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DATA CONVERSION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING A CELL PHONE TO UPDATE FAULT CODE DATA AND MAINTAIN VEHICLES USING ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS

  • US 20140316639A1
  • Filed: 04/18/2013
  • Published: 10/23/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2013
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. ) An apparatus to assist in vehicle maintenance, comprising:

  • a) a first electrical connector suitable to plug into a vehicle'"'"'s on-board diagnostic computer system;

    b) a first electrical cord connecting the first electrical connector to an enclosed signal converter;

    c) a second electrical cord linking the enclosed signal converter to a second electrical connector capable of plugging into a USB input of a computer with Internet access;

    d) the enclosed signal converter includes electronic circuitry and firmware, and is constructed so that when the first connector is plugged into a powered on-board diagnostic computer system, the signal converter configures its communication protocol through the first connector to match that of the vehicle'"'"'s diagnostic system to which it is attached, identifies the vehicle by reading its VIN from the diagnostic system, and based on queries received through the second USB connector, delivers information and operational measurements to the computer as commanded by signals received through the USB connection; and

    ,e) a software application that can be installed on a cell phone or other microprocessor-equipped computer that, when operated by a user, reads diagnostic codes and optionally prescribes solutions addressing vehicle fault conditions by communicating with the signal converter via the computer'"'"'s USB connection and second electrical cord, such that the signal converter translates electrical queries from the computer'"'"'s USB protocol to the appropriate OMB-II protocol for the vehicle, receives back the requested sensor readings, and compares them to operational standards that the computer obtains from a remote database and storage that is Internet-accessible.

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