Universal tire pressure monitoring system tool and methods
First Claim
1. A hand held tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) tool for use with a vehicle including an electronic control unit (ECU) in communication with a plurality of TPMS tire sensors operable to detect a condition of a vehicle tires and transmit the tire condition data, the tool comprising:
- a housing;
a processor and a memory storage device positioned within the housing;
a key pad positioned on the housing in communication with the processor for input of commands;
an OBD device having at least one connector for selective engagement of the OBD device to the tool and an OBD connector onboard a vehicle, the OBD device comprises an OBD module having a memory device for storing data received by the tool from a TPMS tire sensor, wherein the OBD module is selectively disengaged from the tool prior to engagement with the vehicle OBD connector for transfer of the stored data to a vehicle ECU; and
an antenna for transmission and receipt of electronic information from the plurality of TPMS tire sensors.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein is an improved universal TPMS tool. According to one aspect of the tool, the tool can include a housing and a processor and a memory storage device positioned within the housing. The tool can optionally include a key pad positioned on the housing in communication with the processor for input of commands from a user, an electronic communication port positioned on the housing in communication with the processor, and an antenna for transmission and receipt of electronic information from the plurality of TPMS tire sensors. The tool can also include an optical scanner for reading indicia connected to the vehicle.
75 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A hand held tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) tool for use with a vehicle including an electronic control unit (ECU) in communication with a plurality of TPMS tire sensors operable to detect a condition of a vehicle tires and transmit the tire condition data, the tool comprising:
-
a housing; a processor and a memory storage device positioned within the housing; a key pad positioned on the housing in communication with the processor for input of commands; an OBD device having at least one connector for selective engagement of the OBD device to the tool and an OBD connector onboard a vehicle, the OBD device comprises an OBD module having a memory device for storing data received by the tool from a TPMS tire sensor, wherein the OBD module is selectively disengaged from the tool prior to engagement with the vehicle OBD connector for transfer of the stored data to a vehicle ECU; and an antenna for transmission and receipt of electronic information from the plurality of TPMS tire sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A method of communicating data between a hand held TPMS tool and the electronic control unit (ECU) of a passenger vehicle, the tool having an antenna, a receiver, a processor, a data communication port, and a memory storage device, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving TPMS tire sensor data from at least one TPMS tire sensor through the tool receiver; selectively placing an OBD module having a memory storage device in data communication connection with the tool data communication port; storing the received TPMS tire sensor data in the OBD memory storage device; terminating the data communication connection between the OBD module and the tool; selectively placing the OBD module in data communication connection with the vehicle ECU separate and independent of the tool; and transferring the TPMS tire sensor data from the OBD module memory storage device to the vehicle ECU. - View Dependent Claims (5)
-
-
6. A method of processing TPMS tire sensor data of a vehicle using a hand held portable TPMS tool having a housing, an antenna, a receiver, a data processor, a memory device, a memory storage device, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving through the tool receiver TPMS tire sensor identification information from a first TPMS tire sensor; storing the received first TPMS tire sensor identification information in the tool memory storage device; receiving identification information for a programmable second TPMS sensor; accessing preprogrammed instructions in the tool memory device for communicating data to the programmable second TPMS tire sensor; comparing the received second TMPS sensor identification information to a database of TPMS sensors stored in the tool memory device; selecting at least one of an appropriate communication protocol or programming data for the identified programmable second TPMS sensor stored in the tool memory device for transmission to and receipt and registration of the first TPMS sensor identification data by the programmable second TPMS sensor; transmitting through the tool antenna a signal to the second TPMS tire sensor to activate the second TPMS sensor, adapting the second TPMS sensor to receive and register data; and transmitting through the tool antenna the received and stored first TPMS sensor identification information to the second TPMS sensor for registration of the first TPMS sensor identification in the second TPMS sensor whereby the second TPMS sensor functions under the first TPMS sensor identification. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of processing TPMS tire sensor data of a vehicle using a hand held portable TPMS tool having a housing, an antenna, a data processor, a memory storage device and an a manual data input button, the method comprising:
-
receiving vehicle identification information from a vehicle through the tool receiver; storing the received vehicle identification information in the tool memory storage device; accessing a preprogrammed database of at least one of TPMS or electronic control unit (ECU) communication protocols by vehicle type in the tool memory storage device; comparing the received and stored vehicle identification information in the tool memory storage device to the at least one of TPMS or ECU communication protocols by vehicle type; and selecting the appropriate at least one of the TPMS or ECU communication protocols and instructions for the tool to communicate with at least one of the vehicle TPMS tire sensors or vehicle ECU; the tool receiving a vehicle system error code signal from the vehicle ECU; accessing a database of manufacturer vehicle error codes and error code information stored in the tool memory device; selecting the appropriate error code information from the error code database; decoding the received system error code into a human understandable form; and communicating the decoded system error code to a user through a tool display.
-
Specification