Vehicle Diagnostic, Communication and Signal Delivery System

• US 20120035800A1
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, Inc. (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, Christopher I.
• Application Number:
  US13/195,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20120035800A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• 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 that includes components that allow the diagnostic tool to record data while the vehicle is driven in order to capture data for intermittent faults. The diagnostic tool can operate in harsh conditions such as high and low temperatures. The diagnostic tool includes a capacitor to power the diagnostic tool in order to prevent complete drainage of the vehicle battery. The diagnostic tool includes a support module that can couple with a socket and a plug in order to keep them mated together during use.

Claims

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

a processor to control functions of the diagnostic tool and retrieves diagnostic data from the vehicle;

a first memory that stores a software to operate the diagnostic tool and the retrieved diagnostic data, the memory communicates with the processor and stores diagnostic data in a circular buffer;

a connector interface that connects the diagnostic tool to a data link connector in the vehicle, the connector interface communicates with the processor;

a serial communication interfaces that allows the diagnostic tool to communicate with the vehicle in at least one communication protocol, the serial communication interfaces communicates with the processor;

a power management unit that manages the diagnostic tool in various power states depending on the diagnostic tool'"'"'s activity; and

a capacitor to provide power to the diagnostic tool.

2. The tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a voltage regulator that converts the capacitor'"'"'s first voltage to a second voltage usable by the processor and first memory.

3. The tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a trigger button to activate a recording of the diagnostic data by the diagnostic tool.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the power states include a full power state, lower power state, suspend mode state, and passive state.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first memory transfers diagnostic data to a second memory, and wherein the diagnostic data include a pre-triggered and a post-triggered data.

6. The tool of claim 4, wherein the passive state occurs when the processor determines that no data is being generated by the vehicle.

7. The tool of claim 4, wherein when a trigger button is pressed, the diagnostic tool will change from one power state to another power state.

8. The tool of claim 4, wherein the power management unit remains active in the suspend mode state and resumes the processor when the power management unit detects active vehicle data.

9. The tool of claim 1, wherein when the diagnostic tool is in a high ambient temperature environment, the processor will operate at a suspend mode state and operate at a fraction of a nominal operating power in order to decrease an operating temperature of the diagnostic tool.

10. The tool of claim 1, wherein the capacitor provides power to the diagnostic tool at low ambient temperature.

11. A diagnostic tool for diagnosing a vehicle in various environments, comprising:

means for processing functions of the diagnostic tool and retrieves diagnostic data from the vehicle;

first means for storing a software to operate the diagnostic tool and the retrieved diagnostic data, the means for storing communicates with the means for processing and stores diagnostic data in a circular buffer;

means for interfacing the diagnostic tool to a data link connector in the vehicle, the means for interfacing communicates with the means for processing;

means for communicating that allows the diagnostic tool to communicate with the vehicle in at least one communication protocol, the means for communicating communicates with the processor;

means for managing power that manages the diagnostic tool in various power states depending on the diagnostic tool'"'"'s activity; and

means for providing power to the diagnostic tool.

12. The tool of claim 11 further comprising:

means for regulating the means for providing power from a first voltage to a second voltage usable by the means for processing and the first means for storing.

13. The tool of claim 11 further comprising:

means for triggering a recording of the diagnostic data by the diagnostic tool.

14. The tool of claim 11, wherein the power states include a full power state, lower power state, suspend mode state, and passive state.

15. The tool of claim 11, wherein the first means for storing transfers diagnostic data to a second means for storing, and wherein the diagnostic data include a pre-triggered and a post-triggered data.

16. The tool of claim 14, wherein the passive state occurs when the means for processing determines that no data is being generated by the vehicle.

17. The tool of claim 14, wherein when a means for trigging is pressed, the diagnostic tool will change from one power state to another power state.

18. The tool of claim 14, wherein the means for managing power remains active in the suspend mode state and resumes the means for processing when the means for managing power detects active vehicle data.

19. The tool of claim 11, wherein when the diagnostic tool is in a high ambient temperature environment, the means for processing will operate at a suspend mode state and operate at a fraction of a nominal operating power in order to decrease an operating temperature of the diagnostic tool.

20. The tool of claim 11, wherein the means for providing power provides power to the diagnostic tool at low ambient temperature.

21. A method of retrieving diagnostic information from a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

communicating with a diagnostic computer of the vehicle in a communication protocol with a serial communication interfaces of a diagnostic tool;

retrieving diagnostic data from the vehicle with a processor of the diagnostic tool;

storing the retrieved diagnostic data in a circular buffer of a first memory that is coupled to the processor; and

putting the diagnostic tool into a reduced power state with a power management unit when there is no diagnostic data being detected by the diagnostic tool.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of:

removing the diagnostic tool from the reduced power state when there is a detection of diagnostic data being received from the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of:

changing from a first voltage provided by a capacitor using a voltage regulator to a second voltage that is used by the processor and the memory.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the reduced power state is caused by high or low ambient temperature around the diagnostic tool.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the retrieving step is caused by a user activating a trigger button on the diagnostic tool.