Universal vehicle input/output transceiver and method of operation thereof

• US 8,630,766 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Raichle, Kurt, Chinnadurai, Manokar, McGee, Phillip, Brun, Marco Le
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao Long T
• Application Number:
  US12/123,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,065 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/33.2
• 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: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A vehicular diagnostic tool configured to interface with a plurality of vehicular computing systems that each utilize a different communications protocol. The tool includes a transceiver that itself includes a voltage threshold controller and a current threshold controller. Also, a method of using a single vehicular diagnostic tool to communicate with a plurality of vehicular computing systems that each utilize a different communications protocol.

Claims

1. A vehicular diagnostic tool, comprising:

an interface configured to be communicatively connected to a vehicular computing system via a communication protocol selected from a plurality of communication protocols;

a transceiver electronically connected to the interface; and

a voltage threshold controller configured to adjust a voltage threshold within the vehicular diagnostic tool to within a predetermined set of configurations based at least in part on the communication protocol by controlling a number of a plurality of impedances and a number of a plurality of voltage levels of the transceiver,

wherein the transceiver is configured to automatically detect the communication protocol with the voltage threshold controller by passively reading one or more bit patterns from the vehicular computing system.

2. The vehicular diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises:

a current threshold controller electronically connected to the voltage threshold controller.

3. The vehicular diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a field programmable gate array electronically connected to the transceiver.

4. The vehicular diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a transistor electronically connected to the voltage threshold controller.

5. The vehicular diagnostic tool of claim 4, wherein the transistor comprises a field effect transistor.

6. The vehicular diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising:

an amplifier electronically connected to the voltage threshold controller.

7. The vehicular diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the voltage threshold controller comprises:

a plurality of switches electronically connected to the plurality of voltage levels.

8. The vehicular diagnostic tool of claim 2, wherein the current threshold controller comprises:

a plurality of switches electronically connected to the plurality of impedances.

9. The vehicular diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises:

a plurality of switches electronically connected to a plurality of reference voltages.

10. A method of diagnosing a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a vehicular electronic system using a communication protocol selected from a plurality of communication protocols of a diagnostic tool;

adjusting a voltage threshold level within the diagnostic tool to within a predetermined set of configurations based at least in part on the communications protocol by controlling a number of a plurality of impedances and a number of a plurality of voltage levels within the diagnostic tool;

detecting automatically the communication protocol of the first signal by passively reading one or more bit patterns from the vehicular electronic system; and

processing the first signal based upon the adjusted voltage threshold.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

associating the first signal with the communication protocol.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

adjusting the voltage threshold level is implemented using one or more switches.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting step is implemented using software.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

adjusting a current threshold within the diagnostic tool.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the adjusting the current threshold step is implemented using software.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting step comprises adjusting the voltage threshold to one of approximately 0.0 volts, approximately 2.5 volts, approximately 3.3 volts, approximately 5.0 volts, approximately 9.0 volts and approximately 12.0 volts.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

adjusting a reference voltage within the diagnostic tool.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

distinguishing between the first signal and a second signal from another vehicular electronic system based upon a bit pattern included in the first signal.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting step is performed prior to the receiving step.

20. A vehicular diagnostic tool, comprising:

means for receiving a first signal from a vehicular electronic system using a communication protocol selected from a plurality of communication protocol;

means for adjusting a voltage threshold level within the vehicular diagnostic tool to within a predetermined set of configurations based at least in part on the communication protocol by controlling a number of a plurality of impedances and a number of a plurality of voltage levels of the means for receiving, wherein the means for adjusting is electronically connected to the means for receiving;

means for automatically detecting the communication protocol by passively reading one or more bit patterns from the vehicular electronic system; and

means for processing the first signal using the adjusted voltage threshold, wherein the means for processing is electronically connected to the means for receiving.

21. The tool of claim 20, further comprising:

means for transmitting a second signal to the vehicular electronic system, wherein the means for transmitting is electronically connected to the means for processing and wherein the means for adjusting the voltage threshold is also configured to adjust a voltage threshold of the means for transmitting.