Patent TW-I705258-B (TW)
Title: A circuit troubleshooting system
Inventor: LU PIN
IPC: G01R31/302
Filed: 2019-01-25
Granted: 2020-09-21
Abstract: A circuit troubleshooting system, including a graphical user interface program, a nodal electrical characteristic table, an artificial intelligence logic, a computer platform, a power and signal generator, a set of measuring equipment, and an editable maintenance note. The nodal electrical characteristic table records the electrical characteristics of each node on the target circuit under test, such as but not limited to the voltage, current, frequency...etc. The nodal electrical  
characteristic table also shows the meanings of common error signals, the correlation between nodes, and user guides to troubleshooting. The computer platform executes the graphical user interface program, which provides a graphical user interface for operation, manages system access permissions for different maintainers, and records the testing results logged by the maintainer. The graphical user interface program can operate on three modes to test a target circuit: a default general testing mode that tests multiple circuit functions, a specific testing mode that examines any one specific circuit function, and a manual component-testing mode that examines circuit components. The graphical user interface program guides the maintainer to feed necessary power and signal from the power and signal generator into the target circuit. The graphical user interface program then records the input and output signals of the target circuit with the measuring equipment. The artificial intelligence logic then uses the data to determine if the target circuit is operating correctly. If the target circuit is found to be operating incorrectly, the graphical user interface program first commands the power and signal generator to feed necessary power and signal into the target circuit, then guides the maintainer to measure the electrical characteristics of specific nodes with the measuring equipment. The graphical user interface program then diagnoses possible malfunctioning components using the artificial intelligence logic, according to the measured electrical characteristics data. The artificial intelligence logic analyzes the electrical characteristics data as it is collected, so that the possibilities of malfunctioning components can be narrowed down with each measurement. This enables the maintainer to locate and remove the malfunctioning component efficiently. This system additionally displays the circuit diagram, schematic diagram, and actual photos of the target circuit, and also briefly explains the circuit diagram of the target circuit with simple icons, making it easier for the maintainer to locate each node they intend to measure. The graphical user interface program saves the nodal electrical characteristic data table, and provides the maintainer with electrical characteristics data of correctly functioning nodes for comparison. The 
graphical user interface program also presents the maintainer with a menu of malfunction suggestions and corresponding troubleshooting steps, using simple icons that the maintainer can select and directly initiate a troubleshooting process. The graphical user interface program also allows the maintainer to create and edit maintenance notes for each node, to keep track of maintenance history.