NZ791281A - A diagnostic device and method of use - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and method for diagnosing faults with video game consoles. In one form, there is provided a diagnostic device including at least one plug for connecting with a port of a signal interface of a video game console; a power source; a micro controller in communication with the at least one plug and powered by the power source, said controller including at least one process and a memory. The micro controller being configured to measure impedance for one or more lines of the signal interface, compare the impedance measured against pre-set impedance values for the one or more lines, and generate an alert at least when said impedance measured differs from the pre-set impedance values thereby indicating a fault with the video game console. cation with the at least one plug and powered by the power source, said controller including at least one process and a memory. The micro controller being configured to measure impedance for one or more lines of the signal interface, compare the impedance measured against pre-set impedance values for the one or more lines, and generate an alert at least when said impedance measured differs from the pre-set impedance values thereby indicating a fault with the video game console.

Claims (20)

1. A diagnostic device for diagnosing a fault with a video game console, said device including: at least one plug for connecting with a port of a signal interface of the video game console; a power source; a micro controller in communication with the at least one plug and powered by the power source, said controller including at least one processor and a memory and programmed to: measure impedance of one or more lines of the signal interface; compare the impedance measured against pre-set impedance values for the one or more lines; and generate an alert at least when said impedance measured differs from the pre- set impedance values thereby indicating a fault with the video game console.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the video game console is non-powered when diagnosed with the device.

3. The device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one plug includes an HDMI plug for connecting with an HDMI port of the signal interface of the video game console.

4. The device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one plug includes a USB-C plug for connecting with a USB-C port of the signal interface of the video game console.

5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one plug is interchangeable with other plug types.

6. The device of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the power source includes one or more batteries.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the one or more batteries are rechargeable and the device further including a charging terminal for recharging the one or more batteries in situ.

8. The device of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the memory of the micro controller includes data related to video game consoles, including acceptance impedance values or value ranges for respective said lines of the signal interface measured.

9. The device of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the device further includes a body for at least partially housing at least the power source and the micro controller of the device.

10. The device of claim 9, further including one or more keys, buttons, and/or switches for a user to control operation of the device.

11. The device of claim 9 or claim 10, further including at least one display for displaying the alert generated by the device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the alert is a fail mark displayed relative to a listing of an electrical component to which the line measured corresponds.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the micro controller is further programmed to generate an alert when said impedance value measured is within the pre-set impedance values.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the alert is a pass mark displayed relative to a listing of an electrical component to which the line measured corresponds.

15. The device of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the device further includes an LCR meter for measuring inductance, resistance and capacitance of the one or more lines of the signal interface and the impedance is calculated based on the inductance, resistance and capacitance measured.

16. The device of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the impedance is measured by phase sensitive measurement of current and voltage applied to the line being tested while the measurement frequency is varied over the course of measurement.

17. The device of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the impedance is measured by any one of diode mode measurements, current mode measurements, frequency mode measurements and a combination thereof.

18. The device of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the micro controller is configured to measure and compare impedance values automatically upon the device being connected to the video game console.

19. The device of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the micro controller is further programmed to auto-detect the video game console type being tested.

20. A method of diagnosing a fault with a video game console, said method including: connecting a diagnostic device to a port of a signal interface of the video game console, said device having at least one plug for connecting to the port, a power source and micro controller in communication with the at least one plug and powered by the power source; measuring impedance of one or more lines of the signal interface with the device; comparing the impedance measured against pre-set impedance values for the one or more lines; and generating an alert at least when said impedance measured differs to the pre-set impedance values thereby indicating a fault with the video game console. Date: 12 August 2022