Car wash with integrated vehicle diagnostics

• US 10,339,726 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, Inc. (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, Inc. (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Thorley, Simon, Wittliff, III, William W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weber, Tamara L
• Application Number:
  US14/982,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20170186247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/00 Vehicle cleaning apparatus not integral with vehicles cleaning in general B08B; cleaning peculiar to waterborne vessels B63B57/00, B63B59/00; ground equipment for cleaning aircraft B64F5/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/20 for washing or drying articles, e.g. clothes, motor cars

Abstract

A car wash with integrated diagnostic functions is provided that includes the ability to wash and dry a connected vehicle and perform various diagnostic functions. The various diagnostic functions such as tread depth measurement, measuring tire pressures, performing safety inspection, emissions testing and performing vehicle diagnostics and the like may be performed while the connected vehicle is at the car wash. The results of the diagnostic tests may be provided to the driver at the end of the car wash via the driver'"'"'s wireless computing device.

Claims

1. A car wash, comprising:

a wash bay configured to wash and dry a connected vehicle;

a diagnostic bay configured to perform various diagnostic functions including tire depth measurement, tire pressure monitoring, and retrieving a set diagnostic trouble code from a connected vehicle'"'"'s electronic control unit, the diagnostic bay further configured to include a camera that captures images of a light of the connected vehicle to perform a safety inspection of the connected vehicle, the diagnostic bay further includes a tire interrogator mounted on rails, and the diagnostic bay further includes a beam light bar configured to be positioned to detect if the light on the connected vehicle, the beam light bar being movable via micro motors; and

a controller configured to receive the tire depth measurement, tire pressure, images from the camera, and the set diagnostic trouble code, the controller controls micro motors to adjust the tire interrogator, the controller diagnoses the connected vehicle based on the received tire depth measurement, tire pressure, and the set diagnostic trouble code, wherein a diagnosis is sent to a driver'"'"'s wireless computing device, and wherein instructions to a driver to turn on a light of the connected vehicle as part of a safety inspection is displayed on a display of the connected vehicle; and

wherein the controller is further configured to control a start of washing, and drying process of the wash bay so as to not interfere with the diagnostic functions of the diagnostic bay.

2. The car wash of claim 1 further comprising a wireless battery tester that conducts a battery test when connected to a vehicle'"'"'s battery and sends results of the battery test wirelessly to the driver'"'"'s wireless computing device or the controller.

3. The car wash of claim 1, the controller is configured to receive a battery test via a wireless battery tester that is connected to the connected vehicle'"'"'s battery.

4. The car wash of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic bay is positioned before the wash bay so that the wash does not interfere with the diagnostic functions of the diagnostic bay.

5. The car wash of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic functions include the safety inspection.

6. The car wash of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic functions include an emission inspection.

7. The car wash of claim 6, wherein the emission inspection includes retrieving a set emissions related diagnostic trouble code.

8. The car wash of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic bay is positioned after the wash bay so that the wash does not interfere with the diagnostic functions of the diagnostic bay.

9. The car wash of claim 1, wherein the diagnosis further includes top fixes, parts and services and an urgency of the services based on the set diagnostic trouble code.

10. A method of washing and performing a diagnostic test on a connected vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving the connected vehicle in a car wash, the car wash comprising a diagnostic bay and a wash section;

retrieving a tire pressure and sensor identification of a tire of the connected vehicle with a tire pressure monitoring system having a tire interrogator mounted on rails and positioned within the diagnostic bay of the car wash;

sending the retrieved tire pressure and sensor identification to a controller of the car wash, and the controller controlling micro motors to adjust the tire interrogator;

retrieving, via a connected vehicle'"'"'s wireless computer system, a set diagnostic trouble code;

receiving the set diagnostic trouble code at the controller of the car wash;

determining a diagnosis of the connected vehicle by the controller based on the retrieved set diagnostic trouble code;

displaying, on a display of the connected vehicle, instructions to a driver of the connected vehicle to turn on a light for an inspection test;

detecting the light on the connected vehicle with a beam light bar positionable by micro motors controlled by the controller;

capturing an image of the turned-on light of the connected vehicle with a camera positioned in the car wash;

controlling a car wash functionality with the controller of the car wash to not allow a wash function to start before measuring a tread depth of a tire;

determining the tread depth of the tire of the connected vehicle via a tire tread determination system;

receiving the determined tread depth of the tire by the controller;

determining if the determined tread depth of the tire indicates that the tire needs an alignment;

sending the diagnosis of the connected vehicle and an indication if the tire needs to be aligned to a driver'"'"'s wireless computing device;

displaying on the display of the driver'"'"'s wireless computing device the indicator and the diagnosis; and

washing the connected vehicle after the sending the diagnosis.

11. A car wash, comprising:

a wash bay configured to wash, dry and wax a connected vehicle;

a diagnostic bay configured to perform various diagnostic functions including tire pressure interrogation to activate a tire sensor on a wheel of the connected vehicle, and emission testing by retrieving a set emission related diagnostic trouble code from a connected vehicle'"'"'s electronic control unit;

the diagnostic bay further configured to include a camera that captures images of a light of the connected vehicle to perform a safety inspection of the connected vehicle, the diagnostic bay further includes a tire interrogator mounted on rails, and the diagnostic bay further includes a beam light bar configured to be positioned to detect the light on the connected vehicle, the beam light bar being movable via micro motors; and

a controller configured to receive a tire pressure from the activated tire sensor, images from the camera, and the set emissions related diagnostic trouble code, the controller controls micro motors to adjust the tire interrogator, the controller determines if the connected vehicle will pass or fail an emission test for a state based on the set emission related diagnostic trouble code,

wherein a pass or fail determination is sent to a driver'"'"'s wireless computing device, and wherein instructions to a driver to turn on a light of the connected vehicle as part of a safety inspection is displayed on a display of the connected vehicle, and

wherein the controller is further configured to control a start of washing, and drying process of the wash bay so as to not interfere with the diagnostic functions of the diagnostic bay.

12. The car wash of claim 11 further comprising a wireless battery tester that conducts a battery test when connected to a vehicle'"'"'s battery and sends results wirelessly to the driver'"'"'s wireless computing device or the controller.

13. The car wash of claim 11, the controller is configured to receive a battery test via a wireless battery tester that is connected to the connected vehicle'"'"'s battery.

14. The car wash of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic bay is positioned before the wash bay so that the wash does not interfere with the diagnostic functions of the diagnostic bay.

15. The car wash of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic functions include a safety inspection.

16. The car wash of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic bay is positioned after the wash bay so that the wash does not interfere with the diagnostic functions of the diagnostic bay.

17. The car wash of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic functions also include tire depth measurement via a tire tread determination system.

18. The car wash of claim 11, wherein a contact information for the driver'"'"'s wireless computing device is provided when a mobile pay system on the driver'"'"'s wireless computing device is used to pay for a car wash.

19. The car wash of claim 11, wherein the diagnosis further includes top fixes, parts and services and an urgency of the services based on the set diagnostic trouble code.