Cellular phone configured with off-board device capabilities and starter/charger and battery testing capabilities

• US 7,974,750 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2010
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Namaky, Hamid
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US12/829,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20100273477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/33, 701/36, 702182-185, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.6, 307/10.7
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a cellular phone that connects to an existing vehicle data link to perform the functions of an off-board device, such as a scan tool, for displaying diagnostic information relating to vehicles. In addition, the cellular phone connects to a starter/charger system and/or a battery to perform the functions of a starter/charger/battery testing device. Such a device allows a user to connect the cellular phone to a data link connector located in a vehicle, download software to either an adaptor or the cellular phone, retrieve information relating to diagnostic tests on the vehicle and view the results on the cellular phone display, and/or communicate the results to another person or device.

Claims

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

connecting a cellular phone with an adaptor configured to connect with a vehicle diagnostic system;

connecting the adaptor with the vehicle diagnostic system;

communicating with the vehicle diagnostic system with a communications circuit of the adaptor;

retrieving the vehicle diagnostic information with a processor in the adaptor; and

processing the vehicle diagnostic information with the processor of the adaptor.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying the processed diagnostic information on a display of the cellular phone.

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

sending the processed diagnostic information to a remote device with a telecommunications circuit on the cellular phone; and

displaying the processed diagnostic information on a display of the remote device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the connecting the cellular phone with the adaptor is via a wireless or wired connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication circuit generates a vehicle communication protocol.

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

sending the processed diagnostic information to a remote location via the adaptor.

7. A vehicle interface adaptor for communicating vehicle diagnostic information, comprising:

a processor that processes the vehicle diagnostic information;

a memory that stores the vehicle diagnostic information and a diagnostic software, the memory communicates with the processor;

a communication circuitry that communicates with a vehicle diagnostic system and a remote computing device, wherein the remote computing device is a cellular phone;

a vehicle communication interface that connects with a data link connector in a vehicle; and

a housing that houses the processor, the memory, the communication circuitry and the vehicle communication interface.

8. The adaptor of claim 7, wherein the vehicle communication interface is the only external connection of the adaptor.

9. The adaptor of claim 7, wherein the communication circuitry communicates to the remote computing device via a wired or wireless connection.

10. The adaptor of claim 7 further comprising:

a battery interface that connects to a vehicle battery.

11. The adaptor of claim 7 further comprising:

a testing interface that connects with a starter/charger system of the vehicle.

12. The adaptor of claim 10, wherein the adaptor automatically determines an active connection between the vehicle communication interface and the battery interface.

13. The adaptor of claim 11, wherein the adaptor automatically determines the active connection between the vehicle communication interface and the testing interface.