Automotive scan tool with enhanced audio, video and voice recognition functionality

• US 8,452,478 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Service Solutions US LLC
• Original Assignee: Service Solutions US LLC
• Inventors: Bertosa, Thomas, Namaky, Hamid, Somos, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US13/361,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20120130583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.1, 701/31.4, 701/32.7, 701/32.8, 701/33.2, 701/34.4
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• 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 tool for a vehicle, includes a signal translator communicating with the vehicle in at least one protocol, an input unit for inputting information, a processor controlling a software according to the input information from the input unit and communication with the vehicle from the signal translator, the processor controlling a reception of diagnostic data of the vehicle through the signal translator, an input and output unit receiving and transmitting audio and video signals controlled by the processor, a memory storing a software controlled by the processor, the memory storing audio and video information, and transferring the audio and video information through the input and output unit; and a display unit displaying information according to the received and processed audio and video signals stored in the memory.

Claims

1. A diagnostic tool for diagnosing a vehicle, comprising:

an audio input interface configured to receive a verbal instruction to perform a function on the diagnostic tool;

a connector interface configured to allow the diagnostic tool to communicate with the vehicle;

a signal translator configured to condition data received through the connector interface by converting the data from an input format to a predetermined format; and

a processor configured to process the conditioned data in the predetermined format and provide information to a user in a voice simulated format.

2. The diagnostic tool according to claim 1, wherein the function is to perform a diagnostic task on the vehicle and the information is diagnostic information.

3. The diagnostic tool according to claim 1, wherein the information is instruction to the user to perform a task in order to diagnose the vehicle.

4. The diagnostic tool according to claim 1, wherein the information is a notification that an event has occurred.

5. The diagnostic tool according to claim 4, wherein the event is a name of an inspection and maintenance monitor that is ready when the maintenance monitor'"'"'s required driving condition is completed.

6. The diagnostic tool according to claim 1, further comprising an audio output configured to connect the diagnostic tool to a vehicle entertainment system.

7. The diagnostic tool according to claim 1, wherein the data received through the connector interface includes diagnostic trouble codes.

8. The diagnostic tool according to claim 7, wherein each of the diagnostic trouble codes has a different voice simulated format.

9. A diagnostic tool for diagnosing a vehicle, comprising:

means for receiving a verbal instruction to perform a function on the diagnostic tool;

means for interfacing the diagnostic tool with the vehicle;

means for conditioning data received through the means for interfacing by converting the data from an input format to a predetermined format; and

means for processing the conditioned data in the predetermined format and provide information to a user in a voice simulated format.

10. The diagnostic tool according to claim 9, wherein the function is to perform a diagnostic task on the vehicle and the information is diagnostic information.

11. The diagnostic tool according to claim 9, wherein the information is instructions to the user to perform a task in order to diagnose the vehicle.

12. The diagnostic tool according to claim 9, wherein the information is a notification that an event has occurred.

13. The diagnostic tool according to claim 12, wherein the event is a name of an inspection and maintenance monitor that is ready when the maintenance monitor'"'"'s required driving condition is completed.

14. The diagnostic tool according to claim 9, further comprising an audio output configured to connect the diagnostic tool to a vehicle entertainment system.

15. The diagnostic tool according to claim 9, wherein the data received through the means for interfacing includes diagnostic trouble codes.

16. The diagnostic tool according to claim 15, wherein each of the diagnostic trouble codes has a different voice simulated format.

17. A method of diagnosing a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a verbal instruction from a user through an audio input interface of a diagnostic tool to perform a diagnostic task on the vehicle;

transmitting through a connector interface of the diagnostic tool an instruction from the diagnostic tool to the vehicle to execute the diagnostic task;

receiving data resulting from the diagnostic task from the vehicle in an input format;

conditioning the data received from the vehicle with a signal translator of the diagnostic tool by converting the data from the input format to a predetermined format;

processing with a processor the conditioned data in the predetermined foul at; and

outputting diagnostic information to the user in a voice simulated format.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

outputting the diagnostic information to the user in a visual format on a display of the diagnostic tool.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting the diagnostic information in the voice simulated format through a vehicle entertainment system.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the data received from the vehicle includes diagnostic trouble codes, and each of the diagnostic trouble codes is associated with its own voice simulated format.