ERROR MESSAGE DETAILS FOR DEBUG AVAILABLE TO END USER

• US 20110160953A1
• Filed: 03/08/2011
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: WEMPEN, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• 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 diagnostic tool for diagnosing a vehicle, includes a signal translator communicating with the vehicle in at least one protocol, an input device for inputting information, a processor controlling a software according to the input information from the input device and communication with the vehicle from the signal translator, the processor controlling a reception of diagnostic data of the vehicle through the signal translator, a memory storing a software controlled by the processor, the memory storing information relating to the diagnostic tool and information relating to the configuration of the diagnostic tool and the configuration of the communication with the unit being tested, and an output unit connected to the processor indicating information according to the received and processed information relating to the diagnostic tool and information relating to the diagnosing of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of operating a diagnostic tool for a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

communicating with the vehicle in a communication protocol with a signal translator of the diagnostic tool;

determining an error with the configuration or operation of the diagnostic tool with a processor of the diagnostic tool;

indicating the error with the configuration or operation of the diagnostic tool with the processor; and

displaying, with a display of the diagnostic tool, additional information regarding the error with the configuration of the diagnostic tool.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining whether the diagnostic tool is operating correctly according to a predetermined standard.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining whether the error is with all the diagnostic tools of the same type.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining the configuration information of the diagnostic tool and the vehicle; and

providing the communication information between the vehicle and the diagnostic tool.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

recording, outputting and inputting configuration data of the vehicle and diagnostic tool according to selected parameters.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

remotely displaying diagnostic information of the hardware and software of the diagnostic tool, the configuration of the diagnostic tool, the communication between the diagnostic tool and the vehicle, and the configuration of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

transferring a diagnostic information and the configuration information of the diagnostic tool and the vehicle to a remote service station.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

outputting a cable connection information of a cable connecting diagnostic tool to the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying configuration information of the diagnostic tool when there is an error in the communication between the diagnostic tool and the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 being stored in a computer readable disk and being executable through a system software stored on the computer readable disk.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

remotely instructing and receiving information from the diagnostic tool.

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

means for communicating with the vehicle in at least one protocol;

means for inputting information;

means for processing a software according to an inputted information from the means for inputting and communication with the vehicle from the means for communicating, the means for processing controlling a reception of diagnostic data from the vehicle through the means for communicating, the means for processing determining an error with a configuration of the diagnostic tool and the communication with the vehicle;

means for storing the software controlled by the means for processing, the means for storing configured to store configuration information of the diagnostic tool and a configuration information of the vehicle; and

means for outputting connected to the processor and for outputting received and processed error information of the diagnostic tool, of the configuration of the diagnostic tool and of the configuration of the vehicle.

13. The diagnostic tool of claim 12, wherein information relating to the diagnostic tool and information relating to the vehicle includes a software configuration of the diagnostic tool, a hardware configuration of the diagnostic tool, the vehicle configuration, communication transmissions and communication responses.

14. The diagnostic tool of claim 12, wherein the means for outputting transmits the stored information to a technical service line for interpretation.

15. The diagnostic tool of claim 12, wherein the means for processing determines any errors within the diagnostic tool and instructs the displaying of the error information and configuration information of the diagnostic tool.

16. The diagnostic tool of claim 12, further comprising means for connecting the means for communicating 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.

17. The diagnostic tool of claim 12 further comprising means for connecting the diagnostic tool with a remote service center for transmission of configuration information of the diagnostic tool and the configuration information of the vehicle.

18. The diagnostic tool of claim 12, further comprising of means for housing the means for communicating, means for inputting, means for processing, means for storing, and the means for outputting.

19. The diagnostic tool of claim 12, wherein the means for outputting displays the stored information for debugging of errors within the diagnostic tool and the communication with the vehicle.

20. The diagnostic tool of claim 12, wherein the diagnostic tool interfaces with a remote service unit for further analysis of the configuration information of the diagnostic tool, the configuration of the communication between the diagnostic tool and the vehicle, and the configuration information of the vehicle.