Vehicle service procedures

• US 9,530,121 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
• Original Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
• Inventors: Brauer, Blackford F., Larson, Timothy A., Smith, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): CASS, JEAN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US13/716,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20130158777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

A method and apparatus for carrying out a set of vehicle inspections including, but not limited to, wheel alignment measurement, brake testing, tire tread depth measurement, tire pressure monitoring, vehicle battery testing, and a review of vehicle diagnostic trouble codes in an efficient manner using a multi-function vehicle service system and a single vehicle service bay or inspection lane. Results of the vehicle inspections are incorporated into customized reports generated for a customer or for a technician, and which may be utilized to obtain approval from the customer to conduct necessary repairs and/or provide beneficial vehicle services.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating the condition of a vehicle prior to conducting a primary vehicle service procedure in a vehicle service bay, comprising:

receiving the vehicle in the vehicle service bay in operative proximity to a multi-function vehicle service system for conducting said primary vehicle service procedure;

identifying said vehicle to said multi-function vehicle service system;

communicating data associated with said identified vehicle from said multi-function vehicle service system to a battery testing device;

prior to beginning said primary vehicle service procedure, acquiring a plurality of vehicle wheel alignment angle measurements associated with the vehicle, and at least one battery function measurement related to a battery installed within the vehicle;

communicating said acquired measurements to said multi-function vehicle service system;

evaluating said acquired vehicle wheel alignment angle measurements and said at least one battery function measurement at said multi-function vehicle service system to generate a vehicle condition report associated with said identified vehicle, said vehicle condition report including a battery condition indication and an identification of at least one wheel alignment corrective action appropriate for said vehicle in addition to said primary vehicle service procedure, wherein said battery condition indication is associated with said at least one battery function measurement, and wherein said at least one wheel alignment corrective action identified in response to at least one of said acquired vehicle wheel alignment angle measurements determined to be outside of an acceptable tolerance by said multi-function vehicle service system; and

communicating said vehicle condition report to a vehicle owner prior to initiating said primary vehicle service procedure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said communicated data includes vehicle-specific data for configuring said battery testing device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said communicated data includes operator directions for presentation to an operator at said battery testing device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying said vehicle to said multi-function vehicle service system includes extracting identifying information from an image of said vehicle acquired after receiving the vehicle in the vehicle service bay, said image encompassing at least a portion of said vehicle including a vehicle license plate.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of

scanning machine-readable data from a customer driver license to acquire customer identification data, and communicating said scanned machine-readable data to said multi-function vehicle service system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein, responsive to said step of evaluating said acquired measurements associated with said vehicle at said multi-function vehicle service system, communicating vehicle associated data, including said acquired measurements to a vehicle wheel alignment system configured to implement a wheel alignment service procedure to adjust at least one vehicle wheel alignment angle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of acquiring said battery function measurements includes conducting a vehicle battery diagnostic test.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said vehicle battery diagnostic test includes the steps of:

accessing, with said multifunction vehicle service system, data representative of at least one battery characteristic, said battery characteristic selected from a set including vehicle battery type, battery information, and battery location within said vehicle;

coupling a battery testing device to said vehicle battery;

communicating at least a portion of said accessed data from said multifunction vehicle service system to said battery testing device;

configuring a battery test procedure for said vehicle battery utilizing said communicated data;

completing said battery test procedure to evaluate the operating condition of said vehicle battery with said battery testing device; and

communicating results of said operating condition evaluation from said battery testing device to said multifunction vehicle service system for inclusion in said at least one vehicle condition report.

9. The method of claim 1 further including the step of acquiring, prior to beginning said primary vehicle service procedure, a plurality of vehicle wheel brake force measurements from said vehicle;

wherein said step of evaluating further includes evaluating said plurality of vehicle wheel brake force measurements at said multi-function vehicle service system; and

responsive to at least one of said vehicle wheel brake force measurements outside of an acceptable tolerance, identifying in said vehicle condition report at least one brake system corrective action appropriate for said vehicle in addition to said primary vehicle service procedure.