Handheld computer based system for collection, display and analysis of engine/vehicle data

• US 20050090940A1
• Filed: 10/22/2003
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alex Knight, Andrew J. Pajakowski, Joe Beitzinger, Jon E. Krutulis, Lee Gene Shipman, Michael Kimball, Michael W. Phillips
• Original Assignee: Alex Knight, Andrew J. Pajakowski, Joe Beitzinger, Jon E. Krutulis, Lee Gene Shipman, Michael Kimball, Michael W. Phillips
• Inventors: Knight, Alex, Phillips, Michael W., Pajakowski, Andrew J., Krutulis, Jon E., Shipman, Lee Gene, Kimball, Michael, Beitzinger, Joe
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• 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: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A novel and improved engine data system for collecting, displaying and analyzing engine/vehicle data is provided. The system have advantageously results in a more effective, convenient, portable and low cost method of monitoring and processing vehicle data. The vehicle data system includes a handheld computer containing operating system software adapted to operate the handheld computer in accordance with a data protocol different from a vehicle bus protocol and a handheld microprocessor for executing the operating system software. The system importantly includes an adapter for creating a data pathway between a vehicle bus connector and an external data port provided on the handheld computer which is physically incompatible with the engine bus connector. The adapter includes a data port connector for connection with the external data port, a bus compatible connector for connection with the engine bus connector, a battery power supply separate from the power supply of the handheld compuer and an adapter microprocessor powered by the battery power supply and connected via the data pathway with the bus compatible connector for protocol conversion of the data received from the engine bus. An engine data adapter system for creating a data pathway between the engine data bus and the handheld computer while determining the start and stop of messages received from the data bus and adding message identifiers to the engine data so as to minimize the required data processing by the handheld computer.

Claims

1-71. -71. (canceled)

72. An vehicle data system for processing and displaying vehicle data transmitted through a bus connector of a data bus on an electronically controlled engine operating in accordance with a predetermined bus protocol, comprising

a. a handheld computer including a memory for storing operating system software adapted to operate said handheld computer in accordance with a data protocol which is different from the vehicle bus protocol, a handheld microprocessor for executing the operating system software and an external data port which is physically incompatible with the bus connector of the data bus and which is connected to said handheld microprocessor to allow the vehicle data when properly formatted to pass into said handheld computer;

and

b. an adapter for creating a data pathway between the bus connector and said external data port including

i. a data port connector for connection with said external data port of said handheld computer,

ii. a bus compatible connector for connection with the bus connector, and

iii. an adapter microprocessor connected via the data pathway with said bus compatible connector for protocol conversion of the data received from the vehicle bus for processing by said handheld computer and supplied to said handheld computer through said data port connector,

wherein the signal levels of the vehicle data appropriate for transmission by the vehicle bus and for processing by said handheld computer are respectively different and wherein said adapter includes level adjustment means for converting the signal levels of the vehicle data to the appropriate levels as the vehicle data passes between the vehicle bus and said handheld computer.