HAND HELD DATA RETRIEVAL DEVICE WITH FIXED SOLUTION CAPABILITY
First Claim
1. An automotive diagnostic system comprising:
- a diagnostic device including;
a connect/configure module for establishing a communication link between the diagnostic device and a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU);
a vehicle specification module operative to identify a vehicle under test in response to receipt of vehicle identifying information from the ECU;
a trouble code module for retrieving digital trouble codes (DTC'"'"'s) from the ECU; and
a data module for retrieving data from the ECU, the retrieved data being representative of the operation of a vehicle onboard device(s) associated with a DTC identified as the highest priority DTC;
a diagnostic database in communication with the diagnostic device, the database listing possible vehicle defect solutions indexed to DTC'"'"'s and the vehicle identifying information;
a digital signal processor disposable in communication with at least one of the diagnostic device and the diagnostic database and being operative to derive the highest priority DTC from analysis of data from the vehicle, and to regulate selection of a most likely vehicle defect solution associated with the vehicle identifying information and the highest priority DTC; and
a repair parts database in operative communication with the diagnostic database, the repair parts database having repair parts associated with the most likely solution, vehicle identifying information and universal part numbers.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A diagnostic scan tool is provided including a connect/configure module for establishing a communication link between the scan tool and a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU). A vehicle specification module operates to identify a vehicle under test in response to receipt of a vehicle identification number (VIN). A trouble code module retrieves digital trouble codes (DTCs) from the ECU. A freeze frame data module retrieves freeze frame data from the ECU, the retrieved freeze frame data being functionally associated with a highest priority DTC. A database lists possible vehicle defect solutions, indexed to the VIN and the DTCs. A digital signal processor is operative to derive the highest priority DTC from analysis of the retrieved freeze frame data. The digital signal processor further being operative to regulate selection of a most likely vehicle defect solution associated with the VIN and the highest priority DTC.
51 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An automotive diagnostic system comprising:
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a diagnostic device including; a connect/configure module for establishing a communication link between the diagnostic device and a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU); a vehicle specification module operative to identify a vehicle under test in response to receipt of vehicle identifying information from the ECU; a trouble code module for retrieving digital trouble codes (DTC'"'"'s) from the ECU; and a data module for retrieving data from the ECU, the retrieved data being representative of the operation of a vehicle onboard device(s) associated with a DTC identified as the highest priority DTC; a diagnostic database in communication with the diagnostic device, the database listing possible vehicle defect solutions indexed to DTC'"'"'s and the vehicle identifying information; a digital signal processor disposable in communication with at least one of the diagnostic device and the diagnostic database and being operative to derive the highest priority DTC from analysis of data from the vehicle, and to regulate selection of a most likely vehicle defect solution associated with the vehicle identifying information and the highest priority DTC; and a repair parts database in operative communication with the diagnostic database, the repair parts database having repair parts associated with the most likely solution, vehicle identifying information and universal part numbers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An automotive diagnostic system comprising:
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a data retrieving device including; a connect/configure module for establishing a communication link between the data retrieving device and a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU); a vehicle specification module operative to identify a vehicle under test in response to receipt of vehicle identifying information from the ECU; a trouble code module for retrieving digital trouble codes (DTC'"'"'s) from the ECU; a data module for retrieving data from the ECU, the retrieved data being representative of the operation of a vehicle onboard device(s) associated with a DTC identified as the highest priority DTC; and a diagnostic database in communication with the data retrieving device, the database listing possible vehicle defect solutions indexed to DTC'"'"'s; a digital signal processor disposable in communication with at least one of the data retrieving device and the diagnostic database and being operative to derive the highest priority DTC from analysis of the retrieved DTC'"'"'s and the retrieved data, and to regulate selection of a most likely vehicle defect solution associated with the vehicle identifying information and the highest priority DTC; and a repair parts database in operative communication with the diagnostic database and the digital signal processor, the repair parts database having repair parts associated the most likely vehicle defect solution, vehicle identification information and universal part numbers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of diagnosing vehicular defects with a data retrieving device comprising:
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placing the data retrieving device in communication with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU); receiving vehicle identifying information and operational data including digital trouble codes (DTC'"'"'s) from the ECU; deriving the highest priority DTC from analysis of the operational data; identifying a most likely solution based on the vehicle identifying information and the highest priority DTC; and identifying a repair part associated with the most likely solution, the identified repair part being associated with a universal part number; - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A diagnostic device comprising:
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a connect/configure module for establishing a communication link between the diagnostic device and a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU); a vehicle specification module operative to identify operating parameters of a vehicle under test in response to receipt of vehicle identifying information from the ECU; a trouble code module for retrieving digital trouble codes (DTC'"'"'s) from the ECU; a database disposed within the diagnostic device, the database including a listing of possible vehicle defect solutions indexed to DTC'"'"'s and the vehicle operating parameters; a data module for retrieving data from the ECU, the retrieved data being representative of the operation of a vehicle onboard device(s) associated with a DTC identified as the highest priority DTC; and a digital signal processor in electrical communication with the vehicle specification module, the database, the trouble code module and the data module, the digital signal processor being operative to derive the highest priority retrieved DTC from analysis of the retrieved data, and to regulate selection of a most likely vehicle defect solution associated with the vehicle operating parameters, and the highest priority retrieved DTC.
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Specification