Combination scan tool and inspection tool

• US 7,328,093 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Bertosa, Thomas, Gessner, Michael, Namaky, Hamid, Roberts, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/700,018
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 701 29- 35, 340/438, 340/439
• US Class Current: 701/29
• 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

Abstract

A diagnostic tool and method are provided wherein the diagnostic tool can function as an inspection tool and a scan tool. The diagnostic tool determines if it is authorized for an inspection and then functions as an inspection tool and does not allow the scan tool function until the inspection is completed or voided. A software of the diagnostic tool includes a shared code, an inspection tool mode and a scan tool mode. The scan tool code and the inspection code are not shared so that updating of one code does not affect the code of the other.

Claims

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

a processor that operates a software that includes a shared code, an inspection tool code and a scan tool code;

a memory that stores the software used by the processor;

a connector interface that connects the diagnostic tool to a data link connector in the vehicle;

a signal translator that allows the diagnostic tool to communicate with the vehicle in at least one communication protocol;

an input device for inputting information into the diagnostic tool;

a display that displays information to a user; and

a housing surrounding the processor, the memory, the connector interface, the signal translator, the input device and the display, wherein the inspection tool code and the scan tool code are not shared.

2. The diagnostic tool of claim 1 further comprising an interrupt vector relay table that is populated based on if the diagnostic tool is functioning as a scan tool or as an inspection tool.

3. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the scan tool code allows the diagnostic tool to function as a scan tool and when the scan tool code is updated, the inspection tool code is not affected.

4. The diagnostic code of claim 1, wherein the inspection tool code allows the diagnostic tool to function as an inspection tool and when the inspection tool code is updated, the scan tool code is not affected.

5. The diagnostic tool of claim 2, wherein an interrupt allows for exception in the software to be performed for a period of time.

6. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the software determines if the diagnostic tool has been authorized to perform an inspection before the software allows the diagnostic tool to function as a scan tool.

7. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic tool is an inspection tool and a scan tool.

8. A method of operating a diagnostic tool that diagnoses a vehicle, comprising:

providing the diagnostic tool having a software that includes a shared code, an inspection tool code and a scan tool code, wherein the diagnostic tool can function as an inspection tool or as a scan tool;

determining whether the diagnostic tool is authorized for an inspection of the vehicle; and

setting up an interrupt vector relay table for the inspection tool code if the diagnostic tool is authorized for an inspection or for the scan tool code if the diagnostic tool is not authorized for the inspection, wherein the inspection tool code and the scan tool code are not shared.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising preventing the diagnostic tool from functioning as a scan tool until the inspection tool has completed the inspection or when the inspection is voided.

10. The method of claim 8, further, wherein the diagnostic tool is automatically authorized to conduct an inspection when the diagnostic tool is in communication with an inspection host computer.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving an interrupt and proceeding to the inspection tool interrupt vector relay table if the inspection is authorized or proceeding to the scan tool interrupt vector relay table if the inspection is not authorized.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether the diagnostic tool is authorized for the inspection occurs at every power up.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

storing an inspection data received from the inspection tool separate from scan tool data received from the scan tool.

14. A diagnostic tool that diagnoses a vehicle, comprising:

a means for processing that processes a software that includes a shared code, an inspection tool code and a scan tool code;

a means for storing that stores the software used by the means for processing;

a means for connecting that connects the diagnostic tool to a data link connector in the vehicle;

a means for translating that allows the diagnostic tool to communicate with the vehicle in at least one communication protocol;

a means for inputting that allows a user to input information into the diagnostic tool;

a means for displaying that displays information to the user; and

a means for housing surrounding the means for processing, the means for storing, the means for connecting, the means for translating, the means for inputting and the means for displaying, wherein the inspection tool code and the scan tool code are not shared.

15. The diagnostic tool of claim 14 further comprising an interrupt vector relay table that is populated based on if the diagnostic tool is functioning as a scan tool or as an inspection tool.

16. The diagnostic tool of claim 14, wherein the scan tool code allows the diagnostic tool to act as a scan tool and when the scan tool code is updated, the inspection tool code is not affected.

17. The diagnostic tool of claim 14, wherein the inspection tool code allows the diagnostic tool to act as an inspection tool and when the inspection tool code is updated, the scan tool code is not affected.

18. The diagnostic tool of claim 15, wherein an interrupt allows for exception in the software to be performed.

19. The diagnostic tool of claim 14, wherein the software determines if the diagnostic tool has been authorized to perform an inspection before the software allows the diagnostic tool to function as a scan tool.

20. The diagnostic tool of claim 14, wherein the diagnostic tool is an inspection tool and a scan tool.