Vehicle diagnostic device

• US 20060041349A1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Chinnadurai, Manokar, Banar, Michael F.
• Application Number:
  US11/000,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041349A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided that allows a user to record events in a vehicle via a vehicle data recorder in the latest communication protocols, such as Controller Area Network. The vehicle data recorder can record data from the event when a trigger button is actuated by the user and the CAN communication can be controlled by the CAN controller. The data can transferred to a host workstation, where the user can analyze the data from the event and diagnose the problem causing the event.

Claims

1. A vehicle performance monitoring system comprising:

a vehicle data recorder configured to connect to a vehicle data outlet and configured to selectively record vehicle data, and pass vehicle data to a host workstation.

2. The vehicle performance monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data recorder is further configured to selectively record vehicle data and pass vehicle data to a host workstation.

3. The vehicle performance monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data recorder is portable and fits inside a vehicle to permit vehicle data to be sent to the vehicle data recorder while the vehicle is operated.

4. The vehicle performance monitoring system of claim 3, further comprising a host workstation that is portable and fits inside a vehicle to permit vehicle data to be displayed while the vehicle is operated.

5. The vehicle performance monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the vehicle data displayed is real time data.

6. The vehicle performance monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the host workstation records the data while the data is displayed.

7. The vehicle performance monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a host workstation wherein the host workstation is a scan tool.

8. The vehicle performance monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a host workstation wherein the host workstation is a PC computer.

9. The vehicle performance monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the PC computer is a portable computer.

10. The vehicle performance monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a connection operatively connecting the host workstation to least one of an internet, Ethernet, and a network.

11. The vehicle performance monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a data base for storing the data.

12. A vehicle performance monitoring system comprising:

means for recording vehicle data configured to connect to a vehicle data outlet and configured to selectively record vehicle data, and pass vehicle data to a host workstation; and

a host workstation operatively connected to the recording means.

13. The vehicle performance monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the means for recording and the host workstation are portable.

14. The vehicle performance monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the host workstation has a data display and displays real time data.

15. A method of monitoring vehicle performance comprising:

plugging in a vehicle data recorder into a vehicle data port;

passing data through the vehicle data recorder to a host workstation; and

wherein the data is passed through to the host workstation in real time.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising recording the data.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying the data.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying the date inside the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising analyzing the data.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising making the data available over at least one of an internet, Ethernet, and a network.