US5371487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for indicating a changed condition
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
•
Filing: 1993-11-10
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Granted: 1994-12-06
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Expires: 2013-11-10
Abstract
Abstract Systems for diagnosing fault conditions in a plurality of inputs are useful in many applications. Advantageously, such systems allow troubleshooting by a single technician. The subject invention includes a plurality of sensors for producing sensor signals, each of the sensor signals indicating one of plurality of states of a parameter. A device is included to indicate that one or more of the sensor signals has changed states.
Inventors
- 👤 John P. Hoffman
- 👤 Ricky D. Vance
- 👤 Dennis A. Barney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:34
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D7/00; G01D7/02; G01D7/04; B; B60; B60K; B60K35/00; B60K35/10; B60K35/20; B60K35/21; B60K35/22; B60K35/60; G01D7/12; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/08; G07C5/0808; G07C5/0816; G07C5/0825
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for indicating a changed condition in a diagnostic system, comprising: a plurality of sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of said sensor signals being in one of a normal state or a fault condition; and processing means for receiving each of said plurality of sensor signals and responsively determining whether one or more of said plurality of sensor signals have changed from said normal state to said fault condition or from said fault condition to said normal state, said processing means including means for producing a transient signal and a recorded diagnostic signal in response to one or more of said sensor signals changing from said normal state to said fault condition or from said fault condition to said normal state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for indicating a changed condition in a diagnostic system, comprising: a plurality of sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of said sensor signals being in one of a normal state or a fault condition; and processing means for receiving each of said plurality of sensor signals and responsively determining whether one or more of said plurality of sensor signals have changed from said normal state to said fault condition or from said fault condition to said normal state, said processing means including means for producing a transient signal and a recorded diagnostic signal in response to one or more of said sensor signals changing from said normal state to said fault condition or from said fault condition to said normal state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for producing a transient signal produces an audible signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said sensor signals has an associated pin number and said means for producing a recorded diagnostic signal indicates the pin number associated with each of said sensor signals having changed from said normal state to said fault condition or from said fault condition to said normal state.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for indicating a changed condition in a diagnostic system, comprising: an audio warning means for producing an audible signal; a plurality of sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of said sensor signals indicating one of a plurality of states; and signalling means for causing said audio warning means to produce said audible signal in response to one of said sensor signals changing states.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for indicating a changed condition in a diagnostic system, comprising: an audio warning means for producing an audible signal; a plurality of sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of said sensor signals indicating one of a plurality of states; and signalling means for causing said audio warning means to produce said audible signal in response to one of said sensor signals changing states.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, including: a plurality of sensor inputs being connected to said plurality of sensor means and each having an associated pin number; and a means for displaying each pin number being associated with a sensor signal having changed states.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus, for indicating a changed condition in a diagnostic system, comprising: an audio warning means for producing an audible signal; a plurality of sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of said sensor signals indicating one of a plurality of states; signalling means for causing said audio warning means to produce said audible signal in response to one of said sensor signals changing states; a plurality of sensor inputs being connected to said plurality of sensor means; means for indicating a plurality of present or previous fault conditions on said sensor inputs; and service means for isolating one of said inputs having a present or previous fault condition and wherein said signalling means causes said audio warning means to produce said audible signal in response to only the isolated input changing from a fault condition to a normal state or from said normal state to said fault condition.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus, for indicating a changed condition in a diagnostic system, comprising: an audio warning means for producing an audible signal; a plurality of sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of said sensor signals indicating one of a plurality of states; signalling means for causing said audio warning means to produce said audible signal in response to one of said sensor signals changing states; a plurality of sensor inputs being connected to said plurality of sensor means; means for indicating a plurality of present or previous fault conditions on said sensor inputs; and service means for isolating one of said inputs having a present or previous fault condition and wherein said signalling means causes said audio warning means to produce said audible signal in response to only the isolated input changing from a fault condition to a normal state or from said normal state to said fault condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of sensor inputs has an associated pin number and including a means for indicating each pin number associated with a sensor signal having changed states.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for indicating a changed condition in a diagnostic system, comprising: a plurality of sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of said sensor signals being in one of a normal state or a fault condition and having an associated pin number; means for receiving each of said sensor signals and responsively determining whether one or more of said sensor signals have changed from said normal state to said fault condition or from said fault condition to said normal state; and display means for indicating each pin number associated with a sensor signal having changed from said normal state to said fault condition or from said fault condition to said normal state.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for indicating a changed condition in a diagnostic system, comprising: a plurality of sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of said sensor signals being in one of a normal state or a fault condition and having an associated pin number; means for receiving each of said sensor signals and responsively determining whether one or more of said sensor signals have changed from said normal state to said fault condition or from said fault condition to said normal state; and display means for indicating each pin number associated with a sensor signal having changed from said normal state to said fault condition or from said fault condition to said normal state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, including means for displaying each pin number being associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, including service means for isolating one of said pin numbers being associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, including means for displaying said pin number being isolated by said service means and a fault coding.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said fault coding includes a module identifier, a component identifier, a fault mode identifier, and a means for indicating that a fault condition presently exists with respsect to the sensor signal associated with the isolated pin number.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for indicating a changed condition, comprising: display means for indicating the level of a plurality of parameters and the presence of one or more of a plurality of fault or warning conditions, said display means being operable in a normal display mode and a diagnostic mode; an audio warning means for producing an audible signal; sensor means for sensing a plurality of conditions and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals each indicating one of a fault condition and a normal state; and signalling means for causing said audio warning means to produce said audible signal in response to one or more of said sensor signals indicating a warning condition and said display means being in said normal display mode and in response to one or more of said plurality of sensor signals changing from said fault condition to said normal state or from said normal state to said fault condition and said display means being in said diagnostic mode.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for indicating a changed condition, comprising: display means for indicating the level of a plurality of parameters and the presence of one or more of a plurality of fault or warning conditions, said display means being operable in a normal display mode and a diagnostic mode; an audio warning means for producing an audible signal; sensor means for sensing a plurality of conditions and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals each indicating one of a fault condition and a normal state; and signalling means for causing said audio warning means to produce said audible signal in response to one or more of said sensor signals indicating a warning condition and said display means being in said normal display mode and in response to one or more of said plurality of sensor signals changing from said fault condition to said normal state or from said normal state to said fault condition and said display means being in said diagnostic mode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 13, including a plurality of sensor inputs being connected to said plurality of sensor means and each having an associated pin number and a means for displaying, in response to said display means being in said diagnostic mode, the pin number of each sensor signal having changed states.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 14, including means for displaying each pin number being associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
97 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 14, including: means for indicating a plurality of pin numbers being associated with present or previous fault conditions in response to said display means being in said diagnostic mode; and service means for isolating one of said plurality of pin numbers being associated with a present or previous fault condition and wherein said signalling means causes said audio warning means to produce said audible signal in response to only an isolated input changing from said fault condition to said normal state or from said normal state to said fault condition.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for indicating a changed condition, comprising: display means for indicating the level of a plurality of parameters and the presence of one or more fault or warning conditions, said display means being operable in a normal display mode and a diagnostic mode; a plurality of sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of said sensor signals being in one of a normal state or a fault condition and having an associated pin number; and signalling means for causing said display means to indicate said level of said plurality of sensed parameters in response to said display means being in said normal display mode and to indicate, in response to said display means being in said diagnostic mode, each pin number being associated with a sensor signal having changed from said fault condition to said normal state or from said normal sate to said fault condition.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for indicating a changed condition, comprising: display means for indicating the level of a plurality of parameters and the presence of one or more fault or warning conditions, said display means being operable in a normal display mode and a diagnostic mode; a plurality of sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of said sensor signals being in one of a normal state or a fault condition and having an associated pin number; and signalling means for causing said display means to indicate said level of said plurality of sensed parameters in response to said display means being in said normal display mode and to indicate, in response to said display means being in said diagnostic mode, each pin number being associated with a sensor signal having changed from said fault condition to said normal state or from said normal sate to said fault condition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
115 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein: said display means includes a gauge means for displaying the level of a sensed parameter and a scaling digit means for indicating the scale of said gauge means; and said signalling means causes said scaling digit means to display a number being indicative of the scale of said gauge means in response to said display means being in said normal display mode and to display, in response to said display means being in said diagnostic mode, each of said pin numbers being associated with a sensor signal having changed from said fault condition to said normal state or from said normal state to said fault condition.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, including means for indicating each pin number being associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition in response to said display means being in said diagnostic mode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 19, including service means for isolating one of said pin numbers being associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 20, including means for displaying a fault code corresponding to the present or previous fault condition of the isolated pin number.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 21, wherein said fault code includes a module identifier, a component identifier, a fault mode identifier, and a means for indicating that a fault condition currently exists with respsect to the sensor signal associated with said pin number being isolated by said service means.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
215 words
An apparatus for indicating a changed condition, comprising: display means for indicating the level of a plurality of parameters and the presence of one or more fault or warning conditions, said display means being operable in a normal display mode and a diagnostic mode; an audio warning means for producing an audible signal; a plurality of sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of said sensor signals being in one of a normal state or a fault condition and having an associated pin number; and signalling means for causing said audio warning means to produce said audible signal in response to one or more of said sensor signals changing from said fault condition to said normal state or from said normal state to said fault condition and said display means being in said diagnostic mode and for causing said display means to indicate said level of said plurality of sensed parameters in response to said display means being in said normal display mode and, in response to said display means being in said diagnostic mode, to indicate each pin number being associated with a sensor signal having changed from said fault condition to said normal state or from said normal state to said fault condition.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
215 words
An apparatus for indicating a changed condition, comprising: display means for indicating the level of a plurality of parameters and the presence of one or more fault or warning conditions, said display means being operable in a normal display mode and a diagnostic mode; an audio warning means for producing an audible signal; a plurality of sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of said sensor signals being in one of a normal state or a fault condition and having an associated pin number; and signalling means for causing said audio warning means to produce said audible signal in response to one or more of said sensor signals changing from said fault condition to said normal state or from said normal state to said fault condition and said display means being in said diagnostic mode and for causing said display means to indicate said level of said plurality of sensed parameters in response to said display means being in said normal display mode and, in response to said display means being in said diagnostic mode, to indicate each pin number being associated with a sensor signal having changed from said fault condition to said normal state or from said normal state to said fault condition.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
116 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 23, wherein: said display means includes a gauge means for displaying the level of a sensed parameter and a first scaling digit means for indicating the scale of said gauge means; and said signalling means causes said first scaling digit means to display a number being indicative of the scale of said gauge means in response to said display means being in said normal display mode and to display, in response to said display means being in said diagnostic mode, each of said pin numbers being associated with a sensor signal changing from said fault condition to said normal state or from said normal state to said fault condition.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
88 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 24, including a second scaling digit means for indicating the scale of said gauge means and wherein said signalling means causes said second scaling digit means to display a number being indicative of the scale of said gauge means in response to said display means being in said normal display mode and to display each pin number being associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition in response to said display means being in said diagnostic mode.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 23, including means for displaying each pin number being associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 26, including service means for isolating one of said pin numbers being associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 27, wherein said audio warning means produces said audible signal in response to only the sensor signal being associated with the isolated pin number changing from said normal state to said fault condition or from said fault condition to said normal state.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus, as set forth in claim 23, wherein said signalling means causes said audio warning means to produce said audible signal in response to a sensed parameter being in a warning condition and said display means being in said normal display mode.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for indicating a changed condition in a diagnostic system, comprising the steps of: sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing sensor signals, each of said sensor signals indicating one of a plurality of states, said plurality of states including one or more normal states and one or more fault conditions; and producing an audible signal in response to one of said sensor signals changing from one of said fault conditions to one of said normal states or from one of said normal states to one of said fault conditions.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for indicating a changed condition in a diagnostic system, comprising the steps of: sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing sensor signals, each of said sensor signals indicating one of a plurality of states, said plurality of states including one or more normal states and one or more fault conditions; and producing an audible signal in response to one of said sensor signals changing from one of said fault conditions to one of said normal states or from one of said normal states to one of said fault conditions.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method, as set forth in claim 30, including the step of displaying a pin number for each sensor signal having changed states.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method, as set forth in claim 30, including the steps of indicating a plurality of present or previous fault conditions, isolating one of the inputs having a present or previous fault condition, and producing the audible signal in response to only the isolated input changing from said fault condition to said normal condition or from said normal condition to said fault condition.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method, as set forth in claim 32, including the step of displaying a pin number for each sensor signal having changed states.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for indicating a changed condition in a diagnostic system, comprising the steps of: sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing sensor signals, each of said sensor signals being in one of a normal state or a fault condition and having an associated pin number; determining whether one or more of said sensor signals have changed from the normal state to the fault condition or from the fault condition to the normal state; and displaying each of the pin numbers being associated with a sensor signal having changed from the normal state to the fault condition or from the fault condition to the normal state.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for indicating a changed condition in a diagnostic system, comprising the steps of: sensing a plurality of parameters and responsively producing sensor signals, each of said sensor signals being in one of a normal state or a fault condition and having an associated pin number; determining whether one or more of said sensor signals have changed from the normal state to the fault condition or from the fault condition to the normal state; and displaying each of the pin numbers being associated with a sensor signal having changed from the normal state to the fault condition or from the fault condition to the normal state.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method, as set forth in claim 34, including the step of displaying each pin number being associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method, as set forth in claim 35, including the step of isolating one of the pin numbers being associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method, as set forth in claim 36, including the step of displaying the isolated pin number and a fault code.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method, as set forth in claim 37, wherein said fault code includes a module identifier, a component identifier, a fault mode identifier, and a means for indicating that a fault condition currently exists with respsect to the sensor signal associated with the isolated pin number.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for indicating a changed condition, comprising the steps of: indicating the level of a plurality of parameters and the presence of one or more fault or warning conditions in a normal display mode; producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of the sensor signals being in one of a normal state or a fault condition and having an associated pin number; producing an audible signal in response to one of the sensor signals changing from the fault condition to the normal state or from the normal state to the fault condition in a diagnostic mode; and displaying the pin number associated with each sensor signal changing from the fault condition to the normal state or from the normal state to the fault condition in the diagnostic mode.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for indicating a changed condition, comprising the steps of: indicating the level of a plurality of parameters and the presence of one or more fault or warning conditions in a normal display mode; producing a plurality of sensor signals, each of the sensor signals being in one of a normal state or a fault condition and having an associated pin number; producing an audible signal in response to one of the sensor signals changing from the fault condition to the normal state or from the normal state to the fault condition in a diagnostic mode; and displaying the pin number associated with each sensor signal changing from the fault condition to the normal state or from the normal state to the fault condition in the diagnostic mode.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method, as set forth in claim 39, including the steps of: displaying the level of one of the parameters on a gauge; displaying a first scaling digit for indicating the scale of the gauge in the normal display mode; and displaying in place of the first scaling digit the pin number associated with each sensor signal changing from the fault condition to the normal state or from the normal state to the fault condition while in the diagnostic mode.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method, as set forth in claim 40, including the steps of: displaying a second scaling digit for indicating the scale of the gauge in the normal display mode; and displaying in place of the second scaling digit each pin number associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method, as set forth in claim 39, including the steps of displaying each pin number associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition and isolating one of the pin numbers being associated with a sensor signal having a present or previous fault condition.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method, as set forth in claim 42, wherein the audible signal is produced in response to only the sensor signal being associated with the isolated pin number changing from said normal state to said fault condition or from said fault condition to said normal state.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method, as set forth in claim 39, including the step of producing an audible signal in response to a sensed parameter being in a warning condition in the normal display mode.
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