Off-board Tool Protocol Storage for Vehicle Diagnostics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing off-board testing devices face challenges in efficiently establishing and maintaining communications with vehicle diagnostic systems, particularly in determining the correct communication protocol and handling dropped links, leading to inefficiencies and incomplete data retrieval during emissions testing.
Innovation Solution
The development of off-board tools equipped with processor, vehicle communication circuitry, and voltage determination circuitry, which include logic for storing communication protocols, re-establishing dropped links, and determining the minimum number of messages required, allowing for improved communication with vehicle diagnostic systems and reducing test time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing OBTs automatically determine the proper communications protocol to connect to the vehicle, then the device can work with multiple vehicle types, but the time required to establish communication increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing known communication protocols (ISO 9141-2, ISO 14230-4 Keyword 2000, SAE J1850) in the OBT's memory before actual use. When connecting to a vehicle, the device attempts to establish communication using these pre-stored protocols in a predetermined sequence, avoiding the time-consuming process of automatically determining the correct protocol during the diagnostic session.
2Reliability
If the OBT re-establishes the communications link using the same process as initial connection, then protocol determination is consistent, but the time required to re-establish communication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the OBT with multiple known communication protocols stored in memory before the diagnostic session begins. When a communication link drops, the device can immediately attempt to re-establish the link using these pre-stored protocols without needing to perform the full automatic protocol determination process again, significantly reducing re-establishment time while maintaining reliability.
3Loss of information
If the OBT waits for responses from all vehicle modules, then complete diagnostic data is obtained, but the test time increases due to waiting for slow-responding modules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by implementing a timeout mechanism that allows the OBT to continue with the diagnostic test after a predetermined time period without receiving responses from all vehicle modules. The device sends diagnostic requests and waits for responses, but if no response is received within the timeout period, it proceeds with the remaining diagnostic functions rather than indefinitely waiting, thus maintaining continuous useful action while accepting that some data may be incomplete.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments of off-board tools (OBTS) may be used in vehicle inspection maintenance programs are provided. The OBT may include a processor, vehicle communication circuitry for linking to a vehicle diagnostic system, host interface circuitry for communicating with a host computer, and voltage determination circuitry for measuring a voltage through the vehicle diagnostic system. The OBT may include logic for storing a communications protocol used to link with a vehicle diagnostic system that is preferably used for re-establishing dropped communications links. In addition, the OBT may contain logic for testing at least one component of a starting and/or charging system of a vehicle. Still other embodiments may include logic for sending unsolicited messages to a host computer. Additional embodiments may include logic for determining the minimum number of messages that must be received by an OBT.