Method and apparatus for automotive and other testing
First Claim
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1. A method of testing applicable to the identification of faults and to making of other routine tests in automotive vehicles and like electrical and/or electro-mechanical and/or hydro-mechanical systems or assemblies or components, the method comprising :
- a) providing a base station and a handset connectable to said base station for signal transmission purposes;
b) providing at least one power source for said base station and said handset, and signal transmission means for said handset adapted to effect test signal transmission between said handset and said system or assembly or component under test;
c) said handset and/or said base station being adapted to effect processing of test signals sensed and/or generated by and/or induced in or by said signal transmission means for fault identification and/or performance evaluation purposes;
d) said handset being adapted to carry out test procedures on and in the vicinity of said system or assembly or component under test by interaction with said system or assembly or component under test through said signal transmission means;
characterised bye) said method being adapted to provide identification of a range of two or more faults in technically distinct areas by means of a single set of apparatus, at least two of said handsets being provided, each handset being adapted to provide a technically distinct analysis function applicable to at least two technically distinct areas of evaluation of the same or a different system or assembly or component under test, and each being adapted to provide its own technically distinct data stream to said base station through its signal transmission connection to said base station;
f) said base station being adapted to process said at least two technically distinct data streams provided from said at least two handsets to identify characteristics providing identification means for fault-tracing and/or performance evaluation purposes in said at least two technically distinct areas; and
g) said method comprising employing said at least two handsets and said associated base station in sequence to provide said fault-tracing and/or performance evaluation on the same or different systems or assemblies or components in said at least two technically distinct areas by means of a single set of apparatus.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for automotive testing comprises a base station and at least two handsets adapted to provide a testing function in at least two corresponding technically distinct areas. Embodiments employ Kelvin connectors and/or Hall effect probes and/or induction probes. System operation is effected by the simplest and minimum number of control commands.
127 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of testing applicable to the identification of faults and to making of other routine tests in automotive vehicles and like electrical and/or electro-mechanical and/or hydro-mechanical systems or assemblies or components, the method comprising :
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a) providing a base station and a handset connectable to said base station for signal transmission purposes;
b) providing at least one power source for said base station and said handset, and signal transmission means for said handset adapted to effect test signal transmission between said handset and said system or assembly or component under test;
c) said handset and/or said base station being adapted to effect processing of test signals sensed and/or generated by and/or induced in or by said signal transmission means for fault identification and/or performance evaluation purposes;
d) said handset being adapted to carry out test procedures on and in the vicinity of said system or assembly or component under test by interaction with said system or assembly or component under test through said signal transmission means;
characterised by e) said method being adapted to provide identification of a range of two or more faults in technically distinct areas by means of a single set of apparatus, at least two of said handsets being provided, each handset being adapted to provide a technically distinct analysis function applicable to at least two technically distinct areas of evaluation of the same or a different system or assembly or component under test, and each being adapted to provide its own technically distinct data stream to said base station through its signal transmission connection to said base station;
f) said base station being adapted to process said at least two technically distinct data streams provided from said at least two handsets to identify characteristics providing identification means for fault-tracing and/or performance evaluation purposes in said at least two technically distinct areas; and
g) said method comprising employing said at least two handsets and said associated base station in sequence to provide said fault-tracing and/or performance evaluation on the same or different systems or assemblies or components in said at least two technically distinct areas by means of a single set of apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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2. A method of testing characterised by providing at least two handsets each adapted to provide a technically distinct analysis function and a corresponding data stream to a base station which is adapted to process said data streams to identify characteristics providing identification means for fault-tracing and/or performance evaluation purposes, the method comprising employing the handsets to provide said functions in said technically distinct areas by means of a single set of apparatus.
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10. A method of testing applicable to the identification of faults and/or to the making of other routine tests in automotive vehicles and like electrical and/or electro-mechanical and/or hydro-mechanical systems or assemblies or components, the method comprising :
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a) providing a handset and signal transmission means for said handset adapted to effect test signal transmission between said handset and a system or assembly or component under test;
b) said handset being adapted to effect processing of test signals sensed and/or generated and/or induced in or by said signal transmission means for fault identification and/or performance evaluation purposes;
c) said handset being adapted to carry out test procedures on and in the vicinity of said system or assembly or component under test by interaction with said system or assembly or component under test through said signal transmission means;
characterised by d) said handset being adapted to effect battery and/or starter system evaluation and the method comprising employing a Kelvin connection to said battery and/or starter system.
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11. A method of testing applicable to the identification of faults and/or to the making of other routine tests in automotive vehicles and like electrical and/or electro-mechanical and/or hydro-mechanical systems or assemblies or components, the method comprising:
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a) providing a handset and signal transmission means for said handset adapted to effect test signal transmission between said handset and a system or assembly or component under test;
b) said hand set being adapted to effect processing of test signals sensed and/or generated and/or induced in or by said signal transmission means for fault identification and/or performance evaluation purposes;
c) said handset being adapted to carry out test procedures on and in the vicinity of said system or assembly or component under test by interaction with said system or assembly or component under test through said signal transmission means;
characterised by d) said handset being adapted to effect tracing of intermittent wiring faults and said handset comprising a Kelvin connector to effect said test signal transmission between said handset and said system comprising a fault and the method comprising applying a high pulse current to said system to determine the presence of an impedance fault of relatively low value.
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12. Apparatus for testing applicable to the identification of faults and to making of other routine tests in automotive vehicles and like electrical and/or electro-mechanical and/or hydro-mechanical systems or assemblies or components, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a base station and a handset connectable to said base station for signal transmission purposes;
b) at least one power source for said base station and said handset, and signal transmission means for said handset adapted to effect test signal transmission between said handset and said system or assembly or component under test;
c) said handset and/or said base station being adapted to effect processing of test signals sensed and/or generated by and/or induced in or by said signal transmission means for fault identification and/or performance evaluation purposes;
d) said handset being adapted to carry out test procedures on and in the vicinity of said system or assembly or component under test by interaction with said system or assembly or component under test through said signal transmission means;
characterised by e) said apparatus being adapted to provide identification of a range of two or more faults in technically distinct areas by means of a single set of apparatus, at least two of said handsets being provided, each handset being adapted to provide a technically distinct analysis function applicable to at least two technically distinct areas of evaluation of the same or a different system or assembly or component under test, and each being adapted to provide its own technically distinct data stream to said base station through its signal transmission connection to said base station;
f) said base station being adapted to process said at least two technically distinct data streams provided from said at least two handsets to identify characteristics providing identification means for fault-tracing and/or performance evaluation purposes in said at least two technically distinct areas; and
g) said apparatus being adapted to employ said at least two handsets and said associated base station in sequence to provide said fault-tracing and/or performance evaluation on the same or different systems or assemblies or components in said at least two technically distinct areas by means of a single set of apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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13. Apparatus for testing characterised by at least two handsets each adapted to provide a technically distinct analysis function and a corresponding data stream to a base station which is adapted to process said data streams to identify characteristics providing identification means for fault-tracing and/or performance evaluation purposes, the apparatus being adapted to employ said handsets to provide said functions in said technically distinct areas by means of a single set of apparatus.
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21. Apparatus for testing applicable to the identification of faults and/or to the making of other routine tests in automotive vehicles and like electrical and/or electro-mechanical and/or hydro-mechanical systems or assemblies or components, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a handset and signal transmission means for said handset adapted to effect test signal transmission between said handset and a system or assembly or component under test;
b) said handset being adapted to effect processing of test signals sensed and/or generated and/or induced in or by said signal transmission means for fault identification and/or performance evaluation purposes;
c) said handset being adapted to carry out test procedures on and in the vicinity of said system or assembly or component under test by interaction with said system or assembly or component under test through said signal transmission means;
characterised by d) said handset being adapted to effect battery and/or starter system evaluation and the method comprising employing a Kelvin connection to said battery and/or starter system.
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22. Apparatus for testing applicable to the identification of faults and/or to the making of other routine tests in automotive vehicles and like electrical and/or electromechanical and/or hydro-mechanical systems or assemblies or components, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a handset and signal transmission means for said handset adapted to effect test signal transmission between said handset and a system or assembly or component under test;
b) said handset being adapted to effect processing of test signals sensed and/or generated and/or induced in or by said signal transmission means for fault identification and/or performance evaluation purposes;
c) said handset being adapted to carry out test procedures on and in the vicinity of said system or assembly or component under test by interaction with said system or assembly or component under test trough said signal transmission means;
characterised by d) said handset being adapted to effect tracing of intermittent wiring faults and said handset comprising a Kelvin connector to effect said test signal transmission between said handset and said system comprising a fault and the apparatus being adapted to apply a high pulse current to said system to determine the presence of an impedance fault of relatively low value.
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Specification