POWER BALANCING FOR VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS

• US 20130018542A1
• Filed: 09/21/2012
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation), Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Liebl, Troy, Chinnadurai, Manokar, McGee, Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 9,031,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A power balancing system includes a vehicle communication device connected to a data link connector of a vehicle, and a scan tool connected to the vehicle communication device, the scan tool including a handset and a vehicle connector interface (VCI), wherein power can be received from one or more of an external power source being external from the VCI, the vehicle, and an internal power supply of the scan tool, and wherein the system balances the received power.

Claims

1. A method of balancing power, the method comprising:

receiving power from one or more of;

an external power source being external from a vehicle connector interface,

a vehicle, and

an internal power supply of a scan tool connected to a vehicle communication device connected to a data link connector of the vehicle,

the scan tool comprising;

a handset; and

a vehicle connector interface (VCI), and

balancing the received power.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein balancing the power comprises:

selecting one or more of the most appropriate power sources for a given situation;

prioritizing the use of power from a power input node in the scan tool; and

switching to an alternative power source if power at the power input node is interrupted.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting one or more of the most appropriate power sources comprises selecting a power source in good working order.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle connector interface is configured to provide power to one or more of the vehicle and the handset.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

monitoring a current being drawn from the vehicle by the scan tool; and

if the current being drawn exceeds a predetermined amount, cutting power to the scan tool.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, when the power is cut to the scan tool, the scan tool is configured to receive power from the handset.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising, after a predetermined period of time, enabling power to be supplied from the vehicle to the scan tool.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein, when the power is received from the external power source, one or more of the vehicle and the handset are charged.

9. A method of balancing power, the method comprising:

receiving power from one or more of;

an external power source being external from a vehicle connector interface (VCI),

a vehicle, and

an internal power supply of a scan tool configured to be connected to a vehicle communication device configured to be connected to a data link connector of the vehicle, the scan tool comprising;

a handset; and

a vehicle connector interface, and

balancing the received power received from one or more of the external power source, the vehicle, and the internal power supply of the scan tool.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein balancing the power comprises:

selecting one or more of the most appropriate power sources for a given situation;

prioritizing the use of power from a power input node in the scan tool; and

switching to an alternative power source if power at the power input node is interrupted.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein selecting one or more of the most appropriate power sources comprises selecting a power source in good working order.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle connector interface is configured to provide power to one or more of the vehicle and the handset.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

monitoring a current being drawn from the vehicle by the scan tool; and

if the current being drawn exceeds a predetermined amount, cutting power to the scan tool.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, when the power is cut to the scan tool, the scan tool receives power from the handset.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising, after a predetermined period of time, enabling power to be supplied from the vehicle to the scan tool.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein, when the power is received from the external power source, one or more of the vehicle and the handset are charged.