Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
Reexamination Certificate
2003-05-13
2004-11-09
Beaulieu, Yonel (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
Reexamination Certificate
active
06816760
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to electrical testing equipment, and, more particularly, to an electronic device enclosure with communications circuitry configured to connect an electronic device, to a vehicle diagnostic system to perform the functions of an off-board device, such as a scan tool, for retrieving and viewing diagnostic information relating to the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern vehicles typically have a vehicle diagnostic system, including one or more separate computer control modules. Examples of such computer control modules (also known as just “modules”) are: a powertrain control module (PCM), an engine control module (ECM), a transmission control module (TCM), an ABS control module, and an air bag control module.
“Off-board devices,” such as scan tools and code readers are known in the art. Scan tool and code reader testing devices interface with vehicle diagnostic systems to, e.g., access, display, and/or print vehicle diagnostic information. Scan tools, such as OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics version II) scan tools and there predecessors, are one commonly known and are governed by a number of standards, e.g., SAE J1978 Rev. 1998-02 and SAE J1979 Rev. 1997-09. Scan tools are relatively expensive diagnostic devices that have a relatively large number of features and are typically marketed to professional automobile mechanics and service stations. Scan tools are generally considered to be beyond the means of most automobile hobbyists and the ordinary individual interested in performing simple maintenance or service of a few vehicles, such as a family “fleet” of vehicles.
There are different types of scan tools. An “OBD II Scan Tool” complies with the above-identified specifications. By contrast, a “Manufacturer-Specific Scan Tool” is a scan tool that accesses and displays proprietary manufacturer-specific data (and possibly also additionally accesses and displays OBD II data). Examples include Device Controls on General Motors, On-Demand Tests in Ford, Actuator Tests, Sensor Tests, Interrogator, and Read Temporary Codes in Chrysler. In general, air bag data, ABS data, cruise control data, and climate control data are also considered to be proprietary manufacturer-specific data and are typically included only in Manufacturer-Specific Scan Tools.
An “off-board device” that is a low-cost alternative to the scan tool is a “code reader.” In 1998 Actron Manufacturing Corp., the assignee of the present invention, pioneered the first OBD II code reader. In contrast with a scan tool, a code reader is a relatively basic “off-board device” that links with one or more computer modules in a vehicle diagnostic system via a vehicle computer network, reads any diagnostic trouble codes (also referred to as just “diagnostic codes” herein) asserted by those vehicle diagnostic systems, and displays any diagnostic codes on a display. Typical code readers do not perform the following major functions that are performed by typical scan tools: “View Data,” also known as “Live Data,” “Data,” and “Data Test, DTC” (viewing and displaying in real-time live, changing data from a plurality of module sensors), display of textual diagnosis descriptions corresponding to the various diagnostic codes, recording and playback of data, device control (manually controlling modules for diagnostic purposes), and reading and displaying vehicle information from the vehicle's computer (e.g., VIN information, controller calibration identification number, etc.). Code readers are typically marketed to automobile hobbyists and non-professionals who are merely curious about what codes the various vehicle diagnostic systems have stored in their memories.
Off-board devices typically do not include test circuits. Rather off-board devices, such as scan tools and code readers, typically communicate with the vehicle diagnostic system, which does typically include one or more test circuits. Thus, typical off-board devices do not perform any tests themselves; with few exceptions (e.g., the Ford Motor Company NGS scan tool with its harness tester, “sensor simulation”), off-board devices merely report the results of tests performed by test circuitry external to the off-board device.
Electronic devices, such as personal data assistance (PDAs) and pocket PCs are common and currently owned by many mechanics and automobile hobbyists. These electronic devices can be configured to receive and display vehicle diagnostic data similar to the data displayed on expensive scan tools. Thus, if a mechanic or automobile hobbyist currently owns an electronic device, he/she need only purchase software to load onto the electronic device, and an adaptor to connect the electronic device to the vehicle diagnostic system. These types of electronic devices, however, are expensive and easily damaged. As a result, it is undesirable to use such electronic devices in automobile repair shops, and garages where they are subjected to dirt, grease and rough handling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is protective enclosure that is capable of receiving an electronic device, such as a pocket PC or a PDA. The protective enclosure includes an interface device configured to be able to couple to the electronic device and to place the electronic device in circuit communication with a vehicle diagnostic system. In one embodiment, a communications protocol is generated by the interface device to establish communications with the vehicle diagnostic system. The vehicle diagnostic information is received by the interface device, which is configured to be capable of communicating the diagnostic information to the electronic device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5555498 (1996-09-01), Berra et al.
Actron Manufacturing Company
Beaulieu Yonel
Calfee Halter & Griswold LLP
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