Adaptive diagnostic cable

• US 20080103653A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Raichle, Kurt, Miller, Garret, Ribeiro, Durval
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,298 B2
• 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

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.

Claims

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; and

a housing that houses the multiplexer, a portion of the first cable, a portion of the second cable, the communication protocol module and the complex programmable logic device.

2. The adaptive cable of claim 1 further comprising:

a second multiplexer adapted to receive instructions from the complex programmable logic device to configure its connections for the vehicle communication protocol;

a vehicle input output adapted to receive instructions from the complex programmable logic device; and

an expansion card received within a recess of the housing.

3. The adaptive cable of claim 1 further comprising:

an expansion card received within a recess of the housing; and

a power regulator to regulate the power within the adaptive cable.

4. The adaptive cable of claim 3, wherein the expansion card includes FETs, relays and communication protocol transmitters and receivers.

5. The adaptive cable of claim 1, wherein the first multiplexer, communication protocol module and the complex programmable logic device are in communication with each other and are positioned on a PCB.

6. The adaptive cable of claim 1 further comprising an expansion card adapted to be received in a recess of the housing and provides additional communication protocols and processing to the adaptive cable.

7. The adaptive cable of claim 2, wherein the second multiplexer communicates directly with the second cable.

8. A method of providing communication between a vehicle diagnostic tool and a vehicle data link connector, comprising:

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; 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.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

expanding the communication between the vehicle diagnostic tool and the data link connector via an expansion card received within a housing of the adaptive tool.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

expanding the communication between the vehicle diagnostic cable and the data link connector with a second multiplexer; and

controlling the power within the adaptive cable with a power regulator.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication protocol module includes transmitters and receivers to communicate in various communication protocols of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the vehicle diagnostic tool receives vehicle information inputted by the user.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the diagnostic tool receives vehicle information by linking with the vehicle data link connector.

14. An adaptive cable for use with a vehicle diagnostic tool, comprising:

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; 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 and the means for processing.

15. The adaptive cable of claim 14 further comprising:

a second means for multiplexing to receive instructions from the means for processing to configure its connections for the vehicle communication protocol;

a means for inputting and outputting to receive instructions from the means for processing; and

a means for expanding received within a recess of the housing.

16. The adaptive cable of claim 14 further comprising:

a means for expanding received within a recess of the housing; and

a means for regulating power to regulate the power within the adaptive cable.

17. The adaptive cable of claim 16, wherein the means for expanding includes FETs, relays and communication protocol transmitters and receivers.

18. The adaptive cable of claim 14, wherein the first means for multiplexing, the means for communicating and the means for processing are in communication with each other and are positioned on a PCB.

19. The adaptive cable of claim 14 further comprising a means for expanding received in a recess of the means for housing and provides additional communication protocols and processing to the adaptive cable.

20. The adaptive cable of claim 14, wherein the second means for multiplexing communicates directly with the second means for transmitting.