Methods and systems for displaying vehicle data parameters with operating condition indicators

• US 9,880,707 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2014
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Covington, Joshua, Reynald, April, Weiland, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ma, Tize
• Application Number:
  US14/531,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20160124587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/02 Details or accessories of testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/005 Testing of electric installations on transport means
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31318 Data analysis, using different formats like table, chart
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• 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

Methods and system pertaining to displaying vehicle data parameters (VDP) are described. A vehicle service tool (VST) with a display can receive vehicle data messages or signals from a vehicle to receive the VDP. Some of the VDP can be associated with a PID. The VST can display VDP thresholds and indicators when a received VDP has breached a VDP threshold. The VST can determine being changed from a landscape orientation to a portrait orientation or vice versa and responsively change the presentation of VDP graphs displayed by the display. The display can receive various inputs such as a drag-and-drop or pinch-and-expand input to alternatively change the presentation of the VDP graphs being displayed. Changing a VDP presentation of graphs can include resizing or repositioning one or more VDP graph windows including a VDP graph.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by at least one processor, a selection of a vehicle operating condition detectable by the at least one processor;

receiving, by the at least one processor, vehicle data parameters associated with a particular parameter identifier;

determining, by the at least one processor, a graph view for displaying the vehicle data parameters based on an order of occurrence of the vehicle data parameters is selected,

wherein the graph view comprises a graph window including a line graph and a time-based indicator with a first time segment and a second time segment,

wherein the first time segment corresponds to an amount of time including a current time during which the at least one processor received at least a portion of the received vehicle data parameters, and

wherein the second time segment corresponds to an amount of time during which the at least one processor received other vehicle data parameters of the received vehicle data parameters prior to receiving the at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters;

determining, by the at least one processor, the at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters to show on the line graph;

displaying, by a display, the graph window including the time-based indicator with the first time segment and the second time segment and the line graph showing the at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters, but not the other vehicle data parameters of the received vehicle data parameters prior to receiving the at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters;

determining, by the at least one processor, the other vehicle data parameters include a first instance of a particular vehicle data parameter that indicates occurrence of the vehicle operating condition and a time the at least one processor received the first instance of the particular vehicle data parameter with respect to a current time the at least one processor is receiving vehicle data parameters; and

displaying, by the display in proximity to the second time segment, a first condition indicator that indicates occurrence of the vehicle operating condition and the time the at least one processor received the first instance of the particular vehicle data parameter with respect to the current time the at least one processor is receiving vehicle data parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one processor, a selection of the first condition indicator; and

displaying, by the display in response to receiving the selection of the first condition indicator, a representation of at least a portion of the received data parameters including the first instance of the particular vehicle data parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, by the display, a second condition indicator that corresponds to a second instance of the particular vehicle data parameter that indicates occurrence of the vehicle operating condition,

wherein displaying the second condition indicator includes displaying the second condition indicator in proximity to the time-based indicator to indicate a time that corresponds to the at least one processor receiving the second instance of the particular vehicle data parameter,

wherein the first condition indicator indicates that the first instance of the particular vehicle data parameter exceeds an upper threshold corresponding to the particular vehicle data parameter or is less than a lower threshold corresponding to the particular vehicle data parameter, and

wherein the second condition indicator indicates that the second instance of the particular vehicle data parameter exceeds the upper threshold corresponding to the particular vehicle data parameter or is less than the lower threshold corresponding to the particular vehicle data parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the occurrence of the vehicle operating condition includes at least one of (i) a value of the particular vehicle data parameter being above an upper threshold value corresponding to the particular vehicle data parameter, or (ii) a value of the particular vehicle data parameter being below a lower threshold value corresponding to the particular vehicle data parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection of the vehicle operating condition includes receiving an identifier of a vehicle data parameter and at least one of (i) an upper threshold for a vehicle data parameter including the identifier of the vehicle data parameter, or (ii) a lower threshold for a vehicle data parameter including the identifier of the vehicle data parameter.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein the vehicle data parameters received by the at least one processor include multiple vehicle data parameters including the identifier of the vehicle data parameter,

the method further comprising:

displaying, by the display, at least one of (i) an upper threshold indicator that indicates the upper threshold, or (ii) a lower threshold indicator that indicates the lower threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

displaying, by the display, a representation of the first condition indicator in proximity to the at least one of (i) the upper threshold indicator, or (ii) the lower threshold indicator.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein one or more of the at least one of (i) the upper threshold for the vehicle data parameter including the identifier of the vehicle data parameter, or (ii) the lower threshold for the vehicle data parameter including the identifier of the vehicle data parameter is user configurable.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first instance of the particular vehicle data parameter includes a vehicle data parameter transmitted over a vehicle serial data bus.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first instance of the particular vehicle data parameter includes at least one of a voltage measurement, an amperage measurement, a capacitive measurement, an inductance measurement, or a resistance measurement.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the vehicle data parameters comprises receiving vehicle data messages from a vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the vehicle data parameters comprises receiving an electrical signal via an input lead connected to a vehicle.

13. A system comprising:

at least one processor;

a display;

a user interface input element; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable program instructions executable by the at least processor to;

(i) receive a selection of a detectable vehicle operating condition,

(ii) receive vehicle data parameters associated with a particular parameter identifier,

(iii) determine a graph view for displaying the vehicle data parameters based on an order of occurrence of the vehicle data parameters is selected,

wherein the graph view comprises a graph window including a line graph and a time-based indicator with a first time segment and a second time segment,

wherein the first time segment corresponds to an amount of time including a current time during which the at least one processor received at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters, and

wherein the second time segment corresponds to an amount of time during which the at least one processor received other vehicle data parameters of the received vehicle data prior to receiving the at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters,

(iv) determine the at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters to show on the line graph,

(v) cause the display to display the graph window including the time-based indicator with the first time segment and the second time segment and the line graph showing the at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters, but not the other vehicle data parameters of the received vehicle data parameters prior to receiving the at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters,

(vi) determine the other vehicle data parameters include a first instance of a particular vehicle data parameter that indicates occurrence of the vehicle operating condition and a time the at least one processor received the first instance of the particular vehicle data parameter with respect to a current time the at least one processor is receiving vehicle data parameters, and

(vii) display, by the display in proximity to the second time segment, a first condition indicator that indicates occurrence of the vehicle operating condition and the time the at least one processor received the first instance of the particular vehicle data parameter with respect to the current time the at least one processor is receiving vehicle data parameters.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the user interface input element includes a data link connector (DLC) connector communicatively connectable to a DLC in a vehicle to receive the vehicle data parameters associated with the particular parameter identifier and to provide to the at least one processor or the non-transitory computer-readable medium the vehicle data parameters received by the DLC connector.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the user interface input element includes an input signal processing element that converts input signals obtained by input leads connected to the input signal processing element into the received vehicle data parameters.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the input signal processing element comprises an analog-to-digital converter.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the occurrence of the vehicle operating condition includes at least one of (i) a value of the particular vehicle data parameter being above an upper threshold value corresponding to the particular vehicle data parameter, or (ii) a value of the particular vehicle data parameter being below a lower threshold value corresponding to the particular vehicle data parameter.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein receiving the selection of the vehicle operating condition includes receiving an identifier of a vehicle data parameter and at least one of (i) an upper threshold for a vehicle data parameter including the identifier of the vehicle data parameter, or (ii) a lower threshold for a vehicle data parameter including the identifier of the vehicle data parameter.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the particular vehicle data parameter includes at least one of a voltage measurement, an amperage measurement, a capacitive measurement, an inductance measurement, or a resistance measurement.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein receiving the vehicle data parameters comprises receiving vehicle data messages from a vehicle.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein receiving the vehicle data parameters comprises receiving an electrical signal via an input lead connected to a vehicle.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause a set of functions to be performed, the set of functions comprising:

receiving, by the at least one processor, a selection of a vehicle operating condition detectable by the at least one processor;

receiving, by the at least one processor, vehicle data parameters associated with a particular parameter identifier;

determining, by the at least one processor, a graph view for displaying the vehicle data parameters based on an order of occurrence of the vehicle data parameters is selected,

wherein the graph view comprises a graph window including a line graph and a time-based indicator with a first time segment and a second time segment,

wherein the first time segment corresponds to an amount of time including a current time during which the at least one processor received at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters, and

wherein the second time segment corresponds to an amount of time during which the at least one processor received other vehicle data parameters of the received vehicle data parameters prior to receiving the at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters;

determining, by the at least one processor, the at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters to show on the line graph;

displaying, by a display, the graph window including the time-based indicator with the first time segment and the second time segment and the line graph showing the at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters, but not the other vehicle data parameters of the received vehicle data parameters prior to receiving the at least a portion of the vehicle data parameters;

determining, by the at least one processor the other vehicle data parameters include a first instance of a particular vehicle data parameter that indicates occurrence of the vehicle operating condition and a time the at least one processor received the first instance of the particular vehicle data parameter with respect to a current time the at least one processor is receiving vehicle data parameters; and

displaying, by a display in proximity to the second time segment, a first condition indicator that indicates occurrence of the vehicle operating condition and the time the at least one processor received the first instance of the particular vehicle data parameter with respect to the current time the at least one processor is receiving vehicle data parameters.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the set of functions further comprises:

displaying, by the display, a second condition indicator that corresponds to a second instance of the particular vehicle data parameter that indicates occurrence of the vehicle operating condition,

wherein displaying the second condition indicator includes displaying the second condition indicator in proximity to the time-based indicator to indicate, from among a plurality of times, a time that corresponds to the at least one processor receiving the second instance of the particular vehicle data parameter,

wherein the first condition indicator indicates that the first instance of the particular vehicle data parameter exceeds an upper threshold corresponding to the particular vehicle data parameter or is less than a lower threshold corresponding to the particular vehicle data parameter, and

wherein the second condition indicator indicates that the second instance of the particular vehicle data parameter exceeds the upper threshold corresponding to the particular vehicle data parameter or is less than the lower threshold corresponding to the particular vehicle data parameter.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein receiving the vehicle data parameters comprises receiving vehicle data messages from a vehicle.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein receiving the vehicle data parameters comprises receiving an electrical signal via an input lead connected to a vehicle.