Scan Tool with Mobile Broadband Capability and Method of Operation Thereof

• US 20110035096A1
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, Inc. (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, Inc. (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Lipscomb, Edward, Liebl, Troy, Chinnadurai, Manokar
• Granted Patent: US 10,181,225 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A vehicle diagnostic tool that is configured to perform one or more diagnostic tests on one or more systems of a vehicle. Once the test has been performed and data collected, the data may be forwarded to a location outside of the diagnostic tool through a mobile broadband connection device that is inserted into the diagnostic tool through a designated port. Also, a method of performing a vehicle diagnostic test utilizing such a diagnostic tool.

Claims

1. A vehicle diagnostic tool, comprising:

a processor configured to implement software for conducting a diagnostic test on at least one electronic control unit of a vehicle;

a memory electronically connected to the processor and configured to store data relevant to conducting the diagnostic test;

a vehicle connector interface electronically connected to the processor and configured to accommodate a connector between the vehicle diagnostic tool and the at least one electronic control unit; and

a mobile broadband port electronically connected to the processor and configured to electronically interface with a mobile broadband connection device.

2. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the mobile broadband connection device comprises at least one of a portable modem and a mobile telephone.

3. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the mobile broadband connection device comprises at least one of a PC data card, a USB modem, a phone with a data modem and a portable device with built-in support for mobile broadband.

4. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the mobile broadband connection device utilizes a communications protocol that includes at least one of GSM, GPRS, 3G, WiMAX, LTE UMTS/HSPA, EV-DO and a portable satellite-based system protocol.

5. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the processor, the vehicle connector interface and the mobile broadband port are all contained in a portable handheld housing.

6. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a display electronically connected to the processor and configured to present data from the diagnostic test in a format readable by an operator of the vehicle diagnostic tool.

7. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a communications port electronically connected to the processor and configured to transfer data from the diagnostic test through a wired and wireless connection.

8. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising:

an operator interface electronically connected to the processor and configured to allow an operator of the vehicle diagnostic tool to provide input to the vehicle diagnostic tool.

9. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 3, wherein the mobile broadband connection device is activated before use by a technician.

10. A method of performing a vehicular diagnostic test, the method comprising:

connecting a vehicle diagnostic tool to a vehicle;

performing a diagnostic test on at least one electronic control unit of the vehicle using the diagnostic tool; and

transmitting information obtained during the diagnostic test from the diagnostic tool to a remote computing device using a mobile broadband connection device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile broadband connection device is preconfigured and activated before being used by a technician.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile broadband connection device is at least one of least one of a PC data card, a USB modem, a phone with a data modem and a portable device with built-in support for mobile broadband as the mobile broadband connection device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting step comprises utilizing a communications protocol that includes at least one of GSM, GPRS, 3G, WiMAX, LTE UMTS/HSPA, EV-DO and a portable satellite-based system protocol.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying data from the diagnostic test on a display included within the vehicle diagnostic tool in a format readable by an operator

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing data relevant to conducting the diagnostic test on memory located within the vehicle diagnostic tool.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transferring data collected during the diagnostic test from the vehicle diagnostic tool through a wired and a wireless connection.

17. A vehicle diagnostic tool, comprising:

a means for processing configured to implement software for conducting a diagnostic test on at least one electronic control unit of a vehicle;

a means for storing electronically connected to the means for processing and configured to store data relevant to conducting the diagnostic test;

a means for connecting electronically connected to the means for processing and configured to accommodate a connector between the vehicle diagnostic tool and the at least one electronic control unit; and

a means for interfacing electronically connected to the means for processing and configured to electronically interface with a mobile broadband connection device.

18. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 17, further comprising:

means for housing configured to substantially house all components of the vehicle diagnostic tool, wherein the means vehicle diagnostic tool is handheld and portable.

19. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 17, wherein the mobile broadband connection device comprises at least one of a PC data card, a USB modem, a phone with a data modem and a portable device with built-in support for mobile broadband.

20. The vehicle diagnostic tool of claim 17, wherein the mobile broadband connection device utilizes a communications protocol that includes at least one of GSM, GPRS, 3G, WiMAX, LTE UMTS/HSPA, EV-DO and a portable satellite-based system protocol.