Method and apparatus for linking to a vehicle diagnostic system

• US 20060149437A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Somos, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• 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

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to an improved off-board tool for communicating with a vehicle diagnostic system using a CAN communications protocol. In one exemplary embodiment, an off-board tool having an executable program for linking the off-board tool to a vehicle diagnostic system is provided. The program includes code for transmitting a first message, having a first length from the off-board tool to the vehicle diagnostic system and code for determining whether an acknowledgment receipt of the first message is received by the off-board tool from the vehicle diagnostic system. The program further includes code for transmitting a second message, having a second length, from the off-board tool to the vehicle diagnostic system if the acknowledgement receipt of the first message is not received by the off-board tool. Another exemplary embodiment provides a method for linking an off-board tool to a vehicle diagnostic system. The method includes transmitting a first message, having a first ID length including a first predetermined number of bits, from the off-board tool to the vehicle diagnostic system and determining whether an acknowledgment receipt of the first message is received by the off-board tool from the vehicle diagnostic system. The method further includes transmitting a second message, having a second ID length including a second predetermined number of bits, from the off-board tool to the vehicle diagnostic system if the acknowledgement receipt of the first message is not received by the off-board tool.

Claims

1. An off-board tool having an executable program for linking the off-board tool to a vehicle diagnostic system, the executable program comprising:

code for transmitting a first message, having a first ID length from the off-board tool to the vehicle diagnostic system;

code for determining whether an acknowledgment receipt of the first message is received by the off-board tool from the vehicle diagnostic system; and

code for transmitting a second message, having a second ID length, from the off-board tool to the vehicle diagnostic system if the acknowledgement receipt of the first message is not received by the off-board tool.

2. The off-board tool having an executable program as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

code for setting the off-board tool in a first operating mode if the acknowledgment receipt of the first message is received by the off-board tool, the messages transmitted from the off-board tool having the first ID length when the off-board tool is operating in the first mode.

3. The off-board tool having an executable program as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

code for determining whether an acknowledgment receipt of the second message is received by the off-board tool from the vehicle diagnostic system.

4. The off-board tool having an executable program as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

code for setting the off-board tool in a second operating mode if the acknowledgment receipt of the second message is received by the off-board tool, the messages transmitted from the off-board tool having the second ID length when the off-board tool is operating in the second mode.

5. The off-board tool having an executable as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

code for determining a baud rate of the vehicle diagnostic system.

6. The off-board tool having an executable program as set forth in claim 5, wherein the executable program code for determining the baud rate comprises:

code for selecting an initial baud rate;

code for determining whether the vehicle diagnostic system is operating at the selected baud rate; and

code for selecting a subsequent baud rate if the vehicle diagnostic system is not operating at the selected baud rate.

7. The off-board tool having an executable program as set forth in claim 1, further wherein the first length comprises a first predetermined number of bits and the second length comprises a second predetermined number of bits.

8. The off-board tool having an executable program as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

the first predetermined number of ID bits is 11-bits; and

the second predetermined number of ID bits is 29-bits.

9. The off-board tool of claim 1, wherein the off-board tool is a hand-held portable unit.

16. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

transmitting the first message includes;

setting the length of the first message ID to 11-bits; and

transmitting the second message includes;

setting the length of the second message ID to 29-bits.

10. A method for linking an off-board tool to a vehicle diagnostic system comprising:

transmitting a first message, having a first ID length including a first predetermined number of bits, from the off-board tool to the vehicle diagnostic system;

determining whether an acknowledgment receipt of the first message is received by the off-board tool from the vehicle diagnostic system; and

transmitting a second message, having a second ID length including a second predetermined number of bits, from the off-board tool to the vehicle diagnostic system if the acknowledgement receipt of the first message is not received by the off-board tool.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

setting the off-board tool in a first operating mode if the acknowledgment receipt of the first message is received by the off-board tool, messages transmitted from the off-board tool having the first ID length when the off-board tool is operating in the first mode.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

determining whether an acknowledgment receipt of the second message is received by the off-board tool from the vehicle diagnostic system.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

setting the off-board tool in a second operating mode if the acknowledgment receipt of the second message is received by the off-board tool, messages transmitted from the off-board tool having the second ID length when the off-board tool is operating in the second mode.

14. The method as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

determining a baud rate of the vehicle diagnostic system.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the determining the baud rate includes:

selecting an initial baud rate;

determining whether the vehicle diagnostic system is operating at the selected baud rate; and

selecting a subsequent baud rate if the vehicle diagnostic system is not operating at the selected baud rate.

17. An off-board tool for communicating with a vehicle diagnostic system comprising:

a housing containing;

a processor in circuit communication with;

a memory;

an input; and

a display;

wherein the memory comprises bit set logic for communicating with the vehicle diagnostic system using a first ID bit length and waiting for a response from the vehicle diagnostic system and for communicating with the vehicle diagnostic system using a second ID bit length if there is no acknowledgement receipt to the communication using the first ID bit length.

18. The off-board tool of claim 17 wherein the bit set logic sets the off-board tool to communicate with the vehicle diagnostic system using a first ID bit length if the vehicle diagnostic system provides an acknowledgement receipt to a message request using the first ID bit length.

19. The off-board tool of claim 18 wherein the first ID bit length is 11-bits.

20. The off-board tool of claim 18 wherein the bit set logic sets the off-board tool to communicate with the vehicle diagnostic system using a second ID bit length if the vehicle diagnostic system does not provide an acknowledgement receipt to a message request using the first ID bit length.

21. The off-board tool of claim 20 wherein the second ID bit length is 29-bits.

22. The off-board tool of claim 17 further comprising baud rate selection logic.

23. The off-board tool of claim 22 wherein the baud rate selection logic selects a subsequent baud rate if the vehicle diagnostic system does not provide an acknowledgement receipt to a message request using the second ID bit length.