Method and apparatus for reading and erasing diagnostic trouble codes from a vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A diagnostic tool for communicating with a vehicle, comprising:
- a diagnostic tool processor operably coupled to a memory;
a display operably coupled to the diagnostic tool processor;
an input device operably coupled to the diagnostic tool processor for inputting information;
a communication device operably coupled to the diagnostic tool processor; and
a housing surrounding the diagnostic tool processor, the memory, and the communication device,wherein, the communication device is configured to communicate in multiple communication protocols with multiple vehicle onboard computer systems, andthe diagnostic tool processor is configured to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes from the multiple vehicle onboard computer systems in the vehicle using said multiple communication protocols and remove any duplicate diagnostic trouble codes including diagnostic trouble codes that point to a same problem before displaying the diagnostic trouble codes to a user on the display.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided that allows a technician to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) and remove any duplicates. The diagnostic tool can retrieve DTCs from the various diagnostic systems in the vehicle, remove any duplicates and display a unique list of DTCs. The diagnostic tool can also erase all DTCs including any duplicates from the vehicle after repairs have been completed. The tool can retrieve the DTCs without the user selecting the system to retrieve from.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A diagnostic tool for communicating with a vehicle, comprising:
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a diagnostic tool processor operably coupled to a memory; a display operably coupled to the diagnostic tool processor; an input device operably coupled to the diagnostic tool processor for inputting information; a communication device operably coupled to the diagnostic tool processor; and a housing surrounding the diagnostic tool processor, the memory, and the communication device, wherein, the communication device is configured to communicate in multiple communication protocols with multiple vehicle onboard computer systems, and the diagnostic tool processor is configured to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes from the multiple vehicle onboard computer systems in the vehicle using said multiple communication protocols and remove any duplicate diagnostic trouble codes including diagnostic trouble codes that point to a same problem before displaying the diagnostic trouble codes to a user on the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A diagnostic tool for communicating with a vehicle, comprising:
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a diagnostic tool processor operably coupled to a memory; an input device operably coupled to the diagnostic tool processor for inputting information; a communication device operably coupled to the diagnostic tool processor; and a housing supporting the diagnostic tool processor, the memory, and the communication device, the communication device operably coupled to the diagnostic tool processor and configured to communicate with all vehicle onboard computer systems in multiple communication protocols; wherein the diagnostic tool processor is configured to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes from all vehicle onboard computer systems using the multiple communication protocols and delete any duplicate diagnostic trouble codes including diagnostic trouble codes that point to a same problem, and wherein the diagnostic tool processor further configured to clear diagnostic trouble codes from all vehicle onboard computer systems. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method of producing a unique list of diagnostic trouble codes from a vehicle on a diagnostic tool, comprising:
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communicating with multiple vehicle onboard computer systems, via a communication device forming part of the diagnostic tool that uses multiple communication protocols; retrieving, via a diagnostic tool processor, diagnostic trouble codes stored in the multiple vehicle onboard computer systems; determining, via the diagnostic tool processor of the diagnostic tool, whether duplicate diagnostic trouble codes including diagnostic trouble codes that point to a same problem that exist; removing, via the diagnostic tool processor of the diagnostic tool, any duplicate diagnostic trouble codes,to create the unique list of diagnostic trouble codes; and displaying the unique list of diagnostic trouble codes on a display of the diagnostic tool. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of erasing duplicate diagnostic trouble codes from a vehicle with a vehicle diagnostic tool, the method comprising:
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communicating with multiple vehicle onboard computer systems via a communication circuit; retrieving, via a diagnostic tool processor of a diagnostic tool, diagnostic trouble codes stored in the multiple vehicle onboard computer systems using multiple communication protocols; determining, via the diagnostic tool processor of the diagnostic tool, whether duplicate diagnostic trouble codes including diagnostic trouble codes that point to a same problem exist; and clearing, via the diagnostic tool processor of the diagnostic tool, duplicate diagnostic trouble codes, in the multiple vehicle onboard computer systems using multiple communication protocols, wherein the communicating, retrieving, determining and clearing are done in response to a single operation of pressing a button or a menu selection is selected on the diagnostic tool. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A diagnostic tool system for communicating with a vehicle, the diagnostic tool system comprising:
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a diagnostic tool means for processing diagnostic trouble codes operably coupled to a means for storing; a means for inputting information operably coupled to the diagnostic tool means for processing; a means for communicating with multiple vehicle onboard computer systems operably coupled to the diagnostic tool means for processing; and a means for housing the diagnostic tool means for processing, the means for storing, the means for inputting and the means for communicating, wherein the diagnostic tool means for processing is configured to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes from all the multiple vehicle onboard systems using multiple communication protocols and delete any duplicate diagnostic trouble codes, including diagnostic trouble codes that point to a same problem, before displaying to a user on a means for displaying, and wherein the diagnostic tool means for processing, the means for storing, the means for imputing, and the means for communicating are enclosed by the means for housing of a vehicle diagnostic tool forming part of the diagnostic tool system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification