Abstract:
A vehicular diagnostic tool interface device that may be connected to a vehicular diagnostic tool, typically through an available port thereof, that enhances the functionality of the overall tool. The interface device is configured in such a manner as to provide physical protection to more sensitive components such as, for example, wireless transceivers. The interface device is also configured to minimize the distance that it protrudes from the diagnostic tool. Also, a method of operating such a vehicular diagnostic tool.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/257,211 filed on Nov. 2, 2009, and entitled “TOOL INTERFACE CONNECTOR WIRELESS ADAPTER COMPACT DESIGN” by Lee Jardine. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to vehicular diagnostic tools and to components connected thereto in order to enhance the functionality thereof. The present invention also generally relates to methods of operating and manufacturing such scan tools and components. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently available vehicular diagnostic scan tools are configured to conduct one or more tests on one or more systems of one or more types of vehicles. For example, currently available vehicular diagnostic tools may be configured to diagnose the anti-lock braking system of an automobile, the electrical system of a motorcycle and/or the transmission system of a piece of heavy machinery (e.g., a tractor). 
     In order to conduct the above-mentioned tests and/or to monitor the operation of one or more systems in the vehicles in question, vehicular scan tools communicate with electronic components (e.g., vehicular system controllers, sensors, etc.) within the vehicles. The communication may be effectuated via cable (e.g., RS-232 cables) and/or wirelessly. 
     In certain instances, it is desirable for a vehicular diagnostic tool to communicate with two or more electronic components in a vehicle in order to perform and single test. For example, it is sometimes desirable for a vehicular diagnostic tool to be simultaneously connected to the central computing system of a vehicle via a first cable (e.g., an RS-232 cable) and to a portion of the vehicle&#39;s electrical system via a second cable (e.g., a USB cable). In such instances, two different communications ports on the vehicular diagnostic tool are used. 
     The above notwithstanding, because of geometric restrictions and/or budgetary considerations, the number of ports on a vehicular diagnostic tool is limited. As such, particularly in compact and inexpensive vehicular diagnostic tools, interface devices that allow for multiple cables to be connected to a single port are sometimes used. However, these interface devices protrude significant distances from the vehicular diagnostic tool. As such, the interface devices increase the probability of the user of the diagnostic tool accidentally hitting the interface device against a workbench, vehicle, etc., thereby damaging the interface device and/or tool. Also, as an interface device protrudes further from a diagnostic tool, the lever arm increases and an accidental collision of the end of the interface device against a fixed object increases the amount of destructive force that is applied to the interface device and tool. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     At least in view of the above, it would be desirable to provide novel and compact vehicular diagnostic tool interface devices that protrude relatively short distances from the vehicular diagnostic tools to which they are attached. It would also be desirable to provide novel methods of operating vehicular diagnostic tools with such interface devices. 
     The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by one or more embodiments of the present invention. According to one such embodiment, a vehicular diagnostic tool interface device is provided. The device includes a first connector interfaceable with a vehicular diagnostic tool. The device also includes a communications component. In addition, the device further includes a signal carrier extending between the first connector and the communications component, wherein the signal carrier is configured to transport a signal between the first connector and the communications component. The signal carrier itself includes a substantially horizontal portion extending substantially parallel to the first connector. The signal carrier also includes a substantially vertical portion extending substantially perpendicularly to the first connector. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating a vehicular diagnostic tool is provided. The method includes forwarding a signal from the vehicular diagnostic tool through a first connector that is interfaced with the vehicular diagnostic tool. The method also includes passing the signal from the first connector and through a substantially horizontal portion of a signal carrier extending substantially parallel to the first connector. In addition, the method also includes using a substantially vertical portion of the signal carrier extending substantially perpendicularly to the first connector to forward the signal from the substantially horizontal portion of the signal carrier to a communications component. Further, the method also includes transmitting the signal to a remote location using the communications component. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, another vehicular diagnostic tool interface device is provided. The device includes means for connecting with a vehicular diagnostic tool. The device also includes means for communicating with a device remote to the vehicular diagnostic tool. In addition, the device also includes means for forwarding a signal between the means for connecting and the means for communicating. The means for forwarding itself includes a substantially horizontal portion extending substantially parallel to the means for connecting. The means for forwarding also includes a substantially vertical portion extending substantially perpendicularly to the means for connecting. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicular diagnostic tool interface device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of components that are included in the vehicular diagnostic tool interface device illustrated in  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of components that are included in the vehicular diagnostic tool interface device illustrated in  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the vehicular diagnostic tool interface device illustrated in  FIG. 1  engaged with a cable. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating steps of a method of operating a vehicular diagnostic tool according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicular diagnostic tool interface device  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the interface device  10  includes a first connector  12  interfaceable with a vehicular diagnostic tool  18  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the first connector  12  plugs directly into a port  26  of a vehicular diagnostic tool  18  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) and is thereby electronically connected to the diagnostic tool  18 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the first connector  12  includes a DB25 connector portion with 25 pins. However, the first connector  12  with other geometries and/or electrical configurations are also within the scope of the present invention. Particularly desirable designs for first connector  12  include those that allow for the electrical and/or physical connection to at least one port of a vehicular diagnostic tool  18 . 
     Also illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a communications component  14 . The communications component includes components that allow for communication between the vehicular diagnostic tool  18  to which the interface device  10  is attached and a remote location (e.g., a sensor or processor on a vehicle being diagnosed and/or monitored using the diagnostic tool  18 ). According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the communications component  14  includes a wireless communication transceiver  16  (see  FIG. 3 ) that is configured to allow for signals to be transmitted to and received from the remote location mentioned above. When communicating with a device at the remote location, the communications component  14  may utilize, for example, the Bluetooth™ communications protocol, the WiFi™ communications protocol and/or any other communications protocol that proves to be convenient and/or available. 
     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the transceiver  16  in the communications component  14  is configured to communicate with a tire pressure sensor (not illustrated) located on a vehicle. More specifically, according to some of these embodiments of the present invention, pressure sensors are mounted in one or more of a vehicle&#39;s tires (e.g., adjacent to a tire&#39;s valve) and wireless relay data such as, for example, tire pressure and temperature back to the transceiver  16 . As another alternative, the communication between the transceiver  16  and the pressure sensor may also occur through an intermediate device (not illustrated) that is positioned closer to the sensor than the vehicular diagnostic tool  18 . The intermediate device, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, is lighter than the diagnostic tool  18 , more easily positioned near the sensor than the diagnostic tool  18 , less susceptible to damage than the diagnostic tool  18  and/or less expensive to replace than the diagnostic tool  18  in the event that damage does occur. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of components that are included in the vehicular diagnostic tool interface device  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a schematic view of components that are included in the vehicular diagnostic tool interface device  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in both  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the interface device  10  includes a signal carrier  20  that extends between the first connector  12  and the communications component  14 . 
     The signal carrier  20  is configured to transport a signal (e.g., a signal received from the above-mention tire pressure sensor or a signal being transmitted thereto from the vehicular diagnostic tool  18 ) between the first connector  12  and the communications component  14 . According to certain embodiments of the present invention (e.g., when the first connector  12  takes the form of a DB25 connector); the signal carrier  20  includes a plurality of pins made from one or more electrically conductive materials. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the signal carrier  20  includes a substantially horizontal portion  22  that extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to the first connector  12 . As illustrated in these same figures, the signal carrier  20  also includes a substantially vertical portion  24  that extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first connector  12 . 
     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the substantially horizontal portion  22  includes a first pin portion  28  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) that is electronically connected to and that extends from the first connector  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the substantially vertical portion  24  may include one or more flyleads  30 . The circuit access flyleads  30 , according to certain embodiments of the present invention, are routed from the first pin portion  28  and to allow access to the communications component  14  and/or to reduce the overall distance that the interface device  10  protrudes from the diagnostic tool  18  when connected thereto. The flyleads  30  may, for example, be connected to another connector (not illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) (not illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), etc. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , according to certain embodiments of the present invention, the substantially vertical portion  24  includes a PCBA  32  that is electronically connected to the first pin portion  28  and that extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first connector  12 . According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the PCBA  32  is a sandwiched between the first connector  12  and a second connector  34  that itself may be interfaced with a vehicular diagnostic cable  36  (e.g., an RS-232 cable or a USB cable) through the cable&#39;s interface  38 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first pin portion  28  may include through pins (or surface mount pins, which are not illustrated) to reduce the distance between the first connector  12  and the second connector  34 , thereby reducing the distance that the tool interface  10  would protrude from the diagnostic tool  18 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the signal carrier  20  may also include a second pin portion  40  that is electronically connected to the PCBA  32  and to the communications component  14 . 
     As mentioned above, the tool interface device  10  may include the second connector  34 . This second connector  34 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , is interfaceable with the vehicular diagnostic cable  36  and, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 , is electronically connected to the first connector  12 . As most clearly illustrated in  FIG. 4 , according to certain embodiments of the present invention, at least a portion of the second connector  34  may be positioned substantially parallel to at least a portion of the communications component  14  and may be positioned substantially collinearly with the first connector  12 . In fact, according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the second connector  34  is positioned above the communications component  14  when the first connector  12  is physically attached to the vehicular diagnostic tool  18  illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . This is particularly true when the vehicular diagnostic tool  18  is being held by a user in an operable position (i.e., where the user is able to see the display and/or user interface of the diagnostic tool  18 ). In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , this allows the relatively sturdy cable  36  and cable interface  38  to protect the communications component  14  from an impact from above the diagnostic tool  18 . This configuration also minimizes the total distance that the cable interface  38 , communications component  14  and overall interface device  10  protrudes from the diagnostic tool  18  when connected thereto. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart  42  illustrating the steps of a method of operating a vehicular diagnostic tool according to an embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, step  44  of the method  42  specifies forwarding a signal from the vehicular diagnostic tool (e.g., tool  18  discussed above) through a first connector (e.g., first connector  12 ) that is interfaced with the vehicular diagnostic tool. It should be noted that signals may also be forwarded to the diagnostic tool according to certain embodiments of the present invention. It should also be noted that the signal in question may be related to the performance of one or more diagnostic tests being performed on a vehicle, the monitoring of a vehicular system or may be of a more general nature. 
     Step  46  of the flowchart  42  then specifies passing the signal from the first connector and through a substantially horizontal portion of a signal carrier extending substantially parallel to the first connector (e.g., horizontal portion  22  of the signal carrier  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). Next, step  48  specifies using a substantially vertical portion of the signal carrier extending substantially perpendicularly to the first connector (e.g., vertical portion  24 ) to forward the signal from the substantially horizontal portion of the signal carrier to a communications component. Then, step  50  specifies transmitting the signal to a remote location using the communications component (e.g., sending the signal to a sensor or electronic component in a vehicle being diagnosed via a cable or wirelessly). 
     According to step  52 , a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) (e.g., PCBA  32  illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) is incorporated within the substantially vertical portion of the signal carrier. However, other embodiments of the present invention allow for the PCBA may be oriented in any other direction. Also, according to step  54 , a wireless communication transceiver (e.g., transceiver  16 ) is selected as the communications component. In addition, according to step  56 , the remote location is selected to include a tire pressure sensor located on a vehicle and, according to step  58 , the first connector is selected to include a DB25 connector. As an alternative, as described above, the communication between the transceiver  16  and the tire pressure sensor may take place though an intermediate device that is remote to the sensor. 
     Step  60  next specifies connecting a vehicular diagnostic cable (e.g., cable  36 ) to a second connector (e.g., second connector  34 ) that is electronically connected to the first connector. Then, step  62  specifies positioning the second connector substantially collinearly with the first connector and step  64  specifies positioning the second connector substantially parallel with the communications component. An example of a vehicular diagnostic tool interface device where steps  60  through  64  have been implemented is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     As will become apparent to one of skill in the art upon practicing one or more embodiments of the present invention, the steps in the flowchart  42  may be rearranged without deviating from the present invention. For example, the incorporating and selecting steps (i.e., steps  52  through  58 ) may easily be performed prior to the forwarding step (i.e., step  44 ). 
     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus; it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.