Abstract: The present invention is protective enclosure that is configured to receive an electronic device, such as a pocket PC or a PDA. The protective enclosure includes an interface device capable of coupling with the electronic device and a vehicle diagnostic system, thereby placing the electronic device in circuit communication with a vehicle diagnostic system. A communications protocol is generated by the interface device to establish communications with the vehicle diagnostic system. The vehicle diagnostic information is received and the interface adapter is capable of communicating the diagnostic information to the electronic device.
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.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 14, 2003
Date of Patent:
August 17, 2004
Assignee:
Actron Manufacturing Company
Inventors:
Robert A. Roberts, Matthew H. Koran, Hamid Namaky
Abstract: An improved scan tool, e.g., for OBD II, for use with vehicle computer networks. The improved scan tool determines the proper protocol to use to communicate with a vehicle computer network. The proper protocol is determined by requesting information from the vehicle computer network using a plurality of protocols and selecting the protocol that returns the most pieces of information. In addition, the improved scan tool determines a communications drop-out with one or more modules and automatically recovers from the communications drop-out.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 31, 2002
Date of Patent:
March 2, 2004
Assignee:
Actron Manufacturing Company
Inventors:
Hamid Namaky, Robert Charles Sheppard, Michael F. Gessner, Thomas J. Bertosa, Robert A. Roberts, Donald J. Rodemann
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.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 19, 2001
Date of Patent:
May 27, 2003
Assignee:
Actron Manufacturing Co.
Inventors:
Robert A. Roberts, Matthew H. Koran, Hamid Namaky
Abstract: An embedded type package of power semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor device and a cup. One side of the semiconductor device is connected to a leader and another side of the semiconductor device is connected to the cup. The cup has guiding bevel and annulus groove on bottom side thereof. The cup further has an embedding part on outer side thereof and having two slantingly planes. The cup further comprises a heatsink connected to the semiconductor device; and a cone-shaped inner wall bordered to the heatsink and having a mold lock.
Abstract: A timing light for measuring timing of spark ignition has separate displays of engine RPM and timing advance. Another aspect of the invention provides a flashlight function which triggers the flash tube of the timing light to produce a constant bright light source for locating timing marks within an engine compartment. The flashlight function can be incorporated into a dual display digital timing light, or other timing light designs. A dedicated control on the timing light functions to place the flash tube in a continuous flashlight mode.
Abstract: An electronic battery tester is disclosed with normal test and cold test modes comprising: a first circuit for applying an AC current load to a battery under test to induce an AC signal across the terminals of the battery; a second circuit for measuring the induced AC signal and converting it to a first voltage potential signal which is a measure of the battery's internal resistance; a circuit for adjusting the first voltage potential signal to a second voltage potential signal; third circuit for generating a threshold voltage potential signal at a first value when the battery tester is in a normal test mode and at a second value when the battery tester is in a cold test mode; and a comparison circuit for comparing said second voltage potential signal to said threshold voltage potential signal to determine a condition of the battery.
Abstract: A method of measuring a condition of a battery is disclosed comprising the steps of: inducing an AC signal across the terminals of the battery by applying an AC current load thereto; measuring the induced AC signal and converting it to a first voltage potential signal which is a measure of the battery's internal resistance; applying the first voltage potential signal across a voltage divider network calibrated in accordance with a predetermined battery rating scale to render a multiplicity of second voltage potential signals at a corresponding multiplicity of taps along the voltage divider network, values of the second voltage potential signals being representative of the calibrated battery rating scale; and sequentially selecting the second voltage potential signals along the taps for comparison with a threshold voltage potential signal to determine a measure of the condition of the battery.
Abstract: The antenna device has an antenna wire loop which, accompanied by the formation of two electrically outer (1,3) and one electrically central partial loop (2), is twice twisted by in each case 180.degree.. One of the two electrically outer partial loops (3) is geometrically positioned between the electrically central partial loop (2) and the other electrically outer partial loop (1). An impedance element (11) is connected between two connecting points (9,10) located at the entrance and exit of the geometrically central partial loop. The antenna device according to the invention has a very balanced characteristic and in the case of an appropriate choice of its parameters, behaves at the resonant frequency of the tags to be detected in the same way as an antenna with approximately 2 to 21/2 partial loops.
Abstract: The antenna device has an antenna wire (1), a screening plate (2) and a casing receiving the antenna wire (1) and the screening plate. (2) and which is assembled from a front part (3) and a rear part (4). The two casing parts (3,4) together with the screening plate (2) form a sandwich structure on parts of their surface (sandwich surfaces (5,6,7)). The antenna wire (1) is positioned in a angle V-shaped portion (8) of the front casing part (3).
Abstract: A multi-test, hand-held instrument and method for testing manifold absolute pressure (MAP) and mass air flow (MAF) sensors includes a housing enclosing a battery and an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit can test d.c. voltage output signals and frequency output signals from MAP/MAF sensors and can test continuity and battery strength. Electrical leads extend outwardly from the housing and are connectable to the sensor being tested. A pair of light indicators, comprising LEDs and resistors connected in parallel, are selectively illuminated to allow the test instrument to be used to test both MAP and MAF sensors, and to test these components on different makes and models of vehicles.