Graphical display of a countdown timer

Abstract

 A vehicle engine analyzer includes a video monitor for displaying vehicle test procedures, results and other analyzer functions, including certain test procedures or other functions having execution time associated therewith displayed in a graphic format comprising two concentric circles, whose circular area therebetween being indicative of the amount of execution time remaining such that a full circular area of uniform color intensity corresponds to an entire predetermined execution time, while angular wedge-shaped portions of the circular area change in color intensity upon elapse of execution time, the angular portion being calculated from the entire predetermined execution time; the graphic display format further including numeric characters, disposed inside the inner circle, corresponding to the amount of execution time remaining.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to graphical display formats, and more particularly to a graphical display format of a countdown timer.

Background Art

[0002] The early prior art of automotive test equipment is characterized by the use of separate test instruments, such as ammeters, tachometers and oscilloscopes. The more modern art features computer-based testers that integrate the separate test instrument functions. These testers often include a video monitor for display of test procedures and results.

[0003] However, the modern testers do not always provide a satisfactory display format for easy interpretation of test data. For example, in certain tests, the operator is required to perform a task (e.g., idle the engine) for a predetermined period of time. It is known to provide a numeric display on the monitor of the remaining test execution time. Also, the test time numeric display is often displayed with other numeric data. This numeric display format can increase operator interpretation time and add to operator error, especially if viewed from a distance.

Disclosure of Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a graphic display of a countdown timer in a format that reduces operator interpretation time.

[0005] According to the present invention, a vehicle engine analyzer includes a video monitor for displaying vehicle test procedures, results, and other analyzer functions, including certain test procedures or other functions having associated execution time displayed in a graphic format comprising two concentric circles, whose circular area therebetween being indicative of the amount of execution time remaining such that a full circular area of uniform color intensity corresponds to an entire predetermined execution time, while angular wedge-shaped portions of the circular area change in color intensity upon elapse of execution time, the angular portion being calculated from the predetermined entire execution time; the graphic display format further including numeric characters, disposed inside the inner circle, corresponding to the amount of execution time remaining.

[0006] The invention has utility in providing to the operator of vehicle test equipment a graphic display of remaining test time that is easily viewed from a distance. The countdown timer may be presented with other test data on the same display screen, thus allowing the operator to visually select the timer quickly from among the other displayed data. The timer may be easily understood by drawing an analogy to a circular pie, wherein a full pie corresponds to the entire test time and, as each second of test time elapses, a piece of the pie is removed in consecutive order, the size of the piece removed being in proportion to the overall test execution time, whereby the remaining amount of the pie represents remaining test execution time while the overall portion of the pie removed represents elapsed test execution time.

[0007] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Brief Description of Drawing

[0008] 

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustration of one type of automotive diagnostic equipment in which the present invention may be used;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the automotive diagnostic equipment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of selected elements of the automotive diagnostic equipment of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of further selected elements of the automotive diagnostic equipment of Fig. 2, the elements representing the best mode for implementing the countdown timer of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is an illustration of a countdown timer graphical display format in accordance with the present invention together with other displayed test data;

Fig. 6 is an illustration of the countdown timer of Fig. 5 in various time sequences; and

Fig 7 is a flowchart diagram used by the selected elements of Fig. 4 in implementing the countdown timer of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Referring to Fig. 1, the present invention may be used in computer-based, automotive diagnostic equipment 10 which provides for automated testing of vehicle components and subsystems. The equipment includes a transportable console 11 housing a customer interface unit (CIU) computer 12, video monitor 14, printer 15, keyboard 16, data acquisition unit (DAU) 18, and a computerized, BAR-84/BAR-90 compliant emissions analyzer (CEA) 20 having exhaust probe 21. Also included is a rotatable boom 22 housing engine probes 25-36 connected to the boom by corresponding signal lines 40-51.

[0010] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the equipment 10. The probes 25-36 include ignition coil probes 25, battery leads 26, a top dead center (TDC) probe 27 for sensing the TDC identification notch on the engine vibration damper, an inductive pickup 28 for measuring the number one (#1) cylinder spark firing signal, and a vacuum probe 29. Other probes include a current probe 30, a fuel injection solenoid probe 31, a KV probe 32 for measuring per cylinder peak spark plug firing voltage and spark duration, a timing light 33, a temperature probe 34, a fuel pressure probe 35, and two general purpose multimeter leads 36.

[0011] The lines 40-51 attach to the boom 22 with corresponding known type connectors 55-66. The sensed signals are presented on signal lines 69 to signal conditioning circuitry 70, which presents the conditioned signals on signal lines 71 to the DAU 18. The DAU and CIU 12 communicate with each other by a known link 82, e.g., a high-speed parallel SCSI or serial data link. The sensed exhaust gases from the exhaust probe 21 pass through a hose 83 to the CEA 20. The CEA-processed signals are then presented to the CIU on a communications link 84, e.g., an RS232 serial data link.

[0012] The CIU directs the operation of the monitor 14, printer 15, and keyboard 16 through lines 86 (monitor lines 86a, keyboard lines 86b, and printer lines 86c). Communication with each device is in conformance with the appropriate industry standard for that particular type of device.

[0013] Referring to Fig. 3, the DAU 18 includes known type, analog signal processing (ASP) circuitry 95 which performs analog to digital conversion on the sensed engine signals. The ASP circuitry connects by signal lines 96 to a DAU system bus 97 comprising a known bus architecture, e.g., the Multibus standard.

[0014] The DAU also includes digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry 98 connected by signal lines 99 to the DAU bus 97, and processor circuitry 100, which processes signals for the ASP circuitry 95, DSP circuitry 98, boom 22 and the CIU 12. The processor circuitry 100 connects to the DAU bus by signal lines 101.

[0015] Referring to Fig. 4, the CIU 12 comprises, e.g., an International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation Model AT computer. The CIU contains the hardware and software necessary to interface with all elements of the equipment 10. The CIU includes a central processing unit (CPU) 105 connected to a CIU bus 106 by signal lines 107. The CIU bus 106 includes address, data and control lines.

[0016] The CIU provides data storage devices, including a hard disk drive 109, one or more floppy disk drives 110, and random access memory (RAM) 111. The hard disk 109, typically 40 megabyte (MB) capacity, stores the known operating system (e.g., MS-DOS) and the subroutines comprising the vehicle test software, as well as the operating software for the DAU processor circuitry 100 and DSP circuitry 98. The hard disk connects to the CIU bus by signal lines 112.

[0017] The floppy disk 110 loads software on the hard disk and comprises the known 3.5 inch, 1.44 MB format. The floppy disk connects to the CIU bus by signal lines 113. The RAM 111 stores program operating parameters and comprises integrated circuit (IC) components totalling 640 kilobytes (KB) or more of memory capacity. The RAM connects to the CIU bus by signal lines 114.

[0018] The keyboard 16 is the primary user input device to the CIU and provides a full alphanumeric character set. The CIU includes keyboard interface circuitry 116 connected to the CIU bus by signal lines 117. The monitor 14, e.g., a Model 1019/SP from Microvitec Corp., displays vehicle test procedures and results. The CIU includes monitor interface circuitry 118 connected to the CIU bus by signal lines 119. The printer, e.g., a Model LQ-850 dot matrix printer from Epson Corp., prints vehicle test data and results. The CIU includes printer interface circuitry 120 connected to the CIU bus by signal lines 121.

[0019] The CIU also includes known communications interface circuitry 122 that implements the DAU link 82 and CEA link 84. The DAU link communicates engine signals from the DAU and software stored on the hard disk 109 to the DAU. The CEA link communicates CEA-processed exhaust signals. The communications interface circuitry 122 connects to the CIU bus by signal lines 124.

[0020] In a typical diagnostic and repair procedure, the operator connects the desired engine probes 25-36 and/or exhaust probe 21 to the vehicle under test and determines vehicle performance by executing diagnostic tests. The particular tests chosen are selected from a menu displayed on the monitor. Test operation proceeds and the resulting data is displayed on the monitor for interpretation. The operator can also print out a hard copy of the test results on the printer.

[0021] The description thus far is of equipment that aids an operator in the diagnosis and repair of automobiles. The present invention may be used in such equipment, as described in detail hereinafter. The use of the present invention in such equipment represents the best mode for carrying out the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention may be implemented in simpler equipment which includes only the signal processing and display means required for direct support of the invention.

[0022] Referring again to Fig. 2, as part of a typical diagnostic and repair procedure, the CEA 20 may be used to sense the concentrations of certain gases (e.g., hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and oxygen) in the vehicle exhaust. The concentrations might be desired as part of a mandatory emissions testing procedure, or as part of a test of the vehicle emission subsystem.

[0023] The operator inserts the exhaust probe 21 into the vehicle exhaust pipe and chooses a desired emissions test from a menu on the monitor 14. The operator then enters vehicle specific data on a number of subsequent display screens. A display screen 150, as illustrated in Fig. 5, eventually appears instructing the operator to idle the engine at a certain RPM. The display screen includes both a numeric display 152 and a graphic display 154 of sensed engine RPM. The method of measuring RPM is known, an example of which, for similar vehicle diagnostic apparatus, is disclosed in a commonly owned copending patent application of common assignee herewith entitled GRAPHICAL DISPLAY OF TIMING ADVANCE DATA, U.S. Ser. No. 07/335,623, filed by J. Fisher. However, it is to be understood that the engine RPM display format disclosed herein forms no part of the present invention.

[0024] Also illustrated on the display screen in Fig. 5 is the countdown timer graphic display 156 in accordance with the present invention. The timer illustrates the test execution time remaining in seconds. In this example, the timer originally started with thirty seconds and has twelve seconds remaining. During the entire thirty seconds, the CEA is analyzing the exhaust for the aforementioned gases.

[0025] During the test, the operator may desire to vary the task he is performing, or, he may want to capture data either manually or automatically at certain time intervals. Since the operator may be inside the car or leaning over under the hood, the tester monitor is several feet away. Thus, it is important to provide the operator with a display format of test execution time that can be easily viewed from this distance.

[0026] Fig. 6, illustration (a), illustrates the countdown timer 156 of the present invention containing the entire thirty second duration of the exemplary emissions test. The timer is represented by a graphic display of two concentric circles 160,162, whose area therebetween is of uniform color. Inside the inner circle 162 is a numeric display 164 of the time remaining in seconds. As each second of test time elapses, an angular equal-area wedge-shaped portion of the circular area changes color in an amount measured in degrees and determined from the relative proportion of a second to the total time. With a total time of thirty seconds, the angular portion that changes color as each second elapses is calculated with the following equation:
ANGLE = 1 UNIT OF TIME * (360 DEGREES / TOTAL UNITS OF TIME)
Here, units of time are in seconds, thus:
ANGLE = 1 SECOND * (360 DEGREES / 30 SECONDS)
The angular area that changes color each second equals twelve degrees.

[0027] Fig. 6, illustration (b), illustrates the timer after ten seconds have elapsed. The total angle of elapsed time equals 120 degrees.

[0028] Referring again to Fig. 4, the exemplary emissions test software is stored on the CIU hard disk 109. When the operator selects the emissions test from a test menu, the software is loaded into RAM 111, from where it is executed by the CPU 105. The software which controls the countdown timer may either reside within the emissions test software or be a separate subroutine that is called thereby. Fig. 7 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary subroutine that may be executed by the CPU.

[0029] After an enter step 180 in Fig. 7, the total timer time is loaded into a counter in RAM 111 in a routine 182. This time may have either been predetermined and originally stored in another RAM location, or it may be input from the operator. Next, the angular amount to change color upon an elapse of a unit of time is calculated in a routine 184 from the equation described hereinbefore. A test 186 is then executed where the subroutine of Fig. 7 is waiting for the start of the emissions test. Once the emissions test has begun, the subroutine checks, in a test 188, for the elapse of one second.

[0030] The elapse of one second may be implemented by a counter scheme whereby a clock generator (not shown) supplies clock pulses of a certain frequency to a counter (e.g., an Intel Model 8254, not shown). Both the clock generator and counter may be implemented as supported circuitry for the CPU 105. The counter counts the pulses and either interrupts the CPU after the elapse of one second or the CPU may periodically read the counter to determine for itself the amount of time elapsed. However, these schemes are exemplary; any suitable method of checking for the elapse of one second may be implemented using techniques which are well within the skill of the art.

[0031] After the elapse of one second, the CPU directs the video monitor interface circuitry 118 to update the timer, in a routine 190, on the screen. Next, the counter is decremented in a routine 192, and the counter is checked for zero in a test 194. If not zero, the subroutine branches back to the test 188 for the elapse of one second. If zero, the subroutine exits in a step 196.

[0032] It should be understood that the steps comprising the subroutine of Fig. 7 are only exemplary. Similar steps may be taken to display the timer in accordance with the present invention, these steps being incorporated right into the test subroutine itself in a known manner that should be readily apparent to these skilled in the art.

[0033] In Fig. 5, the timer is illustrated as being displayed together with other test data on a screen; it suffice that the timer itself be displayed as disclosed herein regardless of any other information displayed therewith. It is contemplated that the timer be used when the CIU computer 12 is executing software routines comprising certain vehicle diagnostic tests. However, the timer may be used during equipment non-test performance, e.g., during equipment calibration procedures. In not all of these tests, nor in the calibration procedures, may there be data displayed on the screen. During these times, the timer display format of the present invention may be the sole source of information displayed to the operator.

[0034] A total test time of thirty seconds is exemplary; any amount of time in any suitable unit (minutes, tenths of a second, etc.) may be used, with the resulting angular portion that changes color each unit of time being calculated accordingly from the aforementioned equation. Also, Fig. 6 illustrates that the timer initially starts counting down in a clockwise direction from a twelve o'clock position. However, the timer may begin counting down in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction from any desired angular position without detracting from the broadest scope of the present invention.

[0035] Also, the timer display format has been described with respect to a color monitor, wherein the remaining test procedure time within the circular area is of a uniform color while the elapsed time area is another color. However, for use with a monochrome monitor, different shades of the same color may be used without detracting from the scope of the present invention. It suffices for the present invention that there be sufficient contrast between the portion representing remaining procedure execution time and the portion representing elapsed procedure execution time, so as to allow the operator to quickly determine remaining execution time.

[0036] Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Apparatus for conducting functional tests of motor vehicle operation, comprising:
display means, for displaying, in a visual graphics format, the information content of information signals presented thereto, said visual format being determined by a display algorithm comprising a plurality of display signals presented to said display means in timed sequence with said information signals; and
signal processing means, having a central processing unit (CPU) and having memory means for storing signals, including said display signals and including information signals comprising one or more functional test algorithms, each said test algorithm defining a fixed time interval subroutine executed by said CPU in conducting a related functional test procedure, each said subroutine presenting a start signal to initiate said CPU execution of said routine and to further initiate CPU execution of said display algorithm, said CPU presenting said information signals and said display signals to said display means in said timed sequence;
as characterized by:
said display algorithm defining a graphics format comprising two concentric circles whose circular area therebetween has a full uniform color corresponding to an entire predetermined amount of test procedure execution time, angular portions of said circular area changing color intensity upon an elapse of test procedure execution time, an amount of said angular portion being calculated from said predetermined entire test procedure execution time, said graphic display format further including numeric characters, disposed inside an inner one of said concentric circles, corresponding to an amount of test procedure execution time remaining, whereby said changed color intensity circular area is indicative of elapsed test procedure time and the remainder of said circular area together with said numeric characters are indicative of remaining test procedure execution time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said functional test algorithms include a vehicle emissions test, whereby said concentric circular area is indicative of said time remaining and said time elapsed in said vehicle emissions test.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display means displays said anqular portions indicative of said elapsed test procedure time consecutively beginning from an orientation corresponding to a twelve o'clock position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display means displays said angular portions indicative of said elapsed test procedure time in a clockwise direction as said test procedure time elapses.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display means comprises color video monitor means, said color monitor means comprising means for displaying said remaining test execution time in one color and for displaying said elapsed test execution time in a different color.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said elapsed test procedure time is in one second increments, whereby said numeric characters inside said inner concentric circle are indicative of said remaining test procedure execution time in seconds.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display means comprises monochrome video monitor means, said monochrome monitor means comprising means for displaying said remaining test execution time in an intensity level of one color and for displaying said elapsed test execution time in a different intensity level of said one color.

8. Apparatus for providing a graphical display format of a countdown timer in a motor vehicle tester, comprising:
display means, for displaying, in a visual graphics format, the information content of display signals presented thereto, said visual format being determined by a display algorithm comprising said display signals presented to said display means; and
signal processing means, having a central processing unit (CPU) and having memory means for storing signals, including said display signals, said CPU presenting said display signals to said display means;
as characterized by:
said display algorithm defining a graphics format comprising two concentric circles whose circular area therebetween has a full uniform color corresponding to an entire predetermined amount of time, angular portions of said circular area changing color intensity upon an elapse of said predetermined time, an amount of said angular portion being calculated from said entire predetermined time, said graphic display format further including numeric characters, disposed inside an inner one of said concentric circles, corresponding to a remainder of said predetermined time, whereby said changed color intensity circular area is indicative of an elapsed portion of said predetermined time and the remainder of said circular area together with said numeric characters are indicative of said remainder of said predetermined time.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said display means displays said angular portions indicative of said elapsed portion of said predetermined time consecutively beginning from an orientation corresponding to a twelve o'clock position.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said display means displays said angular portions indicative of said elapsed portion of said predetermined time in a clockwise direction.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said display means comprises color video monitor means, said color monitor means comprising means for displaying said remainder of said predetermined time in one color and for displaying said elapsed portion of said predetermined time in a different color.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said elapsed portion of said predetermined time is in one second increments, whereby said numeric characters inside said inner concentric circle are indicative of said remainder of said predetermined time in seconds.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said display means comprises monochrome video monitor means, said monochrome monitor means comprising means for displaying said remainder of said predetermined time in an intensity level of one color and for displaying said elapsed portion of said predetermined time in a different intensity level of said one color.

Drawing