US5916286A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable automobile diagnostic tool
Assignee: SPX Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1995-09-15
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Granted: 1999-06-29
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Expires: 2015-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A portable automotive diagnostic tool (30) for receiving information from an automotive computer of a vehicle. The portable automotive diagnostic tool (30) is battery powered. The portable automotive diagnostic tool (30) comprises a microcontroller (31), a display (32), a keypad (33), a flash memory (34), a SRAM (35), a battery backup circuit (36), a ROM (37), a UART (38), and a port (39). Automotive codes for configuring the portable automotive diagnostic tool (30) are stored in flash memory (34). The automotive codes are compressed to increase storage to the flash memory (34). The flash memory (34) is non-volatile and retains the automotive codes when power is removed. The automotive codes are updated by writing new automotive codes to the flash memory (34). Information or data received from an automotive computer is stored in SRAM (35). The battery backup circuit (36) powers the SRAM (35) to maintain the information to be taken to a different location when the power is turned off.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay E. Seashore
- 👤 William J. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/08; H04L41/085; H04L41/0853; H04L41/0856; H04L41/0803; H04L41/0813; H04L41/082; B; B60; B60W; B60W50/00; B60W50/04; B60W2050/041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A portable automobile diagnostic tool comprising: a microcontroller for receiving information from an automotive computer of a vehicle under test; a flash memory coupled to said microcontroller for storing information on automobile codings for a plurality of automobiles, said flash memory being writeable for updating said automobile codings and wherein automobile codes stored in said flash memory are compressed; a keypad coupled to said microcontroller for entering operations of the portable automobile diagnostic tool; a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) coupled to said microcontroller for storing information received from said automotive computer of said vehicle under test; and a display coupled to said microcontroller for displaying information received from said automobile computer of said vehicle under test.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A portable automobile diagnostic tool comprising: a microcontroller for receiving information from an automotive computer of a vehicle under test; a flash memory coupled to said microcontroller for storing information on automobile codings for a plurality of automobiles, said flash memory being writeable for updating said automobile codings and wherein automobile codes stored in said flash memory are compressed; a keypad coupled to said microcontroller for entering operations of the portable automobile diagnostic tool; a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) coupled to said microcontroller for storing information received from said automotive computer of said vehicle under test; and a display coupled to said microcontroller for displaying information received from said automobile computer of said vehicle under test.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The portable automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said flash memory is nonvolatile for retaining said automobile codings when power is removed from the portable automobile diagnostic tool.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The portable automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 1 wherein the portable automobile diagnostic tool is powered by a battery to allow it to be operated remotely.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The portable automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 1 wherein the SRAM is powered by a battery back up circuit when power is turned off on the portable automobile diagnostic tool thereby retaining information received from said automotive computer of said vehicle under test.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The portable automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said automobile codings are compressed using a LZ77 compression algorithm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The portable automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said automobile codings are compressed using a LZ78 compression algorithm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The portable automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said automobile codings are decompressed and stored in said SRAM when an automobile model and make is selected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The portable automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 1 further including a Read Only Memory (ROM) coupled to said microcontroller for storing software for operating the portable automobile diagnostic tool.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The portable automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 1 further including: a port coupled to said microcontroller; and a cable for coupling between said port and said automotive computer of said vehicle under test wherein information from said vehicle under test is coupled through said cable to said port and received by said microprocessor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The portable automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 9 further including a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) coupled between said port and said microcontroller for synchronizing a transfer of information between said automotive computer and said microcontroller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The portable automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said microprocessor, said flash memory, and said SRAM are afixed to a printed circuit board within the portable automobile diagnostic tool.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for operating an automobile diagnostic tool, the method comprising: coupling the automobile diagnostic tool to an automotive computer of a vehicle under test; selecting an automobile make and model corresponding to said vehicle under test; finding an automobile coding stored in memory corresponding to said vehicle under test; decompressing said automobile coding corresponding to said selected automobile make and model; configuring the automobile diagnostic tool with said decompressed automobile coding to receive information from said automotive computer of said vehicle under test; and receiving information from said automotive computer of said vehicle under test.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for operating an automobile diagnostic tool, the method comprising: coupling the automobile diagnostic tool to an automotive computer of a vehicle under test; selecting an automobile make and model corresponding to said vehicle under test; finding an automobile coding stored in memory corresponding to said vehicle under test; decompressing said automobile coding corresponding to said selected automobile make and model; configuring the automobile diagnostic tool with said decompressed automobile coding to receive information from said automotive computer of said vehicle under test; and receiving information from said automotive computer of said vehicle under test.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method as recited in claim 12 further including the steps of: receiving automobile codings; using a compression algorithm on said automobile codings; and storing compressed automobile codings in said memory wherein said compression algorithm decreases memory size and increases a number of automobile codings being stored in said memory.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method as recited in claim 13 further including the steps of: creating a list identifying memory locations of each compressed automobile coding to a vehicle type; searching said list for said selected automobile make and model; finding said memory location corresponding to said selected automobile make and model; and reading a compressed automobile code from said memory at said memory location corresponding to said selected make and model.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as recited in claim 13 further including the steps of: choosing said memory of the automobile diagnostic tool as a flash memory wherein said flash memory is nonvolatile for allowing power to be removed from the automobile diagnostic tool without affecting automobile codings stored therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of receiving information from said automotive computer of said vehicle under test includes the steps of: storing said information from said automotive computer of said vehicle under test in a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM); and providing a battery back up circuit for powering said SRAM when power is turned off in the automobile diagnostic tool thereby retaining said information from the automotive computer and allowing it to be read at a later time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
139 words
An automobile diagnostic tool for receiving information from an automotive computer of a vehicle under test, the automobile diagnostic tool comprising: a microcontroller for interfacing with the automotive computer of the vehicle under test; a flash memory responsive to said microcontroller for storing automobile codings for a plurality of automobiles, said automobile codings being stored in a compressed format in said flash memory; a keypad coupled to said microcontroller for entering operations of the automobile diagnostic tool; a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) responsive to said microcontroller for storing data from said automobile computer of said vehicle under test; a battery backup circuit coupled to said SRAM for providing power to said SRAM when power is turned off to the automobile diagnostic tool; and a display for displaying information received from said automobile computer of said vehicle under test.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
139 words
An automobile diagnostic tool for receiving information from an automotive computer of a vehicle under test, the automobile diagnostic tool comprising: a microcontroller for interfacing with the automotive computer of the vehicle under test; a flash memory responsive to said microcontroller for storing automobile codings for a plurality of automobiles, said automobile codings being stored in a compressed format in said flash memory; a keypad coupled to said microcontroller for entering operations of the automobile diagnostic tool; a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) responsive to said microcontroller for storing data from said automobile computer of said vehicle under test; a battery backup circuit coupled to said SRAM for providing power to said SRAM when power is turned off to the automobile diagnostic tool; and a display for displaying information received from said automobile computer of said vehicle under test.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
The automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 17 wherein an automobile coding is decompressed and stored in said SRAM when a make and model of said vehicle under test is selected and wherein said automobile coding is used to configure the automobile diagnostic tool for receiving information from the automotive computer of said vehicle under test.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 17 wherein said automobile codings are compressed using a LZ77 compression algorithm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 17 wherein said automobile codings are compressed using a LZ78 compression algorithm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 17 wherein said flash memory is non-volatile for retaining said automobile codings when power is removed from the automobile diagnostic tool.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The automobile diagnostic tool as recited in claim 17 wherein the automobile diagnostic tool is powered by a battery to allow it to be operated remotely.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
29 words
A method for storing information on automobile codes in an automobile diagnostic tool, the method comprising the steps of: compressing automobile codes; and storing compressed automobile codes in memory.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
29 words
A method for storing information on automobile codes in an automobile diagnostic tool, the method comprising the steps of: compressing automobile codes; and storing compressed automobile codes in memory.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as recited in claim 23 wherein said step of storing automobile codes in memory includes a step of storing said automobile codes in a non-volatile read/write memory in the automobile diagnostic tool.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as recited in claim 24 further including a step of decompressing an automobile code corresponding to a selected vehicle type for configuring the automobile diagnostic tool for receiving information from an automotiive computer of said selected vehicle type.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-06-28 | 2002-12-28 | 2003-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-06-28 | 2006-12-28 | 2007-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-06-28 | 2010-12-28 | 2011-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |