UNIVERSAL VEHICLE INPUT/OUTPUT TRANSCEIVER AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF

• US 20090292414A1
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Le Brun, Marco, Raichle, Kurt, Chinnadurai, Manokar, McGee, Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• 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 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A vehicular diagnostic tool configured to interface with a plurality of vehicular computing systems that each utilize a different communications protocol. The tool includes a transceiver that itself includes a voltage threshold controller and a current threshold controller. Also, a method of using a single vehicular diagnostic tool to communicate with a plurality of vehicular computing systems that each utilize a different communications protocol.

Claims

1. A vehicular diagnostic tool, comprising:

an interface configured to be electronically connected to a vehicular computing system; and

a transceiver electronically connected to the interface, the transceiver comprising;

a voltage threshold controller.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises:

a current threshold controller electronically connected to the voltage threshold controller.

3. The tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a field programmable gate array electronically connected to the transceiver.

4. The tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a transistor electronically connected to the voltage threshold controller.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein the transistor comprises a field effect transistor.

6. The tool of claim 1, further comprising:

an amplifier electronically connected to the voltage threshold controller.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the voltage threshold controller comprises:

a plurality of switches electronically connected to a plurality of voltage levels.

8. The tool of claim 2, wherein the current threshold controller comprises:

a plurality of switches electronically connected to a plurality of impedances.

9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises:

a plurality of switches electronically connected to a plurality of reference voltages.

10. A method of diagnosing a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a vehicular electronic system using a diagnostic tool;

adjusting a voltage threshold within the diagnostic tool; and

processing the first signal based upon the adjusted voltage threshold.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

associating the first signal with a communications protocol.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

setting the voltage threshold based on the protocol.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting step is implemented using software.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

adjusting a current threshold within the diagnostic tool.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the adjusting the current threshold step is implemented using software.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting step comprises adjusting the voltage threshold to one of approximately 0.0 volts, approximately 2.5 volts, approximately 3.3 volts, approximately 5.0 volts, approximately 9.0 volts and approximately 12.0 volts.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

adjusting a reference voltage within the diagnostic tool.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

distinguishing between the first signal and a second signal from another system based upon a bit pattern included in the first signal.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting step is performed prior to the receiving step.

20. A vehicular diagnostic tool, comprising:

means for receiving a first signal from a vehicular electronic system;

means for adjusting a voltage threshold of the means for receiving, wherein the means for adjusting is electronically connected to the means for receiving; and

means for processing the first signal using the adjusted voltage

threshold, wherein the means for processing is electronically connected to the means for receiving.

21. The tool of claim 20, further comprising:

means for transmitting a second signal to the vehicular electronic system, wherein the means for transmitting is electronically connected to the means for processing and wherein the means for adjusting the voltage threshold is also configured to adjust a voltage threshold of the means for transmitting.