US 8,620,511 B2Granted

System for dynamic diagnosis of apparatus operating conditions

AssigneeSnap-on Incorporated

InventorPaul J. Rother

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A diagnostic platform adapted for coupling to a scanner to download data from vehicle computers. The system stores information regarding vehicle identifications, drivability symptoms, vehicle system and component tests and service codes which can be registered by the vehicle on-board computer. System software permits user input of vehicle identification and, in one mode, displays a fault library from which the user can select, whereupon the system selects from the library tests pertinent to diagnosing causes of selected faults and displays them in a hierarchically ranked order based on likelihood of success. The user can then initiate any displayed test. In other modes, the system initially displays one of the libraries of system or component tests, from which the user selects, whereupon the system highlights icons which can be selected for initiating pertinent test procedures. Selected test procedures include links to engine analyzer or scanner hardware or other appropriate test modules.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for a user to diagnose an apparatus using a diagnostic system, the method comprising:

receiving into a diagnostic system apparatus identification information;
receiving into the diagnostic system an indication of a fault that can be experienced by an apparatus;
in response to receiving the indication of the fault, using the apparatus identification information and stored diagnostic data to determine, via the diagnostic system, a list of possible causes and a corresponding list of tests that can be performed on the apparatus to diagnose a cause of the fault;
displaying on an electronic device, via the diagnostic system, the list of possible causes and the corresponding list of tests, for selection of a test by a user;
receiving into the diagnostic system from the user, via the electronic device, a selection of a test to perform on the apparatus under diagnosis, wherein the user selects the test from the corresponding list of tests;
in response to the test being performed to diagnose a cause of the fault, collecting, via the diagnostic system, test data and the apparatus identification information in a remote system library;
and
receiving into the diagnostic system updated apparatus diagnostic data from the remote system library, wherein the updated apparatus diagnostic data is based upon at least the collected test data and the apparatus identification information.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/036,473Filed 14 Jan 2005 · continuation
Priority: 28 Oct 1997
Published: US 2005/0137762 A123 Jun 2005
Granted: 31 Dec 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G01M 17/00
Testing of vehicles
G01D 21/00
Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
G01M 17/007
Testing of vehicles: wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles
G07C 5/0808
Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working,…

Family

Application60/063,361Us provisional application · filed 28 Oct 1997
Application09/179,747Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Oct 1998
Application09/699,334Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Oct 2000
Application10/441,564Parent of this continuation · filed 20 May 2003
US 2005/0137762 A1Pre-grant publication · published 23 Jun 2005
US 6,845,307 B2Parent of this continuation
US 6,615,120 B1Parent of this continuation
US 6,141,608 AParent of this continuation
US 2003/0195681 A1Published application
US 8,620,511 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.