Automatically identifying Volvo communication protocols method and apparatus

• US 20080071439A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Bertosa, Thomas, Gessner, Michael, Somos, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 8,065,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A diagnostic tool and method are provided that can determine the communication protocol being used by diagnostic systems in a vehicle. The tool can automatically communicate with onboard computer of the diagnostic system in a first communication protocol and if unsuccessful, then can communicate with the diagnostic system in a second communication protocol. The tool can also determine the Baud rate of the communication protocol being used by the onboard computer.

Claims

1. A diagnostic tool for identifying a vehicle'"'"'s protocol, comprising:

a processor that operates a software that can automatically identify the vehicle'"'"'s protocol used by an electronic control unit of a diagnostic system in a vehicle under test and the software used by the electronic control unit;

a memory that stores the software used by the processor;

a connector interface that connects the tool to a data link connector in the vehicle;

a signal translator that allows the tool to communicate with the vehicle in at least one communication protocol;

an input device for inputting information into the tool;

a display that displays information to the user; and

a housing surrounding the processor, the memory, the connector interface, the signal translator, the input device and the display.

2. The diagnostic tool of claim 1 further comprising a database containing information regarding the electronic control units and their associated software in the vehicle.

3. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine a part number for the electronic control unit for a system selected by the user and compares the part number to a database of electronic control units.

4. A method for identifying a vehicle'"'"'s protocol, comprising:

coupling a diagnostic tool to the vehicle;

selecting at least one diagnostic system in the vehicle to query via a menu presented by the diagnostic tool;

automatically communicating with an electronic control unit with the diagnostic tool using a first communication protocol;

automatically communicating with a second communication protocol with the diagnostic tool when communicating with the first communication protocol is unsuccessful;

determining the electronic control unit'"'"'s communication protocol; and

identifying the electronic control unit and the electronic control unit'"'"'s software from a database.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising requesting a part number of the electronic control unit and matching the part number with a database.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising determining the Baud rate of the communication protocol when communicating with the first communication protocol or the second communication protocol is successful.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the first communication protocol is ISO 9141 and the second communication protocol is CAN.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein if the diagnostic tool can not successfully match the part number in the database, then the diagnostic tool presents the part number to the user so the user can select the electronic control unit manually from the database.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein when the first communication protocol is successful, the tool automatically looks up the electronic control unit in a database and attempts to communicate with the electronic control unit by sending a communication signal to determine the electronic control unit'"'"'s Baud rate.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein if the electronic control unit responds to the communication signal, then the tool request the part number of the electronic control unit.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein if the electronic control unit does not respond to the communication signal, the tool determines the proper communication protocol is CAN.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the Baud rate can be determined by communicating on pins 3 and 11 or 6 and 14 of the data link connector.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein if the first communication is successful, the communication protocol used by the vehicle onboard computer can be Keyword 2000.

14. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium having associated data, wherein the data, when accessed, results in a machine performing:

providing at least one diagnostic system in a vehicle to query via a menu presented by a diagnostic tool;

automatically communicating with a vehicle onboard computer with the diagnostic tool using a first communication protocol after receiving the selection of the diagnostic system;

automatically communicating with a second communication protocol with the diagnostic tool when communicating with the first communication protocol is unsuccessful;

determining the vehicle onboard computer'"'"'s communication protocol; and

identifying the vehicle onboard computer and the vehicle onboard computer'"'"'s software from a database.

15. The article of claim 14, wherein the first communication protocol is ISO 9141 and the second communication protocol is CAN.

16. The article of claim 14, wherein if the first communication is not successful, then the communication protocol used by the vehicle onboard computer is CAN.

17. The article of claim 14, wherein if the first communication is successful, the communication protocol used by the vehicle onboard computer can be Keyword 2000.

18. The article claim 14 further comprising requesting a part number of the vehicle onboard computer and matching the part number with a database.

19. The article of claim 14 further comprising determining a Baud rate of the communication protocol when communicating with the first communication protocol or the second communication protocol is successful.

20. The article of claim 18, wherein if the diagnostic tool can not successfully match the part number in the database, then the diagnostic tool presents the part number to the user so the user can select the vehicle onboard computer manually from the database.

21. The article of claim 14, wherein when the first communication protocol is successful, the tool automatically looks up the vehicle onboard computer in a database and attempts to communicate with the vehicle onboard computer by sending a communication signal.

22. The article of claim 21, wherein if the vehicle onboard computer responds to the communication signal, then the tool request the part number of the vehicle onboard computer.

23. The article of claim 21, wherein if the vehicle onboard computer does not respond to the communication signal, the tool determines the proper communication protocol is CAN.

24. A method for identifying a vehicle'"'"'s protocol, comprising:

coupling a diagnostic tool to the vehicle;

selecting at least one diagnostic system in the vehicle to query via a menu presented by the diagnostic tool;

automatically communicating with an electronic control unit with the diagnostic tool using ISO 9141;

automatically communicating with controller area network with the diagnostic tool when communicating with ISO 9141 is unsuccessful;

determining the electronic control unit'"'"'s communication protocol; and

identifying the electronic control unit and the electronic control unit'"'"'s software from a database.