Automotive diagnostic tool with projection display and virtual input

• US 8,509,986 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Inventors: Chen, Ieon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIGE, TYLER D
• Application Number:
  US13/458,611
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00
• 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: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0426 tracking fingers with respect to a virtual keyboard projected or printed on the surface virtual keyboards on touch screens G06F3/04886

Abstract

Provided is an automotive diagnostic tool including a tool body and a first projector connected to the tool body. The first projector is configured to project a diagnostic display image onto an adjacent surface separate from the tool body. An input detection sensor is connected to the tool body and is configured to detect motions of a user within a field of view proximate the tool body, and to generate an input signal responsive to the detected motions. A diagnostic processing unit is disposed within the tool body and is connected to the first projector and the input detection sensor for receiving the input signal therefrom. The diagnostic processing unit is configured to be operatively connectable with the onboard vehicle computer to receive vehicle data therefrom and to process the data and modify the diagnostic display image according to the received vehicle data and the input signal.

Claims

1. An automotive diagnostic tool configured for use with a vehicle having an onboard vehicle computer, the automotive diagnostic tool comprising:

a tool body;

a first projector connected to the tool body configured to project a diagnostic display image onto an adjacent surface separate from the tool body;

an input detection sensor connected to the tool body and configured to detect motions of a user within a field of view proximate the tool body, and to generate an input signal responsive to the detected motions; and

a diagnostic processing unit disposed within the tool body and connected to the first projector and the input detection sensor for receiving the input signal therefrom, the diagnostic processing unit being configured to be operatively connectable with the onboard vehicle computer to receive vehicle data therefrom and to process the data and modify the diagnostic display image according to the received vehicle data and the input signal.

2. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 1, further comprising a second projector connected to the tool body and configured to project an input template into the field of view.

3. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 2, wherein the first and second projectors are configured to project the input template and the diagnostic display image, respectively, in spaced relation to each other.

4. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 2, wherein the first and second projectors are configured to project the input template and the diagnostic display image respectively, adjacent each other.

5. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 2, wherein the input template includes a keypad image, the keypad image having a first button and a second button.

6. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 5, further comprising a position correlation module in communication with the input detection sensor and configured to correlate the position of the first button with a first position coordinate and the position of the second button with a second position coordinate, the input signal including information related to the first button when the input detection sensor detects the user at the first position coordinate and the input signal including information related to the second button when the input detection sensor detects the user at the second position coordinate.

7. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 6, wherein the position correlation module is integrated into the diagnostic processing unit.

8. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 2, wherein the second projector is configured to modify the input template in response to changes in the diagnostic display image.

9. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 8, wherein the second projector is configured to modify the input template as the user sequences through several diagnostic display images.

10. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 1, wherein the first projector is configured to project an input template onto an adjacent surface within the field of view.

11. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 1, wherein the input detection sensor is an infrared detection sensor.

12. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 1, wherein the first projector is selectively moveable relative to the tool body to facilitate selective placement of the diagnostic display image.

13. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 1, wherein the diagnostic processing unit is configured to modify the diagnostic display image in response to receipt of the vehicle data from the vehicle.

14. An automotive diagnostic tool configured for use with a vehicle having an onboard vehicle computer, the automotive diagnostic tool comprising:

a tool body;

a diagnostic processing unit disposed within the tool body and configured to be operatively connectable with the onboard vehicle computer to receive vehicle data therefrom and to process the data and generate a diagnostic display signal; and

a diagnostic display projector connected to the tool body and in communication with the diagnostic processing unit, the projector being configured to project a diagnostic display image in response to the diagnostic display signal on an adjacent surface separate from the tool body.

15. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 14, wherein the diagnostic display projector is selectively moveable relative to the tool body to allow for selective placement of the diagnostic display image.

16. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 14, wherein the diagnostic processing unit is configured to generate the diagnostic display signal in response to receipt of the vehicle data from the vehicle.

17. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 14, wherein the diagnostic display projector is configured to receive a user input signal and modify the diagnostic display image to include an image correlated to the user input signal.

18. An automotive diagnostic tool configured for use with a vehicle having an onboard vehicle computer, the automotive diagnostic tool comprising:

a tool body;

a input detection sensor connected to the tool body and configured to detect motions of a user relative to the tool body to generate an input signal; and

a diagnostic processing unit disposed within the tool body and connected to the input detection sensor for receiving the input signal therefrom, the diagnostic processing unit being configured to be operatively connectable with the onboard vehicle computer to receive vehicle data therefrom and to process the data and generate a display signal associated with the vehicle data and the input signal.

19. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 18, further comprising an input display projector connected to the tool body and configured to project an input template onto an adjacent surface separate from the tool body.

20. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 19, wherein the input template includes an keypad image, the keypad image having a first button and a second button.

21. The automotive diagnostic tool recited in claim 20, wherein the diagnostic processing unit correlates the position of the first button with a first position coordinate and the position of the second button with a second position coordinate, the user input signal including information related to the first button when the input detection sensor detects the user at the first position coordinate and the user input signal including information related to the second button when the input detection sensor detects the user at the second position coordinate.

22. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a tool body;

a input detection sensor connected to the tool body and configured to detect motions of a user within a field of view proximate the tool body, and to generate an input signal responsive to the detected motions;

a diagnostic processing unit disposed within the tool body and connected to the input detection sensor for receiving the input signal therefrom, the diagnostic processing unit being configured to generate a display signal corresponding to the input signal; and

a first projector connected to the tool body and in communication with the input detection sensor, the first projector being configured to project a display image corresponding to the display signal proximate the field of view on an adjacent surface separate from the tool body.

23. The device as recited in claim 22 wherein the tool body is self supporting on the surface on which the image is projected.