor measures at least one of a battery voltage with an engine of the vehicle idling, a battery voltage with the engine revved, a battery voltage with the engine idling and a load applied to the battery, a battery voltage with this engine revved and a load applied to the battery and wherein the encrypted output includes at least one of the voltages responsively provides an output indicating a low charging voltage, no charging voltage, a normal charging voltage or a high charging voltage.

23. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt temperature information and wherein the encrypted output includes temperature information.

24. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 including a user input and wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt the user input and the encrypted output includes user input information.

25. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 including a Kelvin connection configured to couple to the electrical system of the vehicle.

26. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the encrypted output comprises a visual display.

27. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the encrypted output comprises a data transmission.

28. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 27 wherein the data transmission comprises an infra red transmission.

29. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 27 wherein the data transmission comprises an RF transmission.

30. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 27 wherein the data transmission comprises a modem link.

31. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the encrypted output comprises an alpha numeric code.

32. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the encrypted output includes the alternator condition.

33. The method of claim 1 including obtaining voltage measurements while an engine of the vehicle is running at different speeds and/or different loads are applied to the electrical system and responsively provide an alternator diagnostic output.

36. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to measure a starter voltage and wherein the encrypted output includes information related to the starter voltage.

37. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to measure an alternator ripple voltage and wherein the encrypted output includes information related to the alternator ripple voltage.

38. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to perform a battery test and wherein the encrypted output includes an information related to a result of the batter test.

39. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt a rating related to the automotive vehicle electrical system and wherein the output includes rating information.

40. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the microprocessor maintains a number of sequence of a test and the encrypted output includes number of sequence information.

41. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt information which identifies a vehicle under test and wherein the encrypted output includes vehicle identification information.

42. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 41 wherein the vehicle information comprises a VIN for the vehicle.

43. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt information related to who performed the test.

44. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 43 wherein the information related to who performed the test comprises information which identifies a dealer or shop.

45. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to obtain voltage measurements from the voltage measurement circuitry while an engine of the vehicle is running at different speeds and/or different loads are applied to the electrical system and responsively provide the alternator condition output.

46. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein microprocessor is configured to encrypt the alternator condition output.

47. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the microprocessor further preforms a battery test and the alternator condition is further a function of the battery test.

48. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the microprocessor is configured to measure a starting voltage while the starting motor is actuated.

49. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the microprocessor measures at least one of a battery voltage with an engine of the vehicle idling, a battery voltage with the engine revved, a battery voltage with the engine idling and a load applied to the battery, a battery voltage with this engine revved and a load applied to the battery and wherein the encrypted output includes at least one of the voltages responsively provides an output indicating a low charging voltage, no charging voltage, a normal charging voltage or a high charging voltage.

50. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt temperature information and wherein the encrypted output includes temperature information.

51. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 including a user input and wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt the user input and the encrypted output includes user input information.

52. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 including a Kelvin connection configured to couple to the electrical system of the vehicle.

53. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the encrypted output comprises a visual display.

54. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the encrypted output comprises a data transmission.

55. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 54 wherein the data transmission comprises an infra red transmission.

56. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 54 wherein the data transmission comprises an RF transmission.

57. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 54 wherein the data transmission comprises a modem link.

58. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 32 wherein the encrypted output comprises an alpha numeric code.

34. An automotive vehicle electrical system tester, comprising:

a alternator voltage measurement circuit configured to measure a voltage of a alternator of a vehicle;

a display;

a microprocessor configured to determine a alternator condition as a function of the alternator voltage and responsively output the alternator condition on the display, the microprocessor further configured to encrypt information provide an encrypted output which is related to the alternator voltage output alternator.

35. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 34 wherein the microprocessor is configured to measure a battery voltage of a battery of the electrical system and wherein the encrypted output includes information related to the battery voltage.

59. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 34 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt date information related to a date of a test and wherein the encrypted output includes date information.

60. The automotive vehicle tester of claim 34 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt time information related to a time of a test and wherein the encrypted output includes time information.

69. The method of claim 60 including performing a battery test and wherein the encrypted data includes information related to a result of the batter test.

70. The method of claim 60 including encrypting a rating related to the automotive vehicle electrical system and wherein the encrypted data includes rating information.

71. The method of claim 60 including maintaining a number of sequence of a test and the encrypted data includes number of sequence information.

72. The method of claim 60 including receiving information which identifies a vehicle under test and wherein the encrypted data includes vehicle identification information.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the vehicle information comprises a VIN for the vehicle.

74. The method of claim 60 including encrypting information related to who performed the test.

75. The method of claim 74 wherein the information related to who performed the test comprises information which identifies a dealer or shop.

76. The method of claim 60 including obtaining voltage measurements while an engine of the vehicle is running at different speeds and/or different loads are applied to the electrical system and responsively providing an alternator diagnostic output.

77. The method of claim 76 including encrypting the alternator condition.

78. The method of claim 60 including preforming a battery test and the alternator condition output is further a function of the battery test.

79. The method of claim 60 including measuring a starting voltage while a starting motor is actuated.

80. The method of claim 60 including measuring at least one of a battery voltage with an engine of the vehicle idling, a battery voltage with the engine revved, a battery voltage with the engine idling and a load applied to the battery, a battery voltage with this engine revved and a load applied to the battery and wherein the encrypted output includes at least one of the voltages responsively provides an output indicating a low charging voltage, no charging voltage, a normal charging voltage or a high charging voltage.

81. The method of claim 60 including encrypting temperature information and wherein the encrypted data includes temperature information.

82. The method of claim 60 including encrypting a user input and the encrypted data includes user input information.

83. The method of claim 60 including providing a Kelvin connection to couple to the electrical system of the vehicle.

84. The method of claim 60 wherein outputting encrypted data comprises providing a visual display.

85. The method of claim 60 wherein outputting the encrypted data comprises providing a data transmission.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein the data transmission comprises an infra red transmission.

87. The method of claim 85 wherein the data transmission comprises an RF transmission.

88. The method of claim 85 wherein the data transmission comprises a modem link.

89. The method of claim 85 wherein the encrypted output comprises an alpha numeric code.

61. A method of testing an automotive vehicle electrical system, comprising:

measuring a starter motor voltage related to a voltage during operation of a starter motor of a vehicle;

determining a starter motor condition as a function of the starter motor voltage;

displaying the starter motor condition;

encrypting data related to the starter motor voltage; and

outputting the encrypted data.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the encrypted data includes encrypted date information.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein the encrypted data includes encrypted time information.

64. The method of claim 61 including measuring a battery voltage of a battery of the electrical system and wherein the encrypted data includes information related to battery voltage.

65. The method of claim 61 including measuring a starter motor voltage and wherein the encrypted data includes information related to condition starter motor.

66. The method of claim 61 including measuring an alternator voltage and wherein the encrypted data includes information related to alternator voltage.

67. The method of claim 61 including measuring an alternator ripple voltage and wherein the encrypted data includes information related to alternator ripple voltage.

68. The method of claim 61 including determining a result of an alternator test and wherein the encrypted data includes information related to the result of the alternator test.

90. The method of claim 61 wherein the encrypted data includes the starter motor condition.

93. The method of claim 90 including measuring a battery voltage of a battery of the electrical system and wherein the encrypted includes battery voltage information.

94. The method of claim 90 including measuring a starter voltage and wherein the encrypted data includes information related to the starter voltage.

95. The method of claim 90 wherein the encrypted data includes the alternator condition.

96. The method of claim 90 including measuring an alternator ripple voltage and wherein the encrypted data includes information related to alternator ripple voltage.

97. The method of claim 90 including performing a battery test and wherein the encrypted data includes information related to a result of the batter test.

98. The method of claim 90 including encrypting a rating related to the automotive vehicle electrical system and wherein the encrypted data includes rating information.

99. The method of claim 90 including maintaining a number of sequence of a test and wherein the encrypted data includes number of sequence information.

100. The method of claim 90 including encrypting information which identifies a vehicle under test and wherein the encrypted data includes vehicle identification information.

101. The method of claim 100 wherein the vehicle information comprises a VIN for the vehicle.

102. The method of claim 90 wherein the encrypted output includes information related to who performed the test.

103. The method of claim 102 wherein the information related to who performed the test comprises information which identifies a dealer or shop.

105. The method of claim 90 including performing a battery test and wherein the alternator condition is further a function of the battery test.

106. The method of claim 90 including measuring a starting voltage while the starting motor is actuated.

107. The method of claim 90 including measuring at least one of a battery voltage with an engine of the vehicle idling, a battery voltage with the engine revved, a battery voltage with the engine idling and a load applied to the battery, a battery voltage with this engine revved and a load applied to the battery and wherein the encrypted output includes at least one of the voltages responsively provides an output indicating a low charging voltage, no charging voltage, a normal charging voltage or a high charging voltage.

108. The method of claim 90 including encrypting temperature information and wherein the encrypted data includes temperature information.

109. The method of claim 90 including receiving a user input and encrypting the user input and wherein the encrypted data includes user input information.

110. The method of claim 90 including providing Kelvin connections to couple to the electrical system of the vehicle.

111. The method of claim 90 wherein outputting comprises providing a visual display.

112. The method of claim 90 wherein outputting comprises providing a data transmission.

113. The method of claim 112 wherein the data transmission comprises an infra red transmission.

114. The method of claim 112 wherein the data transmission comprises an RF transmission.

115. The method of claim 112 wherein the data transmission comprises a modem link.

116. The method of claim 90 wherein the encrypted data comprises an alpha numeric code.

117. The method of claim 90 wherein the encrypted data includes state of charge information related to a battery of the vehicle.

118. The method of claim 90 wherein the encrypted information relates to a time to charge a battery of the vehicle.

91. A method of testing an automotive vehicle electrical system, comprising:

measuring an alternator voltage related to operation of an alternator of a vehicle;

determining an alternator condition as a function of the alternator voltage;

displaying the alternator condition;

encrypting data related to the alternator voltage; and

outputting the encrypted data.

92. The method of claim 91 wherein the encrypted output includes time information.

104. The method of claim 91 wherein the encrypted output includes date information.