Diagnostic tool with smart camera

• US 8,989,950 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Harry, Bertosa, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Calvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martinez Borrero, Luis A
• Application Number:
  US13/027,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20120209470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35, 701/33, 701/22, 701/29, 701/29.6, 701/31.5, 701/33.2, 701/31.4, 455/111, 455/417, 707/E17.03, 707/769, 707/728, 707/737, 707/758
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/434 using image data, e.g. images, photos, pictures taken by a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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 that includes a smart camera. The smart camera can be used to capture an image of the part that needs to be replaced. The image can also include the bar code that may be attached to the part. The image can be used to search a parts information database for additional parts information such as part number, manuals, pictures, etc. A further search of a parts supplier'"'"'s database can be conducted using a location of the diagnostic tool to determine the nearest parts supplier that has the part available and the best price.

Claims

1. A diagnostic tool for a vehicle, comprising:

a processor to control functions of the diagnostic tool;

a memory that stores software to operate the diagnostic tool, an image recognition software, and a database of parts information that contains part images, the memory communicates with the processor, wherein the image recognition software is configured to identify a part in need of replacement or the vehicle;

a connector interface that connects the diagnostic tool to a data link connector in the vehicle, the connector interface communicates with the processor;

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

a display that displays information including part information, the display communicates with the processor;

a camera configured to take an image of the part in need of replacement and communicates with the processor; and

a housing surrounding the processor, the memory, the connector interface, the signal translator, and the display, wherein the processor using the image recognition software compares the taken image of the part to part images stored in the database.

2. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to function as a bar code reader and the image is a bar code on the part.

3. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the processor uses the image of the part taken by the camera to search for part'"'"'s information in the parts information database.

4. The diagnostic tool of claim 3, wherein the part'"'"'s information include at least one of the following:

part number, part specification, part diagram, and part manual.

5. The diagnostic tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless communication interface that communicates with a part supplier'"'"'s database to determine availability and pricing of the part; and

an input device communicating with the processor.

6. The diagnostic tool of claim 1 further comprising a global positioning system that locates a location of the diagnostic tool so that the location is used to find a nearest part supplier store that has the part available.

7. The diagnostic tool of claim 6, wherein the nearest part supplier store has a best price for the part.

8. A diagnostic tool for a vehicle, comprising:

means for controlling the functions of the diagnostic tool;

means for storing a software to operate the diagnostic tool, an image recognition software, and a database of parts information that contains part images, the means for storing communicates with the means for controlling, wherein the image recognition software is configured to identify a part in need of replacement or the vehicle;

means for interfacing the diagnostic tool to a data link connector in the vehicle, the means for interfacing communicates with the means for controlling;

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

means for displaying information including part information, the display communicates with the means for controlling;

means for imaging the part in need of replacement and communicates with the means for controlling; and

means for housing surrounding the means for controlling, the means for storing, the means for interfacing, the means for translating, and the means for displaying, wherein the means for controlling using the image recognition software compares the taken image of the part to parts images stored in the means for storing.

9. The diagnostic tool of claim 8, wherein the means for imaging is configured to function as a bar code reader and the image is a bar code on the part.

10. The diagnostic tool of claim 8, wherein the means for controlling uses the image of the part taken by the means for imaging to search for part'"'"'s information in the parts information database.

11. The diagnostic tool of claim 10, wherein the part'"'"'s information include at least one of the following:

part number, part specification, part diagram, and part manual.

12. The diagnostic tool of claim 8, further comprising:

a wireless communication interface that communicates with a part supplier'"'"'s database to determine availability and pricing of the part; and

means for inputting that communicates with the means for controlling.

13. The diagnostic tool of claim 8 further comprising a global positioning system that locates a location of the diagnostic tool so that the location is used to find a nearest part supplier store that has the part available.

14. The diagnostic tool of claim 13, wherein the nearest part supplier store has a best price for the part.

15. A method of identifying a part by a diagnostic tool, comprising the steps of:

obtaining an image of a part that needs to be replaced from a camera;

searching with an image recognition software, by a processor of the diagnostic tool, a part information database using the part'"'"'s image for a part'"'"'s information, the part information database located in a memory on the diagnostic tool and communicates with the camera;

identifying the part'"'"'s information using the image recognition software, by the processor of the diagnostic tool, from the part information database based on the obtained image;

locating, by the processor of the diagnostic tool, a location of the diagnostic tool with a global positioning system; and

searching, by the processor of the diagnostic tool and the location, on nearest part supplier'"'"'s computing device having the part available, wherein the part available is a generic part.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

searching, by the processor of the diagnostic tool, a part supplier'"'"'s database for availability of the part; and

displaying the part'"'"'s information on a display.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of searching, by the processor of the diagnostic tool, a nearest supplier having a best price for the part.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the display is on the camera or a computing device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the image is a bar code.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the part'"'"'s information include at least one of the following:

part number, part specification, part diagram, and part manual.