FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 [39 OF 1970]
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [SEE SECTION 10 & RULE 13]

1 TITLE

Multiple Tests Control System through Computer Input and Output device(s)

2 APPLICANT
NAME MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD.

ADDRESS

1, GATEWAY BUILDING, APOLLO BUNDER, MUMBAI
400001

NATIONALITY INDIA
The following specification particularly describes the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multiple test control system through computer input and output device(s), more particularly it relates to automatic test sequence control and recording of testing data for various vehicle sub-systems like gear shifting system, brake system, clutch system, etc. The test program works on the intelligence given to each digital signal received from input and output (I / O) device with reference to the address code of the respective functional components of the vehicle sub-systems. Provision of automatic multiple test control system through computer I / 0 devices, like printer parallel port, Industry standard architecture (ISA) port, Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) port, etc. over existing test system configuration, allows operational flexibility in terms of different types and number of test execution with the same control system.
Background of the Invention
On road testing of prototype vehicle is expensive because it comprises many prototype subsystems. If any one of these subsystems fails during testing, the other subsystems cannot be tested without it. It is possible to eliminate this interdependence of subsystem by testing these subsystems and components independently in the laboratory. For example it's now possible to evaluate a prototype transmission without prototype engine attached to it, so engine problems need not affect the transmission test schedule. The evaluation process starts with field load data acquisition, followed by development of test load cycles and test facilities to simulate the field load conditions in lab with adequate acceleration factor.
To test these individual sub-systems of vehicle, various testing set ups have been developed using programmable logic control (PLC) system. PLC based system has limited flexibility, hence there are limitation in handling
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frequently changing testing requirements. Also the expert intervention is always required to build up the hardware for the respective testing set up.
The patents published in the area of such laboratory test systems and the patents, which are in the scope of inventive solution developed to overcome the limitations and advance current test control systems are explained below.
US Patent No. 4819116, Dated 10,1998
This invention is primarily beneficial to the computer user to play digital audio by connecting the external digital audio device through the parallel port. Thus the user can play the digital audio without the need for any change in the systems original hardware configuration. The system consists of analog to digital converter and digital to analog converter unit, which converts analog audio data in to compressed digital signal and transmits to computer through parallel port. The compressed digital information is uncompressed in the computer. The system sends the compressed digital information through parallel port to communication device. This device converts it in to audio digital information. Digital to analog unit convert the audio digital information to audio analog signal and it is give to external audio device. Data bus is used to control transaction of audio digital data from analog audio system to host computer and from host computer to audio device. Control signals and status signals of printer port control through program developed in assembly language.
Hence the invention talks about audio data transmission and receipt and not about controlling the external system through computer parallel port for the purpose of testing of automotive system(s).
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US Patent No. - 5555436, dated 10,1996
This patent talks about the invention in which multiple devices can share a single printer parallel port of the computer. More specifically the software in the computer controls the printer and other devices, which are connected through a common apparatus. The system consists of multiple devices connected to printer port apart from printer so if printer is inactive then data is given to device depending upon the address set So when any one device is selected other data line of the device goes in to high input Impedance state this is achieved by tristate buffer. With this arrangement multiple devices apart from printer can communicate with computer through parallel port.
Hence the invention talks about communication of multiple devices to host computer through printer port using an additional apparatus and not about controlling the external system for the purpose of testing of automotive system(s).
US Patent N0.-6104988, dated 07,2000
This patent talks about the system to diagnose and detect the faults in the automotive powertrain by using high-speed data acquisition. The system has an interface module, which acquires the data from the vehicle or refrigeration unit under repair and transmits it to the host computer for data analysis. The patent talks about the use of the system for fast diagnosis and detection of the faults for faster repairs.
The invention does not talk about controlling the testing parameters of various testing systems by using standard printer parallel port (25 pin) of host computer.
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US Patent No.- 4493209, dated 01,1985
This patent talks about the system to synchronize the speed of the drive motor and the input shaft of the manual speed change unit or the selective gearbox under test. The invention uses the speed sensor on the motor shaft and the on the gearbox input shaft. When the clutch is disengaged to change the gear the speed of the gearbox input shaft drops. The speed sensors detect the speed difference and give feedback to the motor drive to reduce the speed accordingly.
This invention neither talks about controlling entire testing system nor using the standard parallel port (25pin) of the computer.
A need, therefore, exists for a user friendly, operationally flexible and cost & time effective, automatic multiple test control and recording system for various laboratory testing.
Summary of the Invention
Primary objective of the present invention is to provide a multiple automatic test control and recording system using local computer and its input and output (I / O) devices like printer parallel port, ISA port, PCI port, etc. generally used for the printer or the like.
Another object of the present invention is to develop a flexible multiple test control set up for various laboratory testing like gear shifting, braking, clutch system of a vehicle using local computer, an interface module, intelligence through related software and hardware of the test system.
Another object of the present invention to provide a control and data recording system using existing control system hardware and making it flexible enough for implementation in different types and purposes of testing by keeping common control system.
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Yet another object of the present invention to provide user friendly test control system, which will guide user for hardware connection, input parameters for the test and continue the test cycle automatically from beginning to end for the respective test.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention as well as preferred embodiments thereof will become more apparent to those skilled in the art, from referring following description in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1 shows the block diagram for at least one type of gear shifting system test set up according to the present invention.
Figure 2 the shows the block diagram of an Interface Module as illustrated in figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the power circuit diagram used in an Interface Module as illustrated in figure 1 and 2.
Figure 4 shows the circuit diagram used for unregulated power supply in an Interface Module as illustrated in figure 1 & 2.
Figure 5 shows the flow chart of logic developed for multiple tests control system through computer input and output devices as illustrated in figure 1.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
Figure 1 shows the schematic view of vehicle testing set up for at least one type of gear shifting system according to the present invention.
A display unit (1), generally monitor of a local computer, is electrically connected to its Central Processing Unit (CPU, 2). Keyboard (3), is used as input
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device for giving command signals to main program. Software / program in CPU (2) sends and receives signals through computer input and output device(s) (I / 0, 4) like printer parallel port, ISA port, PCI port, etc. The output signals from I / 0 device(s) (4) are electrically transferred to the Interface Module (5) with an electrical cable. Interface module (5) converts low level signals coming from I / 0 device (4) to high level control signals and high level feedback signals from sensors (13, 14) to low level signals. These high level signals generated by the interface module (5) are further transferred to control valves (7, 8 and 9) through Relay Module (6) to control the vehicle test system(s) according to the test program. Control valves (7, 8 and 9) are controlling pneumatic or hydraulic output of functional components like shifting lever (10), clutch pedal (11), accelerator pedal (12), etc. through actuators (43, 44 and 45) according to the address code as defined in test program.
The feedback sensors like position sensor (13), speed sensor (14) are provided at respective locations in the gear shifting system. Feedback signals coming from these sensors terminate at CPU (2) through relay module (6), interface module (5) and I / 0 device (4). Emergency switch (15) is provided in connection with Relay Module (6), Interface Module (5), CPU (2), and control valves (7, 8 and 9) for terminating testing sequence in case of malfunction of the system under testing.
The test program provides instruction to user during testing like hardware connections, test control sequences and test input parameters for concerned test execution; is designed and stored in harddisk (46) of CPU (2). The program based on the user inputs executes respective test cycle. This data is displayed on the display unit (1) depending up on the selected test cycle (51 for gear shifting system). Components (10, 11, 12) of the test system (gear shifting system), sensors (13, 14), control valves (7, 8, 9), actuators (43, 44, 45), control wires (48), pneumatic / hydraulic cables (49), etc. are defined with unique address codes and are linked to the respective test program (51, 52, 53, etc.) for
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test cycle setup and execution. The test program / software can be developed in C, Assembly, C++, VC++, Visual Basic, Pascal, Graphical or similar programming languages. The test program is written in a manner to make it deterministic. The total program / software works on the intelligence given to each digital signal with reference to the address codes of the respective test hardwares and functional components.
The Interface module (5) as shown in figure 2 and 3 is electrically connected between CPU (2) and relay module (6). The interface module consists of input ports (16,17,18,19,20), power circuits (A), for each digital output signal, unregulated power supply circuit (B), terminal strip (C), to give external power supply (21) based on the testing requirement, output ports (22,23,24,25,26) and 230 V AC power input (27). The external power supply (21) signal terminated on terminal strip (C) is interconnected to all power circuits (A) for controlling the test devices in the field. Each power circuit (A) comprises transistor (28), base resistor (29), fuse (30), control switches (36), relay (32), diode (33), light emitting diode (LED, 34). Low level signals coming from I / O device (4) are given to power circuit (A), which converts it into high level signals. Interface module (5) distributes these low level output signals (DOI, D02, D03, D04, D05, DM) received from CPU (2) to high level signals to respective output ports (22,23,24,25,26) according to selected test cycle, which is preprogrammed.
Power circuit (A) works on 12V DC power supply, which is derived from power supply unit (21). Digital output signal is given to transistor (28) through bias resistor (29). Common emitter configuration is used to drive the relay (32). Relay (32) is connected to collector circuit. Control switch (36) having three-control mode. First control mode is "on" which directly switch on the relay, second control mode is "off' which directly turn off the output of interface unit inspite of digital signal at the input. Third control input is remote mode with this it is possible to control the output of the interface unit through software. Thus generally "on" mode is used to check the test system hardware, off mode is used
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to switch off the unused digital output, remote mode is used to control the transistor (28) through test program.
The Relay Module (6) is electrically connected between an interface module (5) and control valves (7, 8, 9) to isolate the external power signal (21) from low level digital signals and transfers controlling signals to the control (solenoid) valves. Control outputs (22,23,24,25,26) from interface module are use to drive the relay (37,38,39,40,41,42) in relay module (6) which further drives respective solenoid valves (7, 8, 9). Outputs of these solenoid valves are further connected to linear or rotary actuator (43, 44, 45) that operates functional components (10, 11,12) of the system under testing.
Safety feature is provided in interface module (5) and controlled by the software that takes care of momentary power failure and again restarts the system only with the intervention of the user.
Sensors (13,14) are provided at respective location in the gear shifting system, which gives the feedback about the clutch engaged / disengaged, engine speed, etc. which are then transferred to the test program in CPU (2), through relay module (6) and interface module (5).
Above Multiple test control and recording system set up though computer I / O device (4) is explained below with reference to the example of gear shifting system (51) of a vehicle.
After starting the gear shifting system test program (51) on local computer (1, 2 and 3) stored in computer Harddisk (46), the program / software will guide user for building hardware, testing parameters like number of cycles, shifting time, clutch release time, etc. required for executing this test cycle. Once the test program (51) and vehicle is started the respective test cycles will run as per the testing logic as shown in figure 5 and test parameters define in the program (51). During the running of this program the various operating signals as per the
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hardware addresses are given through respective signals process by the CPU (2), Interface module (5), relay module (6), control valves (7, 8, 9). Feedback signals are continuously supplied by respective sensors (13, 14) provided at various location in the gear shifting system, which helps in complete execution of test cycle as per test program (51). The test results are continuously recorded in the test program (51) and displayed on monitor (1) during the test cycle.
Above explained multiple tests control and recording system, through local computer is in relation with the vehicle gear shifting system using 1 input and 5 output digital signals from printer parallel port, whereas similar kind of testing set up can be developed for the similar operating systems like braking system (52), clutch system (53) or other types of operating system. Also multiple test programs (51, 52, 53, etc.) can be run on same computer using all available digital signals from various I / O devices like printer parallel port, ISA port, PCI port, etc.
As various changes could be made in the above construction and logic of the system without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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We Claim :
1. A multiple test control system through computer input and output device(s) /
port(s), wherein said system comprises ;
- a display unit (1), connected to said computer Central Processing Unit (CPU, 2);
- a input device (3), connected to said computer CPU ;
- said CPU processes test programs stored in the harddisk (46) of said CPU through said input and output device(s) (4),
- said CPU (2) is electrically connected to an interface module (5);
- said interface module is further connected to relay module (6);
- said relay module is electrically connected to controlling means (7);
- said controlling means are mechanically connected to the actuator(s) (43) through piping or similar means ;
- said actuator(s) are further connected to functional component(s) (10) of the system under test;
- a sensor(s) (13) are suitably provided at respective location in said system layout;
- said sensor are electrically connected to said test program through said relay module, said interface module and said input and output device(s);
- said test program processes and records the testing data based on the signals received from said sensors.

2. A multiple test control system of claim 1, wherein said display unit is generally monitor of local computer and displays instruction for the user during testing like hardware connections, test control sequence and test input parameters for concerned test execution.
3. A multiple test control system of claim 1, wherein said input device is generally keyboard of local computer used to feed concerned test program, test input parameter and other relevant information necessary for the execution of said testing.
4. A multiple test control system of claim 1, wherein said interface module is located and electrically connected between said CPU and said relay module to exchange digital input and output signals between said test program and said hardware of the system under test.
5. An interface module as claim in claim 1 and 4, wherein low level signals coming from said input and output device(s) are converted to high level control signals and high level feedback signals from said seasons are converted to low level signals.
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6. An interface module as claim in claim 1,4 and 5, comprises input port(s) (16), power circuits (A), for each digital signal, unregulated power supply circuit (B), terminal strip (C) to given external power supply (21), output port(s) (22) and 230V AC power input (27), wherein said power circuit comprising transistor (28), fuse (30), control switches (31), relay (32), diode (33) and LED (34).
7. A multiple test control system of claim 1, wherein said relay module is connected between said interface module and said controlling means to isolate said external power supply from low level digital signals and transfers controlling signals to said controlling means.
8. A multiple test control system of claim 1, wherein said controlling means are generally solenoid valves, which operates said actuators based on the operating signals received from said test program through said input and output device(s), said interface module and said relay module.
9. A multiple test control system of claim 1, wherein said actuators are generally linear or rotary actuators like piston and cylinder mechanism, stepper motor, which operates said functional components of said system under test according to the instructions received from said test program through said controlling means.
10. A multiple test control system of claim 1, wherein said sensors are generally position, speed sensors located nearby said functional components of said system under test, which forwards feedback signals of the testing to said test program for successful execution of said testing under process.

11. A multiple test control system as claim in any of above claim, wherein said test program can be developed in C, C++, VC++, Visual Basic, Pascal, Graphical or similar programming languages and said test program works on the intelligence given to each digital signal from said input and output device(s) with reference to the address codes of the respective hardware / functional components of said system under test.
12. A multiple test control system as claim in any of above claim can be developed for testing different types of operating / functional systems, using available digital signals from said input and output device(s) like printer parallel port, Industry standard architecture (ISA) port, Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) port.
13. A multiple test control system as claim in any of above claim, wherein an
emergency switch (15) is provided in connection with said Relay Module, said
Interface Module, said CPU and said controlling means for terminating said
testing sequence in case of malfunction of said system under test.
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14. A multiple test control system as claim in any of above claim, wherein a safety feature is provided in said interface module and controlled by said test program to take care of momentary power failure and again restarts said system only after intervention of the user.
15. A multiple test control system as claim in any of above claim, wherein separates add on cards can be provided in said Industry standard architecture (ISA), Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) ports depending upon the size of testing data being process during said testing.
Dated this 8th day of MARCH 2006

TO
THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS
THE PATENT OFFICE, MUMBAI

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ABSTRACT
A multiple test control system through computer input and output device(s), more particularly it relates to automatic test sequence control and recording of testing data for various vehicle sub-systems like gear shifting system, brake system, clutch system, etc.

Dated this 8th day of MARCH 2006

TO
THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS THE PATENT OFFICE, MUMBAI