Diagnostic device

• US 20060235586A1
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Porter, James P., Pfefferl, David J., Haehn, Craig S., Waszkowski, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US11/109,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20060235586A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A diagnostic device includes a housing, a connector, and a diagnostic unit. The connector is integrated with the housing and is electrically connected to a diagnostic port of a vehicle. A diagnostic electronic control unit is integrated with the housing and electrically communicates with the connector. The diagnostic electronic control unit receives and interprets a power line carrier (PLC) diagnostic message from a vehicle ECU.

Claims

1. A diagnostic device, comprising:

a housing;

a connector, integrated with the housing, electrically connected to a diagnostic port of a vehicle; and

a diagnostic ECU, integrated with the housing, and electrically communicating with the connector, receiving and interpreting a power line carrier (PLC) diagnostic message from a vehicle ECU.

2. The diagnostic device as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a display, integrated with the housing, for displaying a user message as a function of the diagnostic message from the vehicle ECU.

3. The diagnostic device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the display includes a light emitting diode.

4. The diagnostic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connector is configured for electrically communicating with at least one of a J1939 and a J1587 connector on the vehicle.

5. The diagnostic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the diagnostic ECU receives the diagnostic message from a trailer portion of the vehicle.

6. The diagnostic device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the diagnostic ECU receives electrical power via the connector and the diagnostic port.

7. The diagnostic device as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a transmitter, integrated into the housing, for wirelessly transmitting a signal indicative of the diagnostic message.

8. A diagnostic system on a vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) associated with a system on the vehicle;

a diagnostic port;

a communication line, that supports power line carrier (PLC) signals, for communicating electrical signals between the vehicle ECU and the diagnostic port;

a diagnostic device, including;

a housing;

a connector, integrated with the housing, electrically connected to the diagnostic port; and

a diagnostic ECU, integrated with the housing and electrically communicating with the connector, receiving and interpreting a power line carrier (PLC) diagnostic message from the vehicle ECU.

9. The diagnostic system on a vehicle as set forth in claim 8, further including:

means for displaying a user message as a function of the diagnostic message from the vehicle ECU.

10. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the means for displaying is integrated into the housing.

11. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the means for displaying includes a light emitting diode.

12. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

the diagnostic device is located in a first portion of the vehicle; and

the vehicle ECU is located in a second, independent portion of the vehicle.

13. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

the vehicle is a heavy vehicle;

the first portion of the vehicle is a tractor portion; and

the second portion of the vehicle is a trailer portion.

14. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the diagnostic message indicates a diagnostic status of an antilock braking system of the trailer.

15. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the system on the vehicle is an antilock braking system.

16. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the diagnostic device further includes:

a radio-frequency circuit, integrated into the housing, for transmitting a radio-frequency signal indicative of the diagnostic message.

17. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the diagnostic device is powered by a vehicle power supply that electrically communicates with the diagnostic port.

18. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the vehicle ECU and the communication line are included on a trailer of a heavy vehicle, the diagnostic system further including an adapter having:

a first electrical socket electrically connected to a trailer electrical socket, which electrically communicates with the communication line; and

a second electrical socket, the diagnostic device being electrically connected to the communication line of the trailer via the first and second electrical sockets of the adapter, and

a third electrical socket.

19. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the adapter includes:

a-third electrical socket electrically connected to an external power source for supplying electrical power to the diagnostic device.

20. The diagnostic system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the adapter includes:

a third electrical socket electrically connected to a tractor of the heavy vehicle, a vehicle power supply on the tractor powering the diagnostic device via the third electrical socket.

21. A diagnostic adapter, comprising:

a first electrical socket electrically communicating with a communication line of a first segment of a heavy vehicle;

a second electrical socket integrally and electrically connected to a diagnostic device, an electronic control unit (ECU) on the first segment of the heavy vehicle transmitting a power line carrier (PLC) diagnostic message to the diagnostic device via the communication line, the first electrical socket, and the second electrical socket and

a third electrical socket.

22. The diagnostic adapter as set forth in claim 21, further comprising:

third electrical socket electrically connected to an external power source for supplying electrical power to the diagnostic device.

23. The diagnostic adapter as set forth in claim 21, further comprising:

a third electrical socket electrically connected to a second segment of the heavy vehicle, a power source on the second segment supplying electrical power to the diagnostic device.

24. The diagnostic adapter as set forth in claim 213, wherein the first and third electrical sockets include seven pins.

25. A method for diagnosing a system on a vehicle, the method comprising:

connecting a diagnostic electronic control unit (ECU) to an adapter;

supplying electrical power to a vehicle ECU via a power source through the adapter;

generating a power line carrier (PLC) diagnostic message within the vehicle ECU;

transmitting the diagnostic message from the vehicle ECU to the diagnostic ECU through the adapter via a power line;

receiving the diagnostic message into the diagnostic ECU; and

interpreting the diagnostic message within the diagnostic ECU.

26. The method for diagnosing a system on a vehicle as set forth in claim 25, further including:

supplying electrical power to the vehicle and diagnostic ECUs via an external power source electrically connected to the vehicle and diagnostic ECUs via the adapter.

27. The method for diagnosing a system on a vehicle as set forth in claim 25, wherein the adapter is located between a first segment of the vehicle and a second segment of the vehicle, and

the power source is located in the first segment of the vehicle.

28. The method for diagnosing a system on a vehicle as set forth in claim 25, further including:

displaying a message, as a function of the diagnostic message, on the diagnostic ECU.

29. The method for diagnosing a system on a vehicle as set forth in claim 25, further including:

wirelessly transmitting a signal, as a function of the diagnostic message, from the diagnostic ECU.

30. A diagnostic device, comprising:

a housing;

a connector, integrated with the housing, electrically connected to a diagnostic port of a vehicle; and

means for receiving and interpreting a power line carrier (PLC) diagnostic message from a vehicle ECU, the means for receiving and interpreting being integrated with the housing and electrically communicating with the connector