Vehicle test apparatus and method

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus comprising: at least one motor vehicle switchpack, the switchpack comprising input means operable to control the switchpack to provide a switchpack control output to a motor vehicle control system; and motor vehicle test apparatus, the test apparatus comprising: a test apparatus control system comprising computing means; test apparatus switching means operable under the control of the test apparatus control system to control the at least one switchpack to provide the switchpack control output to the vehicle control system, the test apparatus control system being operable to monitor a response by the vehicle control system to the switchpack control output.

1 . A motor vehicle test apparatus for use with at least one motor vehicle switchpack, the test apparatus comprising:
 a test apparatus control system comprising a computing device; and   test apparatus switch comprising a test apparatus switch device, the test apparatus control system configured to control the test apparatus switch device to cause a switchpack of a production motor vehicle to provide substantially the same switchpack control output as that provided by the switchpack when a user-actuable input of the switchpack is operated, but without requiring user actuation of the input of the switchpack,   the test apparatus control system being operable to monitor a response by a vehicle control system of the production vehicle to the switchpack control output.   
     
     
         2 . The test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the test apparatus control system is operable to perform at least one action in dependence on the response of the vehicle control system to the switchpack control output. 
     
     
         3 . The test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the test apparatus control system computing device is operable to run computer program code, the test apparatus control system being operable to control the test apparatus switch to control the switchpack to provide the switchpack control output under the control of the computer program code. 
     
     
         4 . The test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the test apparatus switch device is connected electrically in parallel with the switchpack switch device. 
     
     
         5 . The test apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the switchpack switch device is operable to make or break an electrical connection between a first set of terminals of the switchpack, the test apparatus switch device also being operable by the test apparatus control system to make or break the electrical connection between the first set of terminals of the switchpack in a corresponding manner. 
     
     
         6 . The test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the switchpack switch device comprises a mechanically actuable switch. 
     
     
         7 . The test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the test apparatus switch reprises one selected from amongst mechanical switches and electronic switches. 
     
     
         8 . The test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the test apparatus switch comprises a mechanical actuator for actuating a switchpack input element under the control of the test apparatus control system. 
     
     
         9 . The test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the switchpack comprises a touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         10 . The test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the switchpack comprises remote control device. 
     
     
         11 . The test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the test apparatus control system is operable to read signals transmitted on a controller area network of the production motor vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the test apparatus control system is operable to transmit signals on a controller area network of the production motor vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The test apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a test apparatus removable overload protection element connectable to an electrical connector of a vehicle electrical circuit overload protection apparatus, the test apparatus removable overload protection element configured to detect a flow of electrical current therethrough and configured to output a signal to the test apparatus control system corresponding to an amount of electrical current flow therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The test apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the test apparatus removable overload protection element is operable to limit an amount of electrical current flowing through an electrical circuit of the production motor vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The test apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a current measurement device, the current measurement device configured to replace a removable overload protection element of a vehicle electrical circuit overload protection apparatus.