Adaptive diagnostic cable with relay
First Claim
1. An adaptive cable for use with a vehicle diagnostic tool, comprising:
- a complex programmable logic device adapted to receive instructions from the vehicle diagnostic tool;
a first multiplexer adapted to receive instructions from the complex programmable logic device to configure its connections for a vehicle communication protocol;
a first cable to connect the adaptive cable to the vehicle diagnostic tool;
a second cable to connect to a data link connector in a vehicle;
a communication protocol module that communicates in various communication protocols and communicates with the multiplexer;
a switchable relay in communication with the second cable and a third cable, wherein the relay can provide a ground signal by switching between a signal ground and a chassis ground; and
a housing that houses the multiplexer, a portion of the first cable, a portion of the second cable, the switchable relay, the communication protocol module and the complex programmable logic device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided that allow a scan tool to communicate with a data link connector in a vehicle. A cable that can automatically multiplex its connections in order to make the appropriate connections between the scan tool and a data link connector based on a communication protocol of the vehicle under test. This allows the scan tool to communicate with the data link connector regardless of the pins being used by the communication protocol of the vehicle. The cable is also capable of switching between a signal ground and a chassis ground in order to provide the scan tool with a reference signal.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An adaptive cable for use with a vehicle diagnostic tool, comprising:
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a complex programmable logic device adapted to receive instructions from the vehicle diagnostic tool;
a first multiplexer adapted to receive instructions from the complex programmable logic device to configure its connections for a vehicle communication protocol;
a first cable to connect the adaptive cable to the vehicle diagnostic tool;
a second cable to connect to a data link connector in a vehicle;
a communication protocol module that communicates in various communication protocols and communicates with the multiplexer;
a switchable relay in communication with the second cable and a third cable, wherein the relay can provide a ground signal by switching between a signal ground and a chassis ground; and
a housing that houses the multiplexer, a portion of the first cable, a portion of the second cable, the switchable relay, the communication protocol module and the complex programmable logic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of providing communication between a vehicle diagnostic tool and a vehicle data link connector, comprising:
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receiving communication protocol instructions from the vehicle diagnostic tool to a complex programmable logic device via a first cable;
sending configuration instructions from the complex programmable logic device to a first multiplexer, wherein the multiplexer configures its connectors based on the communication protocol of a vehicle under test;
providing a ground signal by switching between a signal ground and a chassis ground; and
providing communication between the vehicle diagnostic tool and the vehicle data link connector with a communication protocol module, and the multiplexer via a second cable connected to the vehicle data link connector. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An adaptive cable for use with a vehicle diagnostic tool, comprising:
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a means for processing to receive instructions from the vehicle diagnostic tool;
a first means for multiplexing to receive instructions from the means for processing to configure its connections for a vehicle communication protocol;
a first means for transmitting to connect the adaptive cable to the vehicle diagnostic tool;
a second means for transmitting to connect the adaptive cable to a data link connector in a vehicle;
a means for communicating in various communication protocols with the first means for multiplexing;
a means for relaying in communication with the second means for communicating and a third means for communicating, wherein the means for relaying can provide a ground signal by switching between a signal ground and a chassis ground; and
a means for housing the first means for multiplexing, a portion of the first means for transmitting, a portion of the second means for transmitting, the means for communicating, the means for relaying, and the means for processing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification