Wireless system for diagnosing examination and programming of vehicular control systems and method therefor

• US 5,922,037 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Future Link Systems, LLC (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Potts, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DONNELLY, ARTHUR D
• Application Number:
  US08/719,844
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/24, 701/29, 701/33, 701/35, 73/117.3, 340/436, 340/430
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems. The wireless interface uses a vehicle processor which is coupled to at least one of a plurality of vehicular control systems. The vehicle processor is used for monitoring and controlling the different vehicular control systems located in the vehicle. A first transceiver is coupled to the vehicle processor for sending and receiving programming signals and operating signals to and from the vehicle processor. A second transceiver is provided for sending the programming signals to the first transceiver and for receiving the operating signals sent from the first transceiver. A test unit processor is coupled to the second transceiver for supplying the programming signals sent to the vehicle processor via the second transceiver and the first transceiver and for receiving the operating signals sent from the vehicle processor via the first transceiver and the second transceiver to monitor operation of the different vehicular control systems in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems comprising, in combination:

vehicle processor means coupled to at least one of a plurality of said vehicular control systems for monitoring and controlling said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems;

first transceiver means coupled to said vehicle processor means for receiving programming signals and for sending said programming signals to said vehicle processor means to program said vehicle processor means and for receiving operating signals from said vehicle processor means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems;

second transceiver means for sending said programming signals to said first transceiver means and for receiving said operating signals sent from said first transceiver means; and

test unit processor means coupled to said second transceiver means for sending said programming signals to said vehicle processor means through said second transceiver means and said first transceiver means to program and test said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for receiving said operating signals sent from said vehicle processor means through said first transceiver means and said second transceiver means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems;

wherein said first transceiver means comprises;

first interface means coupled to said vehicle processor means for receiving said operating signals sent from said vehicle processor means and for encoding said operating signals as operating infrared pulses for said test unit processor means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for decoding programming infrared pulses sent from said second transceiver means to program said vehicle processor means wherein said first interface means is a Fast Infrared (FIR) interface which is IrDA version 1.2 compliant; and

first infrared transceiver module means coupled to said first interface means for sending said operating infrared pulses sent from said first interface means to said second transceiver means for said test unit processor means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for receiving said programming infrared pulses sent from said second transceiver means to program said vehicle processor means.

2. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second transceiver means comprises:

second interface means coupled to said test unit processor means for receiving said programming signals from said test unit processor and for encoding said programming signals as said programming infrared pulses for programming said vehicle unit processor means and for decoding said operating infrared pulses sent from said first transceiver means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems; and

second infrared transceiver module means coupled to said second interface means for sending said programming infrared pulses sent from said second interface means to said first transceiver means to program said vehicle processor means and for receiving said operating infrared pulses sent from said first transceiver means for said test unit processor means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems.

3. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems in accordance with claim 2 wherein said second interface means is a Fast Infrared (FIR) interface which is IrDA version 1.2 compliant.

4. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vehicle processor means is coupled to a plurality of said vehicular control systems for monitoring and controlling said plurality of said vehicular control systems.

5. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems in accordance with claim 4 wherein said first transceiver means coupled to said vehicle processor means for sending signals to and receiving signals from said vehicle processor means to monitor and program said plurality of said vehicular control systems.

6. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems in accordance with claim 5 wherein said test unit processor means coupled to said second transceiver means for sending signals to said vehicle processor means via said first transceiver means and said second transceiver means to program and test said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for receiving signals from said vehicle processor means via said first transceiver means and said second transceiver means to monitor operation of said plurality of said vehicular control systems.

7. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems comprising, in combination:

vehicle processor means coupled to at least one of a plurality of said vehicular control systems for monitoring and controlling said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems;

first transceiver means coupled to said vehicle processor means for receiving programming signals and for sending said programming signals to said vehicle processor means to program said vehicle processor means and for receiving operating signals from said vehicle processor means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems;

second transceiver means for sending said programming signals to said first transceiver means and for receiving said operating signals sent from said first transceiver means;

test unit processor means coupled to said second transceiver means for sending said programming signals to said vehicle processor means through said second transceiver means and said first transceiver means to program and test said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for receiving said operating signals sent from said vehicle processor means through said first transceiver means and said second transceiver means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems;

wherein said first transceiver means comprises;

first interface means coupled to said vehicle processor means for receiving said operating signals sent from said vehicle processor means and for encoding said operating signals as operating infrared pulses for said test unit processor means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for decoding programming infrared pulses sent from said second transceiver means to program said vehicle processor means, said first interface means being a Fast Infrared (FIR) interface which is IrDA version 1.2 compliant; and

first infrared transceiver module means coupled to said first interface means for sending said operating infrared pulses sent from said first interface means to said second transceiver means for said test unit processor means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for receiving said programming infrared pulses sent from said second transceiver means to program said vehicle processor means; and

wherein said second transceiver means comprises;

second interface means coupled to said test unit processor means for receiving said programming signals from said test unit processor and for encoding said programming signals as said programming infrared pulses for programming said vehicle unit processor means and for decoding said operating infrared pulses sent from said first transceiver means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems; and

second infrared transceiver module means coupled to said second interface means for sending said programming infrared pulses sent from said second interface means to said first transceiver means to program said vehicle processor means and for receiving said operating infrared pulses sent from said first transceiver means for said test unit processor means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems.

8. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems in accordance with claim 7 wherein said second interface means is a Fast Infrared (FIR) interface which is IrDA version 1.2 compliant.

9. A method of providing a wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems comprising the steps of:

providing vehicle processor means coupled to at least one of a plurality of said vehicular control systems for monitoring and controlling said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems;

providing first transceiver means coupled to said vehicle processor means for receiving programming signals and for sending said programming signals to said vehicle processor means to program said vehicle processor means and for receiving operating signals from said vehicle processor means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems;

providing second transceiver means for sending said programming signals to said first transceiver means and for receiving said operating signals sent from said first transceiver means; and

providing test unit processor means coupled to said second transceiver means for sending said programming signals to said vehicle processor means through said second transceiver means and said first transceiver means to program and test said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for receiving said operating signals sent from said vehicle processor means through said first transceiver means and said second transceiver means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems;

said step of providing said first transceiver means further comprises the steps of;

providing first interface means coupled to said vehicle processor means for receiving said operating signals sent from said vehicle processor means and for encoding said operating signals as operating infrared pulses for said test unit processor means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for decoding programming infrared pulses sent from said second transceiver means to program said vehicle processor means, wherein said first interface means is a Fast Infrared (FIR) interface which is IrDA version 1.2 compliant; and

providing first infrared transceiver module means coupled to said first interface means for sending said operating infrared pulses sent from said first interface means to said second transceiver means for said test unit processor means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for receiving said programming infrared pulses sent from said second transceiver means to program said vehicle processor means.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of providing second transceiver means further comprises the steps of:

providing second interface means coupled to said test unit processor means for receiving said programming signals from said test unit processor and for encoding said programming signals as said programming infrared pulses for programming said vehicle unit processor means and for decoding said operating infrared pulses sent from said first transceiver means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems; and

providing second infrared transceiver module means coupled to said second interface means for sending said programming infrared pulses sent from said second interface means to said first transceiver means to program said vehicle processor means and for receiving said operating infrared pulses sent from said first transceiver means for said test unit processor means to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of providing second interface means further comprises the step of providing a Fast Infrared (FIR) interface which is IrDA version 1.2 compliant.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of providing vehicle processor means further comprises the step of providing vehicle processor means which are coupled to a plurality of said vehicular control systems for monitoring and controlling said plurality of said vehicular control systems.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of providing first transceiver means further comprises the step of providing first transceiver means coupled to said vehicle processor means for sending signals to and receiving signals from said vehicle processor means to monitor and program said plurality of said vehicular control systems.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of providing test unit processor means further comprises the step of providing test unit processor means coupled to said second transceiver means for sending signals to said vehicle processor means via said first transceiver means and said second transceiver means to program and test said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for receiving signals from said vehicle processor means via said first transceiver means and said second transceiver means to monitor operation of said plurality of said vehicular control systems.

15. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems comprising, in combination:

a vehicle processor coupled to at least one of a plurality of said vehicular control systems for monitoring and controlling said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems;

a first transceiver coupled to said vehicle processor for receiving programming signals and for sending said programming signals to said vehicle processor to program said vehicle processor and for receiving operating signals from said vehicle processor to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems;

a second transceiver for sending said programming signals to said first transceiver and for receiving said operating signals sent from said first transceiver; and

a test unit processor coupled to said second transceiver for sending said programming signals to said vehicle processor through said second transceiver and said first transceiver to program and test said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for receiving said operating signals sent from said vehicle processor through said first transceiver and said second transceiver to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems;

wherein said first transceiver comprises;

a first interface coupled to said vehicle processor for receiving said operating signals sent from said vehicle processor and for encoding said operating signals as operating infrared pulses for said test unit processor to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for decoding programming infrared pulses sent from said second transceiver to program said vehicle processor, said first interface being a Fast Infrared (FIR) interface which is IrDA version 1.2 compliant; and

first infrared transceiver module coupled to said first interface for sending said operating infrared pulses sent from said first interface to said second transceiver for said test unit processor to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for receiving said programming infrared pulses sent from said second transceiver to program said vehicle processor.

16. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems in accordance with claim 15 wherein said second transceiver comprises:

a second interface coupled to said test unit processor for receiving said programming signals from said test unit processor and for encoding said programming signals as said programming infrared pulses for programming said vehicle unit processor and for decoding said operating infrared pulses sent from said first transceiver to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems; and

a second infrared transceiver module coupled to said second interface for sending said programming infrared pulses sent from said second interface to said first transceiver to program said vehicle processor and for receiving said operating infrared pulses sent from said first transceiver for said test unit processor to monitor operation of said at least one of said plurality of said vehicular control systems.

17. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems in accordance with claim 16 wherein said second interface is a Fast Infrared (FIR) interface which is IrDA version 1.2 compliant.

18. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems in accordance with claim 15 wherein said vehicle processor is coupled to a plurality of said vehicular control systems for monitoring and controlling said plurality of said vehicular control systems.

19. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems in accordance with claim 18 wherein said first transceiver coupled to said vehicle processor for sending signals to and receiving signals from said vehicle processor to monitor and program said plurality of said vehicular control systems.

20. A wireless interface for diagnostic examination and programming of vehicular control systems in accordance with claim 19 wherein said test unit processor coupled to said second transceiver for sending signals to said vehicle processor via said first transceiver and said second transceiver to program and test said plurality of said vehicular control systems and for receiving signals from said vehicle processor via said first transceiver and said second transceiver to monitor operation of said plurality of said vehicular control systems.