Vehicle diagnosing apparatus

Details Vehicle diagnosing apparatus Vehicle diagnosing apparatus

1998-01-29

2001-05-29

McCall, Eric S. (Department: 2855)

Measuring and testing

Test stand

For engine

Reexamination Certificate

active

06237400

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle diagnosing apparatus which diagnoses a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, by communicating with an electronic control unit which is mounted on the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
As this kind of vehicle diagnosing apparatus, there has hitherto been known one in, e.g., Japanese Published Examined Patent Application No. 52142/1995. Namely, the vehicle diagnosing apparatus is provided with a connector for connection to an electronic control unit (ECU) which is mounted on a vehicle. The vehicle is diagnosed by communicating with the electronic control unit via the connector. In this vehicle diagnosing apparatus, aside from the above-described connector, there is provided another connector for connecting or disconnecting a memory card. An analog/digital (A/D) converter is contained in the memory card, and probes are attached to the memory card. Analog signals from the probes are converted to digital signals by the A/D converter inside the memory card, and the digital signals are supplied to the vehicle diagnosing apparatus.
The vehicle diagnosing apparatus does not always require a memory card as an essential part or member. For example, if the data are communicated to and from a host computer, the memory card becomes needless. In the above-described conventional vehicle diagnosing apparatus, however, the memory card is equipped with the A/D converter and the probes. Therefore, even if the memory card can be eliminated or removed, the connector for the memory card must be maintained as it is. On the other hand, in case probes need be used in a vehicle diagnosing apparatus which is designed not to use a memory card, the vehicle diagnosing apparatus must be modified in order to newly provide it with a connector.
In view of the above-described problems, the present invention has an object of providing a vehicle diagnosing apparatus which can use a probe without additionally providing a connector which is exclusively used for the probe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to attain the above and other objects, the present invention is a vehicle diagnosing apparatus comprising a connector which is connected to an electronic control unit mounted on a vehicle to thereby diagnose the vehicle by communicating with the electronic control unit via the connector, wherein the vehicle diagnosing apparatus further comprises a probe unit which is connected to, and disconnected from, the connector, which probe unit contains therein an analog/digital (A/D) converter for converting an analog signal to a digital signal, and which probe unit is provided with a probe to contact an electrical component of the vehicle, whereby an analog signal from the probe is supplied to the connector in a condition of being converted to a digital signal by the A/D converter.
Diagnosing which uses the probe like the diagnosing of electric components and diagnosing of the vehicle via the electronic control unit are not normally performed at the same time. Therefore, when the diagnosing by using the probe is performed, the connection to the electronic control unit of the vehicle is disconnected and, instead, the probe unit is connected to the connector which is otherwise used for connection to the electronic control unit. The analog signal from the probe is converted to the digital signal by the A/D converter and is transmitted to the vehicle diagnosing apparatus.


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