Power Balancing for Vehicle Diagnostic Tools

• US 20090299539A1
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Liebl, Troy, Chinnadurai, Manokar, McGee, Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 8,296,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/293
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A power balancing system includes a vehicle communication device connected to a data link connector of a vehicle, and a scan tool connected to the vehicle communication device, the scan tool including a handset and a vehicle connector interface (VCI), wherein power can be received from one or more of an external power source being external from the VCI, the vehicle, and an internal power supply of the scan tool, and wherein the system balances the received power.

Claims

1. A power balancing system, comprising:

a vehicle communication device connected to a data link connector of a vehicle; and

a scan tool connected to the vehicle communication device, the scan tool comprising;

a handset; and

a vehicle connector interface (VCI), wherein power can be received from one or more of;

an external power source being external from the VCI,

the vehicle, and

an internal power supply of the scan tool, and wherein the system balances the received power.

2. The power balancing system of claim 1, wherein balancing the power comprises:

selecting one or more of the most appropriate power sources for a given situation;

prioritizing the use of power from a power input node in the scan tool; and

switching to an alternative power source if power at the power input node is interrupted.

3. The power balancing system of claim 2, wherein selecting one or more of the most appropriate power sources comprises selecting a power source in good working order.

4. The power balancing system of claim 1, wherein the VCI is configured to provide power to one or more of the vehicle and the handset.

5. The power balancing system of claim 1, where the VCI comprises:

a VCI core;

a reverse-current protection diode for receiving power from the external power source; and

a current-limiting circuit.

6. The power balancing system of claim 5, wherein the reverse-current protection diode receives power from the vehicle.

7. The power balancing system of claim 5, wherein the VCI further comprises a current sensing element that receives power from the handset.

8. The power balancing system of claim 7, wherein the VCI further comprises a switch for selecting between a signal ground and a chassis ground based on the selected power source.

9. The power balancing system of claim 6, wherein the VCI further comprises a controller switch configured to be:

in a first state to prevent the handset from drawing power from the vehicle when the handset draws too much power from the vehicle; and

in a second state to allow the handset to draw power from vehicle when the handset is not drawing too much power.

10. A method of balancing power, the method comprising:

receiving power from one of more of;

an external power source being external from a vehicle connector interface (VCI),

a vehicle, and

an internal power supply of a scan tool connected to a vehicle communication device connected to a data link connector of the vehicle, the scan tool comprising;

a handset; and

a vehicle connector interface (VCI), and balancing the received power.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein balancing the power comprises:

selecting one or more of the most appropriate power sources for a given situation;

prioritizing the use of power from a power input node in the scan tool; and

switching to an alternative power source if power at the power input node is interrupted.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting one or more of the most appropriate power sources comprises selecting a power source in good working order.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the VCI is configured to provide power to one or more of a vehicle and the handset.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

monitoring the current being drawn from the vehicle by the scan tool; and

if the current being drawn exceeds a predetermined amount, cutting power to the scan tool.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, when the power is cut to the scan tool, the scan tool receives power from the handset.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising, after a predetermined period of time, enabling power to be supplied from the vehicle to the scan tool.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein, when the power is received from the external power source, one or more of the vehicle and the handset are charged.

18. A power balancing system, comprising:

means for receiving power from one of more of;

means for an external power source from a vehicle connector interface (VCI),

a vehicle, and

means for an internal power supply of a scan tool connected to a vehicle communication device connected to a data link connector of the vehicle, the scan tool comprising;

a handset; and

means for a vehicle connector interface (VCI), and

means for balancing the received power.

19. The power balancing system of claim 18, wherein the means for balancing the power comprises:

means for selecting one or more of the most appropriate power sources for a given situation;

means for prioritizing the use of power from a power input node in the scan tool; and

means for switching to an alternative power source if power at the power input node is interrupted.

20. The power balancing system of claim 19, wherein the means for selecting one or more of the most appropriate power sources comprises means for selecting a power source in good working order.