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US4924398A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fault diagnosis system for automotive electronic devices

Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1987-09-21
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Granted: 1990-05-08
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Expires: 2007-09-21
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Abstract

Abstract A fault diagnosis system for automotive electronic devices, suitable for use in an automobile having at least one electronic device which is provided with a sensor for sensing the state of operation of at least one automotive part and an actuator for controlling the operation of the automotive part in accordance with the state sensed by the sensor, the electronic device having a self-diagnosis function for detecting any fault in said sensor or said actuator and for storing data concerning the detected fault. The fault diagnosis system has a diagnosis tester which includes an input circuit for receiving a fault detection signal which is produced as a result of self-diagnosis performed by the self-diagnosis function of said electronic device, a display control circuit for converting the fault detection signal received by the input circuit into a display control signal, a display for displaying, in accordance with said display control signal, data representing the sensor or said actuator having the fault, and a sound generating device receiving the display control signal for generating an aural alarm in response to a fault.

Inventors

  • 👤 Toru Fujiwara

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 06:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/317; G01R31/3181; G01R31/3185; G01R31/318505

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 191 words
In an automobile having a plurality of electronic devices, each of which is provided with a sensor for sensing the state of operation of at least one automotive part and an actuator for controlling the operation of the respective automotive part in accordance with the state sensed by the sensor, each of said electronic devices having a self-diagnosis function for detecting any fault in the respective sensor and actuator and for storing data concerning a detected fault, a fault diagnosis system for diagnosing the state of said electronic devices comprising a diagnostic tester including: an input circuit for receiving fault detection signals produced by the self-diagnosis function of each of a plurality of electronic devices, each operatively connected to a respective sensor and an actuator; a display control circuit receiving the fault detection signals from said input circuit for converting the fault detection signals into display control signals; display means for automatically displaying, in response to said display control signals, data identifying which of the sensors and actuators have faults; and sound generating means receiving said display control signals for producing an aural alarm in response to the display control signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 191 words
In an automobile having a plurality of electronic devices, each of which is provided with a sensor for sensing the state of operation of at least one automotive part and an actuator for controlling the operation of the respective automotive part in accordance with the state sensed by the sensor, each of said electronic devices having a self-diagnosis function for detecting any fault in the respective sensor and actuator and for storing data concerning a detected fault, a fault diagnosis system for diagnosing the state of said electronic devices comprising a diagnostic tester including: an input circuit for receiving fault detection signals produced by the self-diagnosis function of each of a plurality of electronic devices, each operatively connected to a respective sensor and an actuator; a display control circuit receiving the fault detection signals from said input circuit for converting the fault detection signals into display control signals; display means for automatically displaying, in response to said display control signals, data identifying which of the sensors and actuators have faults; and sound generating means receiving said display control signals for producing an aural alarm in response to the display control signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 1, wherein said sound generating means includes a buzzer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 1 wherein said sound generating means includes a voice synthesizer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 1 wherein said sound generating means is disposed separately from other portions of said diagnostic tester.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 4 wherein said sound generating means includes a buzzer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 4 wherein said sound generating means includes a voice synthesizer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 1 wherein said sound generating means and said display are disposed separately from other portions of said diagnostic tester.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 7 wherein said sound generating means includes a buzzer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 7 wherein said sound generating means includes a voice synthesizer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 1 further comprising a warning lamp turned on in response to said fault.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 10 wherein said sound generating means includes a buzzer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 10 wherein said sound generating means includes a voice synthesizer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 10 wherein said sound generating means is disposed separately from other portions of said diagnosis tester.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 27 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 10 wherein said sound generating means and said display are disposed separately from other portions of said fault diagnostic tester.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 22 words
A fault diagnosis system according to claim 1 wherein said diagnostic tester is connectable to said electronic devices through a single connector.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4325251A Cited
US4402217A Cited
US4442424A Cited
US4437342A Cited
US4612615A Cited
US4627275A Cited
US4764884A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-05-07 1993-11-06 1994-05-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-05-07 1997-11-06 1998-05-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-05-07 2001-11-06 2002-05-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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