Diagnostic tool with advanced diagnostic capabilities

• US 20080249681A1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Service Solutions US LLC
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Bertosa, Thomas, Gessner, Michael, Namaky, Hamid
• Granted Patent: US 7,809,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A diagnostic tool for a vehicle, includes a signal translator communicating with the vehicle in at least one protocol, an input unit for inputting information, a processor controlling a software according to the input information and communication with the vehicle, the processor controlling a recording of diagnostic data of the vehicle through the signal translator, a memory storing a software including a database controlled by the processor, the memory storing baseline data of the vehicle and recorded diagnostic data in the database, the processor comparing the stored baseline data and recorded diagnostic data, and a display unit displaying information according to the comparison between the stored baseline data and recorded diagnostic data. The comparison can also be made on a separate computer storing the baseline data and receiving the recorded data from the diagnostic tool.

Claims

1. A diagnostic tool for diagnosing a vehicle, comprising:

a signal translator communicating with the vehicle in at least one protocol;

an input unit for inputting information;

a processor controlling a software according to said input information from said input unit and communication with the vehicle from said signal translator, said processor controlling a present recording of diagnostic data of the vehicle through said signal translator at a first set of predetermined conditions;

a memory storing a software including a database controlled by said processor, said memory storing baseline diagnostic data of the vehicle and recorded diagnostic data in the database at a second set of predetermined conditions, said processor comparing the stored baseline diagnostic data and the presently recorded diagnostic data; and

a display unit displaying information according to the comparison between the stored baseline diagnostic data and the presently recorded diagnostic data.

2. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein said memory further comprising of a volatile memory unit and a non-volatile memory unit, said non-volatile memory unit storing said database with presently recorded diagnostic data and baseline data.

3. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprised of said processor comparing the stored baseline data and presently recorded diagnostic data according to a tolerance inputted through said input unit.

4. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising of manually triggering the recording through a keypad in said input unit.

5. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising a connector interface connecting said signal translator with a vehicle interface through one of a wired and wireless link to allow for recording of the diagnostic data between the diagnostic tool and the vehicle.

6. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising of a housing encasing said signal translator, input unit, processor, memory, and display unit.

7. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising of interfacing with an external computer for processing of the baseline diagnostic data and presently recorded diagnostic data through a connector interface.

8. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprised of said display unit displaying all data items being outside of a tolerance level entered through said input unit and the baseline recording being when the vehicle is operating at predetermined normal levels at the second set of predetermined conditions.

9. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein said comparison being initiated by said processor through entry of a key in said input unit and the first set and second set of predetermined conditions including environment conditions.

10. A method of operating a diagnostic tool for a vehicle, comprising:

linking the diagnostic tool with a diagnostic computer of the vehicle through the data link connector of the vehicle;

communicating with said diagnostic computer of the vehicle in a communication protocol;

selecting among a plurality of parameters for recording;

recording diagnostic data of the vehicle at predetermined conditions by said diagnostic tool according to the selected parameters;

accessing a database of stored baseline diagnostic data of a corresponding vehicle in a predetermined state;

comparing between the recorded diagnostic information and the stored baseline diagnostic data at the predetermined conditions; and

displaying the difference in the comparison between the recorded diagnostic data and the stored baseline diagnostic data.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transferring the recorded diagnostic data to a personal computer for comparison with the stored base line diagnostic data of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising of labeling the recorded diagnostic data through an input unit.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising of manually initiating the recording of diagnostic information.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the storing of baseline diagnostic data being on said diagnostic tool and the comparison being made by the processor of the diagnostic tool.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising of selecting a tolerance level for the comparison of the recorded diagnostic data and the baseline diagnostic data.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising of comparing every data item from the recorded diagnostic data with the baseline diagnostic data.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising of recording the baseline diagnostic data by said diagnostic tool of the corresponding vehicle under the predetermined conditions, where the predetermined conditions include conditions affecting the operation of the vehicle, the baseline recording at the predetermined state being when the vehicle is operating in certain predetermined normal levels.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising of:

transferring the recorded diagnostic data to a separate computer; and

launching a program on said computer to compare the recorded diagnostic data with baseline diagnostic data of the corresponding vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising of:

selecting a tolerance level for the comparison on said computer; and

displaying on the computer all data items outside the selected tolerance.

20. A system for a diagnostic tool of a vehicle, comprising:

a means for communicating with the vehicle;

a means for inputting of information and instructions for the means for communicating with the vehicle;

a means for controlling a software according to the input of the means for inputting of information and instructions, and communication with the vehicle;

a means for storing the software with a first database controlled by said controlling means, said storing means including storing recordings of diagnostic data communicated from said vehicle through said communicating means in said first database at predetermined conditions;

a means for comparing the recorded diagnostic data with baseline diagnostic data, with the baseline diagnostic data being recorded for a vehicle operating at a certain normal level; and

a means for displaying information according to the comparison between the stored baseline diagnostic data and recorded diagnostic data.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising said means for storing including stored baseline diagnostic data and the recorded diagnostic data in the first database to be compared according to software controlled by said controlling means.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising of said comparing means being separate from said diagnostic tool, with a second database storing the baseline diagnostic data for comparison with the recorded diagnostic data.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said displaying means further comprising a first display unit on said diagnostic tool for viewing of the input of the input unit and the recorded diagnostic data, and a second display unit being connected to the separate comparing means for display of all data items outside of a selected tolerance level.