US 6,570,385 B1 · Handheld tester for starting/charging systems

Abstract

An improved hand held starting/charging system tester. According to one aspect of the present invention, the portable handheld tester includes a connector to which various test cables can be removably connected to the tester. Detection circuitry within the tester determines which of several types of test cable is connected to the tester before testing. According to another aspect of the present invention, the portable handheld tester includes an improved user interface that permits a user to review test data from previously performed tests and further permits a user to either skip a previously performed test (thereby retaining the previously collected data for that test) or re-do the test (thereby collecting new data for that test). According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the portable handheld tester that performs a more complete set of tests of the starting/charging system.

Claims44

Dependent claims

A hand-held, portable tester for testing a starter/charger system of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

(a) an electronic test circuit, said test circuit capable of performing at least one test on the starting/charging system;
(b) a hand-held, portable enclosure housing said electronic test circuit;
(c) a housing connector providing a first plurality of electrical connections, said housing connector being affixed to said housing and in circuit communication with said electronic test circuit, for placing said electronic test circuit in circuit communication with the starter/charger system via a test cable electrically connected to said housing connector via a removable cable connector providing a second plurality of electrical connections;
and
(d) detection circuitry, said detection circuitry being in circuit communication with said electronic test circuit and at least one connection of said first plurality of connections of said housing connector, said housing connector accepting a plurality of different types of test cables, and wherein said detection circuitry is characterized by automatic identification of the type of test cable connected to said housing connector as being one of the plurality of types of test cables.

2 more elements

A method of testing a starting system of an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a base battery voltage corresponding to a measured voltage of a battery connected to the starting system;
(b) establishing a cranking start threshold voltage from the base battery voltage;
(c) establishing a cranking end threshold voltage from the base battery voltage;
(d) monitoring the battery voltage of the battery connected to the starting system;
(c) responsive to the battery voltage dropping to the cranking start threshold voltage, waiting a predetermined period of time and then determining N successive battery voltages corresponding to N successive voltages of the battery connected to the starting system;
(f) deetermining which M of the N successive battery voltages are to be used to analyze the starting system;
(g) determining a starter test voltage using the M battery voltage values;
(h) if the starter test voltage is greater than a predetermined voltage, displaying a first indication with respect to the starter system;
(i) if the starter test voltage is less than a predetermined voltage, displaying a second indication with respect to the starter system;
(j) if the starter test voltage is between first and second predetermined voltages:
i. determining, from at least the starter test voltage, a threshold temperature corresponding to a temperature of the battery connected to the starting system;
ii. prompting a user to input a temperature condition of the battery connected to the starting system;
iii. reading the temperature condition;
iv. determining, at least in part from the temperature condition relative to the determined threshold temperature, a condition of the starter system;
and
v. displaying an indication corresponding to the determined condition of the starter system.

13 more elements

A user interface method for facilitating the performance and management of multiple, sequentially performed tests on an internal combustion engine system being performed in a portable, hand-held tester, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a hand-held, portable tester capable of performing multiple, sequentially performed tests of one or more parameters of the internal combustion engine system;
(b) providing a user with a user interface via the tester to permit the user to cause the tester to provide a display corresponding to a previously performed test;
and
(c) providing a user with a user interface via the tester to permit the user to either, in the alternative, re-perform the previously performed test, or skip the previously performed test thereby retaining the results from the previous performance of the previously performed test.

1 more element

(a) providing a hand-held, portable tester capable of performing multiple, sequentially performed tests of one or more parameters of the internal combustion engine system;
(b) entering a first test state in which a user is prompted to place the tester and internal combustion engine system into a first test state;
(c) while in the first test state, automatically collecting at least one datum with respect to the internal combustion engine system;
(d) while in the first test state, displaying a first test result to the user with respect to the at least one datum collected in the first test state;
(e) then entering a next test state in which the user is prompted to place the tester and internal combustion engine system into a next test state;
(f) while in the next test state, automatically collecting at least one datum with respect to the internal combustion engine system;
(g) while in the next test state, displaying a next test result to the user with respect to the at least one datum collected in the next test state;
(h) performing steps (e)-(g) for at least one other sequentially performed test;
(i) providing the user with a first input device;
(j) while in one of the plurality of next test states, responsive to the user actuating the first input device, entering the previous test state, if any, causing the tester to provide a display corresponding to the previously performed test of the previous test state;
(k) providing the user with a second input device;
(l) while in any of the plurality of test states corresponding to a test that has been previously performed, responsive to the user actuating the second input device, skipping the presently displayed test and advancing to the next test state, thereby retaining the results from the previous performance of that particular previously performed test.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Handheld tester for starting/charging systems

Life of this patent

Handheld tester for starting/charging systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44