Method and apparatus to use remote and local control modes to acquire and visually present data

• US 9,117,321 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Davis, Robert E., Alberry, Michel B., Ruther, Timothy G., Cichy, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US12/913,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20120044052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,763 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/6.1, 710/16, 701/29, 701/8, 128/630, 128/696, 128/903
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

A system comprising multiple devices that are operable when servicing a device-under service is described. A data acquisition (DAQ) device and a vehicle scanner device of the system are operable to acquire data from the device-under-service and to transmit the acquired data to a display device of the system. The DAQ device can operate in a local-control mode in which selection of DAQ mode for the DAQ device is carried out at the DAQ device. The DAQ device can operate in a remote-control mode in which selection of a DAQ mode for the DAQ device is carried out at the display device. The multiple devices may communicate with each other via one or more wireless network via one or more air interface protocols. Each device of the system may operate as a stand-alone device or in combination with multiple devices of the system.

Claims

1. A data acquisition (DAQ) device comprising:

an input element configured to generate first input data from first input signals and to generate second input data from second input signals;

a wireless transceiver;

a user interface display;

a processor,

a computer-readable medium storing program instructions, and

a selector device including a control-mode selector and a DAQ-mode selector,

wherein a first engagement of or changing a position of the control-mode selector causes the processor to execute stored program instructions to change an operating state of the DAQ device from a remote-control mode to a local-control mode,

wherein the input element is configured to acquire the first input signals using a DAQ mode selected by use of the DAQ mode selector while the DAQ device operates in the local-control mode,

wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to cause the user interface display to visually present the first input data while the DAQ device operates in the local-control mode,

wherein a second engagement of or changing a position of the control-mode selector causes the processor to execute stored program instructions to change an operating state of the DAQ device from the local-control mode to the remote-control mode,

wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to receive a mode selection command that indicates a DAQ mode the input element will use while the DAQ device operates in the remote control mode,

wherein, while the DAQ device operates in the remote control mode, the input element is configured to acquire the second input signals using the DAQ mode indicated by the mode selection command; and

wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to cause, the wireless transceiver to transmit, while the DAQ device operates in the remote-control mode, the second input data to an air interface for transmission of the second input data to the display device remote from the DAQ device.

2. The DAQ device of claim 1,

wherein the program instructions include first computer-readable program instructions executable to cause the DAQ device to transition from the local-control mode to the remote-control mode and second computer-readable program instructions executable to cause the DAQ device to transition from the remote-control mode to the local-control mode,

wherein the processor executes the first program instructions, in response to the selector device being used to select that the DAQ device operates in the remote-control mode, while the DAQ device operates in the local-control mode, and

wherein the processor executes the second program instructions, in response to the selector device being used to select that the DAQ device operates in the local-control mode, while the DAQ device operates in the remote-control mode.

3. The DAQ device of claim 2,

wherein the transition from the remote-control mode to the local-control mode includes a transition of the wireless transceiver from a transceiver-on-state to a transceiver-off-state,

wherein, while the DAQ device operates in the local-control mode, the wireless transceiver operates in the transceiver-off-state,

wherein the transition from the local-control mode to the remote-control mode includes a transition of the wireless transceiver from the transceiver-off-state to the transceiver-on-state, and

wherein, while the DAQ device operates in the remote-control mode, the wireless transceiver operates in the transceiver-on-state.

4. The DAQ device of claim 1, wherein the position of the control-mode selector that causes the processor to execute stored program instructions to change the operating state of the DAQ device from the remote-control mode to the local-control mode causes a selection of the DAQ mode for the local control mode.

5. The DAQ device of claim 4, wherein the first data-acquisition mode comprise a data acquisition mode selected from the group consisting of (i) a mode to measure direct current volts, (ii) a mode to measure alternating current volts, (iii) a mode to measure resistance of an electrical circuit or component, (iv) a mode to test a diode, (v) a mode to test continuity of an electrical circuit or component, (vi) a mode to measure capacitance of an electrical circuit or component, (vii) an oscilloscope mode, and (viii) an auxiliary mode.

6. The DAQ device of claim 4,

wherein the DAQ mode indicated by the mode selection command comprises a data-acquisition mode selected from the group consisting of (i) a mode to measure direct current volts, (ii) a mode to measure alternating current volts, (iii) a mode to measure resistance of an electrical circuit or component, (iv) a mode to test a diode, (v) a mode to test continuity of an electrical circuit or component, (vi) a mode to measure capacitance of an electrical circuit or component, (vii) an oscilloscope mode, and (viii) an auxiliary mode.

7. The DAQ device of claim 6, wherein the mode selection command identifies sub-mode information for configuring the DAQ mode indicated by the mode selection command.

8. The DAQ device of claim 1,

wherein, when the DAQ device operates in the remote-control mode, the user interface display visually presents text and/or a graphical image to notify a user that the DAQ device is operating in the remote-control mode.

9. The DAQ device of claim 1,

wherein the input element includes one or more input leads,

wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to receive, via an air interface, information regarding connection of at least one input lead to a respective input signal acquisition point within a device-under-service, and

wherein the user interface display is configured to visually present the information regarding connection of at least one input lead to a respective input signal acquisition point within a device-under-service.

10. The DAQ device of claim 1, wherein the user interface display is configured to visually present the first input data as (i) a histogram, (ii) a numeric value, (iii) an oscilloscope waveform, or (iv) a numeric value and an oscilloscope waveform.

11. The DAQ device of claim 1,

wherein the selector device comprises a rotary switch having multiple switch positions,

wherein the position of the control-mode selector that causes the processor to execute stored program instructions to change the operating state of the DAQ device from the remote-control mode to the local-control mode is a first position of the multiple switch positions,

wherein selection of the first position of the multiple switch positions results in selection of the DAQ mode selected by use of the DAQ mode selector while the DAQ device operates in the local-control mode,

wherein the position of the control-mode selector that causes the processor to execute stored program instructions to change the operating state of the DAQ device from the local-control mode to the remote-control mode is a second position of the multiple switch positions, and

wherein, when the DAQ device operates in the remote-control mode, the wireless transceiver is configured to receive a mode-selection command that identifies, from among the plurality of data-acquisition modes, a data-acquisition mode in which the DAQ device should begin operating.

12. The DAQ device of claim 1, further comprising:

a packet element to place the second input data into data packets when the DAQ device operates in the remote-control mode, wherein transmission of the second input data to the air interface comprises transmission of the data packets to the air interface.

13. The DAQ device of claim 1,

wherein, when the DAQ device pairs with the display device, the wireless transceiver receives from the display device a passkey associated with the display device,

wherein the computer-readable medium stores the passkey associated with the display device, and

wherein, prior to transmission of the second input data to the air interface, the processor executes program instructions, stored by the computer-readable medium, to use the stored passkey to confirm that the DAQ device is paired with the display device.

14. The DAQ device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more additional selector devices selected from the group consisting of (i) a range selector device, (ii) a graph selector device, (iii) a min/max selector device, and (iv) a variable function selector device,

wherein the one or more additional selector devices are inoperable to enter a user-selection while the DAQ device operates in the remote-control mode, and

wherein the one or more additional selector devices are configured to enter a user-selection while the DAQ device operates in the local-control mode.

15. The DAQ device of claim 1,

wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to receive the mode-selection command from the air interface while the DAQ device operates in the remote-control mode, and

wherein the mode-selection command identifies a data-acquisition mode, and

wherein the DAQ device is configured to transition to the identified data-acquisition mode for acquiring data.

16. The DAQ device of claim 1, wherein the user interface display does not display the second input data generated from second the input signals received at the input element.

17. The DAQ device of claim 1, wherein the control-mode selector includes a first push button for the first engagement and the control-mode selector includes a second push button distinct from the first push button for the second engagement.

18. The DAQ device of claim 1, wherein the control-mode selector includes a push button for the first engagement when the DAQ device operates in the remote-control mode and the control-mode selector includes the push button for the second engagement when the DAQ device operates in the local-control mode.

19. A method comprising:

engaging or changing a position of a control-mode selector at a data acquisition (DAQ) device to cause a processor to execute program instructions stored at a computer-readable medium to change an operating state of the DAQ device from a remote control mode to a local-control mode, wherein an input element of the DAQ device is configured to acquire first input signals using a DAQ mode selected by use of a DAQ mode selector at the DAQ device while the DAQ device operates in the local-control mode;

generating, by the input element while the DAQ device is operating in the local-control mode, first input data from input signals received at the input element,

displaying, by a user interface display located at the DAQ device, the first input data;

engaging or changing a position of the control-mode selector at the DAQ device to cause the processor to execute program instructions stored at the computer-readable medium to change an operating state of the DAQ device from the local-control mode to the remote-control mode;

receiving, by a wireless transceiver of the DAQ device, a mode selection command from the display device remote from the DAQ device, wherein the input element acquires data using a DAQ mode indicated by the received mode selection command while the DAQ device operates in the remote-control mode; and

generating, by the input element while the DAQ device is operating in the remote-control mode, second input data from input signals received at the input element of the DAQ device and transmitting, by the wireless transceiver, the second input data to an air interface for transmission of the second input data to the display device remote from the DAQ device,

wherein, while the DAQ device is operating in the remote-control mode, the user interface display does not display any input data generated from input signals received at the input element.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

storing, by the computer-readable medium, first computer-readable program instructions executable to cause the DAQ device to transition from the local-control mode to the remote-control mode and second computer-readable program instructions executable to cause the DAQ device to transition from the remote-control mode to the local-control mode;

executing, by the processor, the first program instructions to transition from the local-control mode to the remote-control mode in response to engaging or changing the position of the control-mode selector at the DAQ device to cause the processor to change the operating state of the DAQ device from the local-control mode to the remote-control mode; and

executing, by the processor, the second program instructions to transition from the remote-control mode to the local-control mode in response to engaging or changing the position of the control-mode selector at the DAQ device to cause the processor to execute program instructions stored at the computer-readable medium to change an operating state of the DAQ device from the local-control mode to the remote-control mode.

21. The method of claim 20,

wherein the transition from the local-control mode to the remote-control mode includes the wireless transceiver transitioning from a transceiver-off-state to a transceiver-on-state, and

wherein the transition from the remote-control mode to the local-control mode includes the wireless transceiver transitioning from a transceiver-on-state to a transceiver-off-state.

22. The method of claim 21,

wherein the DAQ device comprises one or more additional selector devices,

wherein the transition from the local-control mode to the remote-control mode further includes the DAQ device establishing a wireless network with the display device,

wherein the display device and DAQ device pair with each other prior to establishing the wireless network, and

wherein the one or more additional selector devices are inoperative while the DAQ device operates in the remote-control mode.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

while the DAQ device is operating in the remote-control mode and in a first data-acquisition mode, the wireless transceiver receiving a mode-selection command via the air interface, wherein the mode-selection command identifies a second data-acquisition mode; and

responsive to receiving the mode-selection command and while the DAQ device is operating in the remote-control mode, the DAQ device transitioning from the first data-acquisition mode to the second data-acquisition mode.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, at the wireless transceiver, information regarding connection of an input lead of the input element to an input signal acquisition point of a device-under-service that generates the input signals; and

visually presenting, at the display located at the DAQ device, the information regarding connection of an input lead of the input element to an input signal acquisition point of a device-under-service that generates the input signals.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

displaying the second input data by a display located at the display device remote from the DAQ device,

wherein displaying the first input data by the user interface display located at the DAQ device comprises displaying the first input data as a first oscilloscope waveform, and

wherein displaying the second input data by the display located at the display device remote from the DAQ device comprises displaying the second input data as a second oscilloscope waveform.