초록 ▼

A system for testing the electrical components of vehicles during manufacturing includes a hand held tester to which a translator unit can be detachably engaged and with which the tester is in RF communication. The translator unit can be detached from the tester and plugged into a test receptacle un

A system for testing the electrical components of vehicles during manufacturing includes a hand held tester to which a translator unit can be detachably engaged and with which the tester is in RF communication. The translator unit can be detached from the tester and plugged into a test receptacle under a vehicle's dashboard to communicate with the vehicle by translating computer formatted data from the tester to vehicle bus-formatted data, and vice-versa. Then, the vehicle's VIN is scanned into the tester or manually input into the tester, and the tester transmits the VIN via an RF link in the assembly plant to a computer in the plant. Based on the VIN, the computer determines the electric equipment that the vehicle has, and the computer transmits this information back to the tester. The tester then determines which tests to execute, and the tester causes the translator unit to undertake these tests. The translator transmits the test results back to the tester which in turn transmits the results to the computer. A portable current module can be provided that monitors the current drawn from the vehicle's battery during the testing and for communicating this data to the tester via RF link.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A translator for translating data transmitted between a microprocessor having a microprocessor communication protocol used in an automotive electrical system tester and an electrical bus of the automotive electrical system having an electrical bus protocol, comprising:a portable ho

[ We claim:] [1.] A translator for translating data transmitted between a microprocessor having a microprocessor communication protocol used in an automotive electrical system tester and an electrical bus of the automotive electrical system having an electrical bus protocol, comprising:a portable housing;a translator unit in the housing, the translator unit translating data between the microprocessor communication protocol and the electrical bus protocol;a communicator in the housing for communicating with the microprocessors;a cable electrically coupled at a first end to the translator unit inside the housing and having a test plug at a second end configured for engaging a test receptacle in electrical communication with the automotive electrical system.