Docked/undocked vehicle communication interface module

• US 8,340,861 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Lipscomb, Edward, Chinnadurai, Manokar, Liebl, Troy
• Primary Examiner(s): EL CHANTI, HUSSEIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/537,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20100042288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/33, 701/35, 701/29.1, 701/33.2
• US Class Current: 701/33.2
• 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 diagnostic system that includes a vehicle communication interface (VCI) and a diagnostic tool is provided. When the VCI and the diagnostic tool are coupled together through a wired connection, the VCI and the diagnostic tool can communicate with each other and provide power, as needed, to each other. The VCI and the diagnostic tool can also communicate with each other wirelessly when the are not directly coupled to each other. The VCI and the diagnostic tool are configured so that communication is uninterrupted when going from the wired connection to the wireless connection and vice versa.

Claims

1. A portable diagnostic tool system for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle communication interface (VCI) configured to communicate with a data link connector on the vehicle and to receive diagnostic data from the vehicle; and

a diagnostic tool configured to receive diagnostic data from the VCI via a wired or a wireless connection, wherein when using the wired connection the diagnostic tool and the VCI are configured to provide power to each other and communicate with each other through the wired connection, wherein when the diagnostic tool and the VCI are disconnected from the wired connection, the diagnostic tool and the VCI are configured to communicate with each other using the wireless connection, the diagnostic tool being further configured to seamlessly transition from the wired connection to the wireless connection without having to reboot the diagnostic tool or the VCI.

2. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the VCI receives power from a vehicle'"'"'s battery and provides the power to the wired connected scan tool.

3. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein when the diagnostic tool and the VCI are connected wirelessly, the scan tool receives power from an electrical outlet.

4. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein when the diagnostic tool and the VCI are connected wirelessly, the scan tool receives power from a vehicle'"'"'s battery.

5. The diagnostic system of claim 3, wherein the scan tool balances the power from the VCI and the electrical outlet so as to not drain the VCI'"'"'s power source.

6. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein when the diagnostic tool and the VCI are firstly communicating wirelessly, then when the VCI is coupled with the diagnostic tool through the wired connection, the diagnostic tool and the VCI communicates secondly with each other through the wired connection without having to reboot the diagnostic tool or the VCI.

7. The diagnostic system of claim 2 further comprising a power controller switch that in a first position allows the diagnostic tool to draw power from the vehicle'"'"'s battery and in a second position does not allow the diagnostic tool to draw power from the vehicle'"'"'s battery.

8. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the VCI is received within a VCI connection portion of the diagnostic tool so that it is transported with the diagnostic tool.

9. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the wired connection is through a VCI connection portion on the diagnostic tool, the VCI connection portion includes a current sensing circuit to sense an amount of current being drawn from a vehicle'"'"'s battery by the diagnostic tool.

10. The diagnostic system of claim 9 further comprising a power controller switch that in a first position allows the diagnostic tool to draw power from the vehicle'"'"'s battery and in a second position does not allow the diagnostic tool to draw power from the vehicle'"'"'s battery when the current sensing circuit senses that the current being drawn exceeds a predetermined amount.

11. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein when the VCI and diagnostic tool'"'"'s wired connection is switched to the wireless connection, the communication between the VCI and diagnostic tool remains uninterrupted.

12. The diagnostic system of claim 6, wherein when the VCI and diagnostic'"'"'s wireless connection is switched to the wired connection, the communication between the VCI and diagnostic tool remains uninterrupted.

13. A vehicle communication interface (VCI) that links with a vehicle to collect vehicle diagnostic data, comprising:

a processor that processes the vehicle diagnostic data;

a signal translator that translates a vehicle communication protocol;

a memory that stores the vehicle diagnostic data;

a wireless communication interface configured to allow wireless communication with a diagnostic tool;

a first connector that connects to a data link connector on the vehicle to receive the vehicle diagnostic data; and

a second connector that allows the VCI to connect to the diagnostic tool, wherein when the VCI is connected to and communicating with the diagnostic tool via the second connector and then disconnected from diagnostic tool, the VCI will continue to communicate with the diagnostic tool via a wireless connection without rebooting the diagnostic tool or the VCI.

14. The vehicle communication interface of claim 13 further receives power transmitted through an electric node connected to a battery, a reverse current protection diode, and a current limiting resistor.

15. The vehicle communication interface of claim 13 further comprising a complex programmable logic device configured to communicate with the processor and a current sensing circuit on the diagnostic tool, wherein the logic device monitors the amount of current being drawn by the diagnostic tool.

16. The vehicle communication interface of claim 15, wherein the complex programmable logic device cuts off the current being drawn by the diagnostic tool from the vehicle'"'"'s battery when the current being drawn exceeds a predetermined level.

17. The vehicle communication interface of claim 13, wherein when the VCI and diagnostic tool'"'"'s wired connection is switched to the wireless connection, the communication between the VCI and diagnostic tool remains uninterrupted.

18. The vehicle communication interface of claim 13, wherein when the diagnostic tool and the VCI are firstly communicating wirelessly, then when the VCI is coupled with the diagnostic tool through the wired connection, the diagnostic tool and the VCI communicate secondly with each other through the wired connection without having to reboot the diagnostic tool or the VCI.

19. The vehicle communication interface of claim 18, wherein when the VCI and diagnostic'"'"'s wireless connection is switched to the wired connection, the communication between the VCI and diagnostic tool remains uninterrupted.

20. A method of communicating between a vehicle communication interface (VCI) and a vehicle diagnostic tool, comprising the steps of:

connecting the VCI with the vehicle diagnostic tool through a VCI connector interface on the vehicle diagnostic tool;

receiving vehicle diagnostic data from the vehicle by the VCI;

communicating the vehicle diagnostic data from the VCI to the vehicle diagnostic tool;

providing power as needed from the VCI to the vehicle diagnostic tool and vice versa; and

maintaining uninterrupted communication via a wireless connection between the VCI and the scan tool when the VCI is disconnected from the vehicle diagnostic tool, wherein the diagnostic tool or the VCI do not have to reboot during switching from the wired to wireless connection.

21. The method of communicating of claim 20 further comprising the step of maintaining uninterrupted wired communication between the VCI and scan tool when the VCI is connected back to the diagnostic tool.