System and method for a vehicle scanner to automatically execute a test suite from a storage card

• US 9,633,492 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Panko, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jos, Basil T
• Application Number:
  US13/198,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20120046826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 701 33, 701 332, 701 333
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0883 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for a vehicle scanner to automatically execute applications from a removable storage card. The method includes detecting a presence of one or more executable diagnostic requests in removable data storage, and responsive to the detection, transmitting one or more corresponding requests for vehicle diagnostic data to the vehicle via a vehicle interface. Responsive to the transmission, the vehicle scanner receives and processes diagnostic data from the vehicle. The vehicle scanner may store the data back to the removable storage card, or may transmit the data via a wired or wireless interface to a display device. As part of the detection process, the vehicle scanner may first authenticate the removable storage card before executing vehicle diagnostic instructions from the card.

Claims

1. A vehicle diagnostic device connectable to a diagnostic port of a vehicle, the vehicle diagnostic device comprising:

a processor;

a first data storage device storing computer-readable program instructions;

a removable data storage device storing a test suite including one or more executable diagnostic requests;

a communications interface configured to transmit data to a display device;

a data storage device slot into which the removable data storage device can be inserted, wherein the removable data storage device is removable from the data storage device slot after being inserted into the data storage device slot; and

a vehicle interface that is connectable to the diagnostic port of the vehicle;

wherein the processor is configured to execute the program instructions stored on the first data storage device to perform functions comprising;

detecting insertion of the removable data storage device into the data storage device slot,

reading, while the removable data storage device is within the data storage device slot, a first executable diagnostic request stored on the removable data storage device,

executing, while the removable data storage device is within the data storage device slot, the first executable diagnostic request read from the removable data storage device, wherein execution of the first executable diagnostic request causes the vehicle interface to transmit, to a vehicle diagnostic system within the vehicle via the diagnostic port, a request for vehicle diagnostic data from the vehicle diagnostic system, and

processing the vehicle diagnostic data received at the vehicle interface responsive to transmission of the request for vehicle diagnostic data, wherein processing the vehicle diagnostic data comprises routing the vehicle diagnostic data received at the vehicle interface to the communications interface for transmission to the display device.

2. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein processing the vehicle diagnostic data further comprises routing the received vehicle diagnostic data to the removable data storage device.

3. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1,

wherein the communications interface comprises a wireless communications interface.

4. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1,

wherein the communications interface comprises a wire-line communications interface.

5. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 4, wherein the wire-line communications interface comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface or an Ethernet interface.

6. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein detecting insertion of the removable data storage device into the data storage device slot comprises receiving a signal indicating an insertion of the removable data storage device in the data storage device slot.

7. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 6, wherein the signal is generated by activation of a mechanical switch upon insertion of the removable data storage device in the data storage device slot.

8. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 6, wherein the signal is generated by completion of an electrical circuit upon insertion of the removable data storage device in the data storage device slot.

9. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a spring-loaded electrically conducting protrusion within the data storage device slot,

wherein the spring-loaded electrically conducting protrusion is moveable to a position at which the spring-loaded electrically conducting protrusion completes a circuit to allow generation of a signal that indicates the removable data storage device has been inserted into the data storage device slot, and

wherein insertion of the removable data storage device into the data storage device slot causes movement of the spring-loaded electrically conducting protrusion to the position.

10. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1, further comprising:

an incomplete circuit extending to the data storage device slot,

wherein the removable data storage device includes conductive traces to complete the incomplete circuit while the removable data storage device is fully inserted into the data storage device slot, and

wherein completion of the incomplete circuit causes generation of a signal that indicates the removable data storage device has been inserted into the data storage device slot.

11. The vehicle diagnostic device of claim 1,

wherein the test suite includes a flag that indicates whether the test suite is to be executed automatically, and

wherein the processor is configured to execute the program instructions stored on the first data storage device so as to locate the flag prior to executing the first executable diagnostic request.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting insertion of the removable data storage device into the data storage device slot comprises receiving a signal indicating an insertion of the removable data storage device in the data storage device slot.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the signal is generated by activation of a mechanical switch upon insertion of the removable data storage device in the data storage device slot.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the signal is generated by completion of an electrical circuit upon insertion of the removable data storage device in the data storage device slot.

12. A method of obtaining and processing vehicle diagnostic data, the method comprising:

detecting, by a processor of a vehicle scanner, insertion of a removable data storage device into a data storage device slot of the vehicle scanner, wherein the removable data storage device is removable from the data storage device slot after being inserted into the data storage device slot;

reading, by the processor while the removable data storage device is within the data storage device slot, a first executable diagnostic request stored on the removable data storage device;

executing, while the removable data storage device is within the data storage device slot, the first executable diagnostic request read from the removable data storage device, wherein execution of the first executable diagnostic request causes a vehicle interface of the vehicle scanner to transmit, to a vehicle diagnostic system within a vehicle via a diagnostic port of the vehicle, a request for vehicle diagnostic data from the vehicle diagnostic system; and

processing, by the processor, the vehicle diagnostic data received at the vehicle interface responsive to transmission of the request for vehicle diagnostic data, wherein processing the vehicle diagnostic data comprises routing the vehicle diagnostic data received at the vehicle interface to a communications interface of the vehicle scanner for transmission to a display device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein processing the vehicle diagnostic data further comprises routing the vehicle diagnostic data to the removable data storage device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the communications interface comprises a wireless communications interface.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the communications interface comprises a wire-line communications interface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wire-line communications interface comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface or an Ethernet interface.