Major Supplier Of Automotive Service Equipemnt Needed
An All-In-One System Controller/Operator Interface For New Series

Challenge: A leading supplier of automotive service equipment approached Intellicon to provide a controller for three separate automotive service machines. Customer required machines that were simple to operate, fail safe, and easy to maintain. Units should also have commonality of spare parts to reduce the number of spares the customer would need to inventory.

Analysis: Many of the sophisticated engine and transmission service operations must be done with the vehicle's engine running. Therefore, the equipment must operate precisely or leave the service provider and equipment manufacturer open for liability if the machine fails. Timing of service steps is also important since pressures must be increased and decreased at precise intervals, valves opened and closed, and correct amounts of detergents and fluids added.

The units should also be portable, in a compact package, be compliant to all OSHA and EPA requirements and run off the vehicle's 12 VDC power. Each machine must also have an update path for future model service requirements. Moreover, the machine must be cost-efficient.

Results: Working closely with the customer's product development team, Intellicon engineers developed a unique two-board solution that utilizes a common controller and a model specific operator-machine interface.

The controller board uses a industry standard micro-controller with a programmable flash memory that holds the system's service routine. The board also has bi-directional motor control, up to 8 solenoid drivers (depends on the unit), A-D converter for measurements, closed loop PID, and full display functions and input processing. To help program the units, an embedded Ethernet option was included for future use.

The operator interface board and overlay is specific for each machine and each application. Operators are prompted to push buttons to machine prompts and instructions with read-outs provided through a combination of LEDs, seven-segment displays, and LCD screens. In addition, Intellicon engineers designed audible warnings with variable tones to quickly alert service technicians about the status of any process.

The Proof: The design has helped the equipment manufacturer reduce the number of spare parts for this equipment family as well as improving control of the service project. The assemblies reduced the manufacture's production time leading to a better product that cost less to produce.

Email: info@intelliconelectronics.com

Tel: 714.751.9257