Portable diagnostic system with heads-up display

• US 20060012884A1
• Filed: 07/13/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Cancilla, James, Snorteland, Lee M.
• Application Number:
  US10/888,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012884A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A heads-up system includes a diagnostic tool and a heads-up display for displaying information from a vehicle. The diagnostic tool connects to a communication bus of the vehicle. The display includes a projection device and an input module that is connected to the diagnostic tool either wirelessly or with a wire connection. The input module may translate signals from the diagnostic tool into signals readable by the projection device.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining vehicle operational information from a controller of a vehicle during vehicle operation, comprising:

a diagnostic tool adapted to be connected to a communication bus of the vehicle; and

a heads-up display device for the diagnostic tool information, derived from the communication bus, on a windshield of the vehicle while a user is operating the vehicle.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the heads-up display device comprises a projector configured to project the information onto the vehicle windshield within the field of view of the user.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a display controller for controlling content of the diagnostic tool information.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a recorder for recording the diagnostic tool information.

12. The system according to claim 13, wherein the input module is configured to translate signals from the diagnostic tool into signals readable by the projection device.

13. The system according to claim 7, wherein the heads-up display device further comprises an interface module coupled to the projector and an input module coupled to the diagnostic tool.

2-6. -6. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

14-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A diagnostic system comprising:

a scanner configured to be detachably coupled to a communication bus of a vehicle to derive vehicle information therefrom while the vehicle is in operation; and

a heads-up display device coupled to the scanner for displaying output from the scanner on a windshield of the vehicle.

32. A diagnostic system as recited in claim 31, wherein the heads-up display device comprises a projector configured to project scanner output information onto the vehicle windshield within the field of view of a driver of the vehicle while maintaining windshield background visibility when the vehicle is in operation.

33. A diagnostic system as recited in claim 32, wherein the heads-up display device further comprises an input module coupled between the scanner and the projector, the input module comprising a controller for controlling content of the scanner information to be displayed and for translating signals received from the diagnostic tool into signals readable by the projection device.

34. A diagnostic system as recited in claim 33, further comprising a recorder coupled to the scanner and configured to store vehicle operational information.