Self service vehicle diagnostics

• US 10,181,227 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2015
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Wittliff, III, William W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Troost, Aaron L
• Application Number:
  US14/985,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20170193716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A power providing station with integrated diagnostic functions is provided that includes the ability to charge or fuel a vehicle and perform various diagnostic functions. The various diagnostic functions such as tread depth measurement, battery testing, measuring tire pressures, performing safety inspection, emissions testing and performing vehicle diagnostics and the like may be performed while the vehicle is at the power providing station. The results of the diagnostic tests may be provided to the driver at the end of the charging or fueling via a wireless computing device.

Claims

1. A station for providing electric power to a vehicle, comprising:

an electric power providing station that provides electric power to the vehicle via a connector, the electric power providing station configured to magnetically lock a wireless diagnostic tool or a wireless battery tester in place until released and includes a mobile payment sensor, wherein when the magnetic lock is released, a locked screen is also unlocked on the wireless diagnostic tool or the wireless battery tester;

a diagnostic bay configured to perform various diagnostic functions including tire depth measurement and retrieving a set diagnostic trouble code from a vehicle'"'"'s electronic control unit; and

a control system configured to receive a payment for the various diagnostic functions and power, the control system further configured to receive the tire depth measurement and the set diagnostic trouble code, wherein the control system diagnoses the vehicle based on the received tire depth measurement and the set diagnostic trouble code, and wherein the diagnosis is sent to a driver'"'"'s wireless computing device.

2. The station of claim 1, wherein the wireless diagnostic tool or the wireless battery tester is released from the electric power providing station upon the payment being received for the power.

3. The station of claim 2, wherein a second payment is made if the wireless diagnostic tool or the wireless battery tester is not returned to the electric power providing station after a predetermined period of time.

4. The station of claim 1, wherein the wireless battery tester is configured to conduct a battery test on a vehicle'"'"'s battery and sends the results to the driver'"'"'s wireless computing device or the control system.

5. The station of claim 1, wherein the electric power providing station is an electric vehicle charging station.

6. The station of claim 1, wherein the wireless diagnostic tool retrieves vehicle diagnostic information including the set diagnostic trouble code from the vehicle and transmit the diagnostic information to the control system.

7. The station of claim 1, wherein instructions to a driver to turn on a light of the vehicle as part of a partial safety inspection is displayed on a display of the driver'"'"'s wireless computing device or the vehicle.

8. The station of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic functions include an emission inspection or a partial safety inspection.

9. The station of claim 8, wherein the emission inspection includes retrieving a set emissions related diagnostic trouble code.

10. The station of claim 1, wherein the connector is an electrical connector.

11. The station of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic functions also include interrogation of a tire sensor on the vehicle via a tire interrogation system.

12. An electric charging station for providing electric power to a vehicle, comprising:

a connector configured to be received in the vehicle'"'"'s charging receptacle to provide electric power;

a mobile payment sensor configured to receive a payment via a wireless computing device;

a wireless diagnostic tool configured to be magnetically locked in place with the electric charging station until released, wherein when the wireless diagnostic tool is released, a locked screen is also unlocked on the wireless diagnostic tool;

a diagnostic bay configured to perform various diagnostic functions including tire depth measurement and retrieving any set diagnostic trouble code from a vehicle'"'"'s electronic control unit; and

a control system configured to receive the payment sensed by the mobile payment sensor for the various diagnostic functions and electric power, the control system further configured to receive the tire depth measurement and the set diagnostic trouble code, wherein the control system diagnoses the vehicle based on the received tire depth measurement and the set diagnostic trouble code, and wherein the diagnosis is sent to the wireless computing device.

13. The station of claim 12 further comprising a wireless battery tester that is magnetically locked in place with the electric charging station, the wireless battery tester conducts a battery test on a vehicle'"'"'s battery and sends the results to the wireless computing device or the control system.

14. The station of claim 13, wherein the wireless diagnostic tool or the wireless battery tester is released from the electric charging station upon the payment being received for the electric power.

15. The station of claim 13, wherein a second payment is made if the wireless diagnostic tool or the wireless battery tester is not returned to the electric charging station after a predetermined period of time.

16. The station of claim 12, wherein the wireless diagnostic tool retrieves vehicle diagnostic information including the set diagnostic trouble code from the vehicle and transmit the diagnostic information to the control system.

17. The station of claim 12, wherein the diagnostic functions include an emission inspection or a partial safety inspection.

18. The station of claim 17, wherein instructions to a driver to turn on a light of the vehicle as part of the partial safety inspection is displayed on a display of wireless computing device or the vehicle.

19. The station of claim 12, wherein the diagnostic functions also include interrogation of a tire sensor on the vehicle via a tire interrogation system.

20. The station of claim 12, wherein a contact information for the wireless computing device is provided when a mobile pay system on the wireless device is used to pay for the electric power.