Handheld scan tool with fixed solution capability

• US 8,909,416 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2012
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Inventors: Chen, Ieon C., Madison, Robert, Andreasen, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Karen
• Application Number:
  US13/567,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20130204485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.1, 701/29.6, 701/31.4, 701/33.4, 701/29.3, 701/31.6, 701/31.7, 701/31.8, 701/33.2, 701/33.7, 701/33.8, 701/33.9, 702/183, 702/185
• US Class Current: 701/33.3
• 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 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• 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 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 receives 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.

Claims

1. A diagnostic scan tool comprising:

a) a connect/configure module for establishing a communication link between the scan tool and a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU);

b) a vehicle specification module operative to identify operating parameters of a vehicle under test in response to receipt of a vehicle identification number (VIN) from the ECU;

c) a trouble code module for receiving digital trouble codes (DTC'"'"'s) from the ECU;

d) a database disposed within the scan tool, the database including a listing of possible vehicle defect solutions indexed to DTC'"'"'s and the vehicle operating parameters;

e) a freeze frame data module for retrieving freeze frame data from the ECU, the retrieved freeze frame data being representative of the operation of a vehicle onboard device(s) associated with a DTC identified as the highest priority DTC; and

f) a digital signal processor in electrical communication with the ECU, the vehicle specification module, the database, the DTC module and the freeze frame data module, the digital signal processor being operative to derive the highest priority received DTC from analysis of the retrieved freeze frame data, and to regulate selection of a most likely vehicle defect solution associated with the vehicle operating parameters, and the highest priority received DTC.

2. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the retrieved freeze frame data is representative of the electrical signals that caused the highest priority DTC to be generated.

3. The scan tool as recited in claim 2, wherein the database further includes nominal freeze frame data, indexed to the vehicle onboard devices, and wherein the digital signal processor is operative to compare the retrieved freeze frame data to the corresponding stored nominal freeze frame data to identify any anomaly(s) therebetween.

4. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the database further includes stored freeze frame data associated with the possible vehicle defect solutions, and wherein the digital signal processor is operative to compare the retrieved freeze frame data to the corresponding stored freeze frame data associated with the most likely defect solution to identify any anomaly(s) therebetween.

5. The scan tool as recited in claim 4, wherein the digital signal processor is further operative to regulate selection of the most likely defect solution by identifying an alternative most likely solution when the stored freeze frame data associated with the most likely defect solution is beyond tolerance of the corresponding retrieved freeze frame data.

6. The scan tool as recited in claim 5, wherein the digital signal processor is further operative to exclude a retrieved DTC from being identified as the highest priority DTC where the stored freeze frame data associated with each defect solution associated with the highest priority DTC is beyond tolerance of the corresponding retrieved freeze frame data.

7. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, further includes a display operative to display at least one of the received DTC'"'"'s, at least a portion of the retrieved freeze frame data, and the most likely defect solution.

8. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the scan tool is operative to identify the highest priority DTC in response to establishing a communication link between the scan tool and the ECU, independent of any further user input.

9. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the scan tool is operative to identify the most likely defect solution in response to establishing a communication link between the scan tool and the ECU, independent of any further user input.

10. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the scan tool is configured for communication with a remote database.

11. The scan tool as recited in claim 4, wherein the database includes an identification of communication protocols between the ECU and the vehicle onboard devices, indexed to the vehicle operating parameters.

12. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital signal processor is operative to alternately identify the most likely defect solution based on a ranked comparison of the received plurality of DTC'"'"'s to stored combinations of DTC'"'"'s, each stored combination of DTC'"'"'s being associated with a particular defect solution, the defect solution that is associated with the highest priority DTC and with the highest ranked stored combination of DTC'"'"'s being identified as the most likely defect solution.

13. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the database includes an updatable flash memory unit.

14. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the said vehicle specification module is further operative to identify communication protocols between the ECU and a plurality of vehicle onboard device(s) from a stored protocol information database on the tool, indexed to the vehicle operating parameters.

15. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the connect/configure module is operative to poll the ECU to determine a proper connect protocol.

22. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the database further lists vehicle specific mileage based predicted defects, and wherein the digital signal processor is further operative to retrieve vehicle mileage data from the ECU and to evaluate the vehicle mileage data and the vehicle specific mileage based predicted defects in the selection of the most likely vehicle defect solution.

23. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital signal processor is operative to identify the highest priority DTC independent of any need to compare the received DTCs.

24. The scan tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the database further includes a stored nominal freeze frame data, and wherein the digital signal processor is operative to compare the retrieved freeze frame data to the corresponding stored nominal freeze frame data, to identify an anomaly(s) therebetween.

25. The scan tool as recited in claim 24, wherein the digital signal processor regulates the selection of the most likely solution by excluding any possible defect solution for which the freeze frame data associated with the possible defect solution is within tolerance of the corresponding stored nominal freeze frame data.

27. The diagnostic tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital signal processor is operative to derive the highest priority DTC independent of any predetermined prioritization of vehicle systems.

29. The diagnostic tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the retrieved freeze frame data includes PIDs, wherein the database includes stored PID norm ranges, and wherein the digital signal processor is operative to compare the retrieved PIDs with the stored PID norm ranges to identify an anomaly(s) therebetween.

16. A method of diagnosing vehicular defects with a diagnostic device comprising:

a) placing the device in communication with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU);

b) configuring the device in response to vehicle operating parameters derived from a vehicle identification number (VIN);

c) receiving digital trouble codes (DTC'"'"'s) and freeze frame data from the ECU, the freeze frame data being representative of the operation of a vehicle onboard device(s) associated with a DTC identified as the highest priority DTC;

d) deriving the highest priority DTC solely from analysis of the freeze frame data; and

e) identifying a most likely defect solution based on the vehicle operating parameters and the highest priority DTC.

26. The process for diagnosing a vehicle defect as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of receiving vehicle mileage data from the ECU and wherein the step of identifying a most likely defect solution is also based on consideration of the vehicle mileage data and vehicle specific mileage based predicted defects.

17. A process for diagnosing a vehicular defect with a new scan tool comprising:

a) placing the scan tool in communication with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU);

b) configuring the tool in response to information derived from a vehicle identification number (VIN);

c) receiving digital trouble codes (DTC'"'"'s) and freeze frame data from the ECU;

d) deriving the highest priority DTC from analysis of the freeze frame data;

e) identifying a most likely defect solution based on the VIN and the highest priority DTC;

f) configuring the scan tool to retrieve freeze frame data associated with the mostly likely defect solution;

g) comparing the retrieved freeze frame data to stored freeze frame data associated with the most likely solution;

h) determining whether the retrieved freeze frame data is within tolerance of the stored freeze frame data associated with the most likely solution; and

i) confirming the most likely solution when the retrieved freeze frame data is within tolerance of the stored freeze frame data associated with the most likely solution.

18. The process of diagnosing a vehicular defect as recited in claim 17, further comprises the steps of:

j) where the retrieved freeze frame data is outside tolerance of the stored freeze frame data associated with the most likely solution, then selecting an alternate most likely solution corresponding to the highest priority DTC;

k) configuring the scan tool to retrieve freeze frame data associated the with the alternate most likely defect solution; and

l) confirming the alternate most likely defect solution when the retrieved freeze frame is within tolerance of the stored freeze frame data associated with the alternate most likely defect solution.

19. The process of diagnosing a vehicular defect as recited in claim 18, further comprises the steps of:

m) where the retrieved freeze frame data associated with the alternate most likely solution is outside tolerance of the stored freeze frame data associated with the alternate most likely solution, and an alternate most likely solution for the highest priority DTC is not available, then selecting an alternate highest priority DTC; and

n) identifying a most likely defect solution indexed by the and the alternate highest priority DTC.

20. A diagnostic scan tool comprising of:

a) a connect/configure module for establishing a communication link between the scan tool and a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU);

b) a vehicle specification module operative to identify operating parameters of a vehicle under test in response to receipt of a vehicle identification number (VIN) from the ECU;

c) a trouble code module for receiving digital trouble codes (DTC'"'"'s) from the ECU;

d) a database disposed within the scan tool, the database including a listing of possible vehicle defect solutions indexed to DTC'"'"'s and the vehicle operating parameters;

e) a freeze frame data module for retrieving freeze frame data from the ECU, the retrieved freeze frame data being representative of the operation of a vehicle onboard device(s) associated with a DTC identified as the highest priority DTC;

f) a digital signal processor in electrical communication with the ECU, the vehicle specification module, the database, the DTC module and the freeze frame data module, the digital signal processor being operative to derive the highest priority received DTC from analysis of the retrieved freeze frame data, and to regulate selection of a most likely vehicle defect solution associated with the vehicle operating parameters and the highest priority received DTC;

g) wherein the database further includes stored freeze frame data associated with the possible vehicle defect solutions, and wherein the digital signal processor is operative to compare the retrieved freeze frame data to the corresponding stored freeze frame data associated with the most likely defect solution to identify any anomaly(s) therebetween; and

h) wherein the digital signal processor regulates selection of the most likely solution by excluding any possible defect solution for which the stored freeze frame data is beyond tolerance of the corresponding retrieved freeze frame data.

28. The diagnostic tool as recited in claim 20, wherein the digital signal processor is operative to derive the highest priority DTC independent of any predetermined prioritization of digital DTCs.

21. A method of diagnosing vehicular defects with a scan tool comprising:

a) placing the scan tool in communication with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU);

b) configuring the tool in response to vehicle operating parameters derived from a vehicle identification number (VIN);

c) receiving digital trouble codes (DTC'"'"'s) and freeze frame data from the ECU;

d) deriving the highest priority DTC from analysis of the received freeze frame data;

e) identifying a most likely defect solution based on the vehicle operating parameters and the highest priority DTC;

f) configuring the scan tool to retrieve freeze frame data associated with the mostly likely defect solution;

g) comparing the retrieved freeze frame data to stored freeze frame data associated with the most likely solution;

h) determining whether the retrieved freeze frame data is within tolerance of the stored freeze frame data associated with the most likely solution;

i) confirming the most likely solution when the retrieved freeze frame data is within tolerance of the stored freeze frame data associated with the most likely solution;

j) where the retrieved freeze frame data is outside tolerance of the stored freeze frame data associated with the most likely solution, then selecting an alternate most likely solution corresponding to the vehicle operating parameters and the highest priority DTC;

k) configuring the scan tool to retrieve freeze frame data associated the with the alternate most likely defect solution; and

l) confirming the alternate most likely defect solution when the retrieved freeze frame data is within tolerance of the stored freeze frame data associated with the alternate most likely defect solution.

30. A diagnostic device comprising:

a) a connect/configure module for establishing a communication link between the diagnostic device and a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU);

b) a vehicle specification module operative to identify operating parameters of a vehicle under test in response to receipt of a vehicle identification number (VIN) from the ECU;

c) a trouble code module for receiving digital trouble codes (DTC'"'"'s) from the ECU;

d) a freeze frame data module for retrieving freeze frame data from the ECU, the retrieved freeze frame data being representative of the operation of a vehicle onboard device(s) associated with a DTC identified as the highest priority DTC;

e) a digital signal processor in electrical communication with the ECU, the vehicle specification module, a diagnostic database, the DTC module and the freeze frame data module, the digital signal processor being operative to derive the highest priority received DTC from analysis of the retrieved freeze frame data, and to regulate selection of a most likely vehicle defect solution associated with the vehicle operating parameters, and the highest priority received DTC; and

f) wherein the database includes a listing of possible vehicle defect solutions indexed to DTC'"'"'s and the vehicle operating parameters.

31. The diagnostic device as recited in claim 30, wherein the database is disposed within the diagnostic device.

32. The diagnostic device as recited in claim 30, wherein the database is remotely located relative to the diagnostic device and the ECU.

33. The diagnostic device as recited in claim 30, wherein the diagnostic device is configured for communication with the database.