DATA CONVERSION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING A CELL PHONE TO UPDATE FAULT CODE DATA AND MAINTAIN VEHICLES USING ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS
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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Abstract
An apparatus for obtaining diagnostic codes from vehicles with on-board diagnostic systems, using a cell phone as the code reader, and employing a signal converter between the cell phone and vehicle to allow communication between the cell phone and the vehicle'"'"'s on-board diagnostic system, and allowing the cell phone to access remote databases and obtain the most current proper parameters to aid a user in troubleshooting vehicle problems and suggesting corrective action.
19 Citations
12 Claims
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1. ) An apparatus to assist in vehicle maintenance, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. ) A method to diagnose vehicle problems, including:
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a. registering a user and his vehicles with a remote database located on a website and accessible by Internet; b. downloading an application to an Internet-connected computer equipped with a USB port and capable of processing third-party programs; c. running the downloaded application on the computer; d. connecting a signal converter between the USB port on the computer and an on-board vehicle diagnostic connector, such that the signal converter converts instructions received from the computer through the USB port into communications compliant with the connected vehicle'"'"'s diagnostic system while it is running the downloaded application, such that the computer can download the vehicle diagnostic fault codes from the vehicle; and
,e. accessing the remote database or other Internet resources to determine proper corrective actions to alleviate vehicle fault conditions, including potential sources for repair parts. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification