SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING 1D AND 2D BARCODES IN ELECTRICAL TROUBLESHOOTING AND SERVICE PARTS INFORMATION

Barcodes, such as QR codes are strategically placed on the work vehicle in a location representative of an electrical system. Scanning the QR code with a QR scanner, smart phone or other device will take a user to the schematic location for the system and/or a list of systems in the area. Schematic details may be provided by electrical means via OEM diagnostic tool, web site or reference to a printed manual and page number. Alternately, from the schematic a user could scan a code to point them to a location on the work vehicle for system or component. In addition to QR codes on the work vehicle, QR codes and 1 dimensional codes could also be placed on components like harnesses, sensors, modules and the like to provide schematic location and assist in component detail, part numbers and ordering.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIG. 1, information about a system10, such as an electrical or mechanical system10on a work vehicle12is obtained using an optical barcode14and a barcode reader16. The optical barcode14is strategically placed on the work vehicle12in a location representative of the electrical system10. As is known in the art, a barcode14is an optically machine-readable label that is attached to an item and that records information related to that item. By the term “two-dimensional optical code” a set of graphic marks is intended, located on a label or directly on the work vehicle12, by means of which information is associated with a surface divided into white, black or colored cells, arranged in one or more directions. One of the most common two-dimensional optical codes is commonly referred to as a Quick Response Code or QR Code, however other two-dimensional codes of different symbologies and/or by the manner of coding data may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention will be described in terms using a QR code14, but it is to be understood that other 2D and 1D optical codes may also be used.

The QR code14strategically placed on the work vehicle12is scanned with a QR scanner16, such as a smart phone or other device. Scanning the QR code takes a user to electronic tools18, such as a schematic for the applicable system10and/or a list of systems in the area. In one embodiment, schematic details are provided by electrical means using a diagnostic tool, a web site or a reference to a printed manual and page number. Alternately, as shown inFIG. 2, from a schematic20, a user scans a QR code14to point them to a location on the work vehicle12for the electrical system10or component. In addition to QR codes on the work vehicle12, QR codes are placed on components like harnesses, sensors, modules and the like to provide schematic location and assist in component detail, part numbers and ordering.

Turning now toFIG. 3, in another embodiment the QR code14is placed directly on a component22, such as a connector or wiring harness that is to be used in the electrical system10on the work vehicle12. During schematic and wire harness creation, the QR code14is generated for each connector/terminal in the harness. The QR code14may represent an internet link to the supplier web site for the given connector22. In one embodiment, a web tool would be created, such as by an OEM, that links to detailed information about the component. Using a smart phone or other code reader16to interface to the OEM web tool, a technician in the field could order service parts, look up part numbers, view assembly and de-pinning process, view connector pin out, connector terminal function or simply retrieve component information and views. From the OEM, tool a technician can jump to schematic pages that contain the bar code using hyperlink in the OEM tool. The QR codes generated would be placed on a tag/label near each connector/terminal in the harness. Component tables in the schematics would also contain the codes. This process would allow the user to troubleshoot and find connector/terminal information starting at either the schematic or the harness level. In addition to a code at the component level, a harness level code would be generated that would link to a BOM and other detailed information of the harness. From the harness level, a technician could order service spares or jump to individual component pages. In all cases the code could be standardized at OEM service parts centers and dealer for better inventory control.

In one embodiment, an electronic diagnostic tool, such as one provided by an OEM, can be used when servicing the work vehicle12. Electrical schematics and diagnostic flow charts are placed in the diagnostics tool to aid the technician in troubleshooting and fault correction. For diagnostic tools with a built in code reader, the QR code will be scanned and the tool could take the technician to a page that allows them to jump directly to the applicable diagnostic flow charts or schematic pages. Once the fault is detected, replacement parts could be ordered directly from the tool or simply show the applicable code for the component to be scanned with an external reader. If a tablet does not have a built in code reader, the technician could use a smart phone or other code reader to take them to the web tool. The web tool would contain a code they could simply type into the diagnostic tool that would take them to the same page indicated above.

In addition to component level QR codes, a QR code would be generated for an electrical system10, for example, a starting circuit for the work vehicle12. The QR code is placed on a label and affixed to the work vehicle12in an area of the applicable system10. The QR code takes the technician to the web tool to allow them to view service parts for the system10or a diagnostic flow chart to step them through the fault detection process. In the example of a starting circuit, the QR code is placed on or near the starter motor. When the technician has a problem with the starting circuit, he would scan the QR code to jump to the starting diagnostic flow chart. One QR code could be generated with each electrical system category.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments described above, it is evident that many alternatives, combinations, modifications and variations are apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of this invention, as set forth above are intended to be illustrative only, and not in a limiting sense. Various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.