Patent Publication Number: US-2007095912-A1

Title: Card reader access through battery compartment

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to an automotive scan tool. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automotive scan tool having a memory card reader accessed through a battery compartment.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Virtually all-modern automotive scan tools use expandable storage memory based on flash memory devices such as compact flash, secure digital, memory stick, etc. (collectively “memory card”) in order to save data or to update software on the scan tool. A user would typically insert the memory card into a memory card reader located on the periphery of the scan tool. However, the memory card reader does not have a cover that prevents the memory card from accidentally falling out during use, transport or if the scan tool is dropped. Adding additional covers will increase the costs of the scan tool.  
      Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus that will prevent the memory card from accidentally falling out of the scan tool.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in one aspect an apparatus is provided that in some embodiments a scan tool includes a battery cover that can cover at least a portion of a battery compartment and a card reader.  
      In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a scan too includes a housing to contain components of the scan tool, a card reader contained in the housing and configured to receive a memory card, and a cover that covers at least a portion of a battery compartment and at least a portion of the card reader.  
      In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of preventing a memory card from disengaging from a scan tool, includes providing a card reader within a housing of the scan tool, the card reader can be configured to communicate with the memory card, inserting the memory card into the card reader, and preventing the memory card from disengaging the card reader with a battery cover that can be received by the housing.  
      In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a scan tool system that includes means for housing that can contain components means of the scan tool, means for reading a memory storing means that can be contained in the means for housing and configured to receive the memory storing means, and means for covering that can cover at least a portion of a battery containing means and at least a portion of means for reading.  
      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 front view illustrating a scan tool according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the scan tool according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the scan tool according to an embodiment of the invention  
       FIG. 4  illustrates the scan tool with the battery cover removed.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates an end view of the scan tool with the battery cover removed according to an embodiment of the 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. An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides for a scan tool having a cover for the memory card, wherein the cover is also the battery cover.  
       FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating a scan tool  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. The scan tool can be any scan tool that is known in the art. For example, the Nemisys scan tool from Service Solutions (a unit of the SPX corporation) in Owatonna, Minn. The scan tool  10  includes a housing  12  to house the various components of the scan tool, such as a screen  14 , a user interface  16 , a power key  18  and a connector interface  20 . The screen  14  can be any screen, for example, LCD (liquid crystal display), VGA (video graphics array), touch screen, etc. The user interface  16  allows the user to interact with the scan tool in order to operate the scan tool as desired. The user interface  16  can include function keys, arrow keys or any other type of keys that can manipulate the scan tool. The power key  18  allows the user to turn the scan tool on and off as required. The connector interface  20  allows the scan tool to connect to an external device, such as an ECU (electronic control unit) of a vehicle, a computing device, an external communication device (such as a modem), a network, etc. through a cabled or wireless connection.  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram  20  of the scan tool  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. The block diagram illustrates the basic major components of the scan tool, such as the housing  12 , input/output  22 , a processor  24 , a memory  25 , a display  26 , a card reader  27  and a memory card  28 . The input/output can receive information from external devices, such as the ECU or the user interface  16 , while the output can, for example, present information, such as data collected from the ECU on the display  26  or transmit data to an external device. The processor  24  can be any type of processor that is appropriate for the scan tool, such as processors from Motorola, and/or field programmable gate array (FPGA). The processor can communicate with the input/output, the memory  25 , the display  26 , the card reader  27  and the memory card  28 . Memory  25  can be any type of memory, including RAM (random access memory), ROM (read only memory), flash, bios, etc. or a combination thereof. The memory can store the software that is required for the scan tool to work or data received from the ECU or other devices. The display  26  can display the data collected from the ECU or other devices. The display can be any type of display, such as LCD, VGA, plasma, etc. The card reader  27  can communicate with the memory card  28 , which can be compact flash, SD (secure digital) card, memory stick, flash drive, flash memory or any other type of memory media. The memory card can be removable from card interface  27  and can contain data, software, information, authorization data or any other type of information desired by the user.  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the scan tool  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. In the rear of the scan tool  10 , a stand  32  is shown in the deployed position and can be pivotally connected to the housing. The stand  32  allows the user to position the scan tool at a desired angle for viewing and hands-free operation. The stand  32  can be stored flush against a battery cover  34  when not in use. A lock member  36  is provided on an outside surface of the battery cover  34  to mate with a lock receiving portion (not shown) on the stand  32  to temporarily lock the stand  32  flush against the battery cover for storing.  
      The battery cover  34  provides a cover for the batteries that are utilized by the scan tool. The battery cover  34  is removable so that the user can have access to the battery compartment and the card reader, which can be integrated with the battery compartment. The battery cover can be made from any material including the same material as the scan tool. The battery cover can be coupled to the scan tool through conventional means. The battery cover  34  may also have on its outside surface ridges  38  that interact with a finger of the user to facilitate the removable or replacement of the battery cover. The ridges  38  can be placed at any point on the outer surface of the battery cover as desired by the user, Additionally, the battery cover  34  may at a first end be narrower than at a second end. The second end may be wider in order to cover the card reader. The battery cover  34  can also cover a portion of the battery compartment and the card reader.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates the scan tool with the battery cover  34  removed. With the battery cover  34  removed, a battery compartment  42 , latch receiving members  44  and the card reader  27  are shown in  FIG. 4 . The battery compartment holds the battery required to operate the scan tool. The battery can be any type, such as AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, etc. The latch receiving members receive the corresponding latches (not shown) on the battery cover  34  in order to secure the battery cover to the scan tool. The card reader  27  as previously stated can receive any type of memory card.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates an end view of the scan tool  10  with the battery cover  34  removed according to an embodiment of the invention. With the battery cover  34  removed, the user can access the card reader  27  to remove or insert the memory card. The card reader  27  can include various pins  29  or similar components in order to communicate with the various memory cards. The card reader  27  can be an integrated part of the battery compartment or separated therefrom. The card reader  27  can be any size to match the memory card. Additionally, the card reader can be constructed and arranged to receive multiple memory cards at a time by including various sizes and designs in its construction. Although, the card reader is shown recessed within the scan tool, a person skilled in the art will recognize that the card reader can be as close to a surface of the scan tool as possible so long as there is enough room for the battery cover to cover it.  
      In other embodiments, the card reader may be located in other parts of the scan tool where the batteries are also located. The batteries can also act as the cover for the card reader, wherein the batteries are seated or positioned over the top of the card reader. Thus, for card reader access, the batteries are removed to expose the card reader.  
      The battery cover protects the card reader from dust or other contaminants when no memory card is present. Additionally, the battery cover prevents the memory card from falling out during use. If the card memory falls out during use, such as while software is being uploaded, it can damage the scan tool or require the entire software to be reloaded onto the scan tool, thus, wasting time of the user. The battery cover also prevents the memory card from disengaging from the card reader should the scan tool is accidentally dropped. Further, by using a battery cover, no additional design is required and thereby saving time and money.  
      In operation, the user can remove the battery cover from the housing, thereby exposing the card reader. The user then inserts the appropriate memory card into the card reader. Once a good connection is established between the memory card and the card reader, the user can replace the battery cover. With the battery cover in place, the memory card is prevented from disengaging from the card reader until the battery cover is removed.  
      To remove the memory card from the card reader, the user again removes the battery cover from the housing, thereby exposing the card reader. The user then removes the memory card from the card reader. At this point, the user can replace the memory card with another memory card, if desired. Afterwards, the user can replace the battery cover once again. If no memory card is present in the card reader, than the battery cover can prevent dust and other contaminants from entering the card reader. If a memory card is present in the card reader, then the cover prevents the memory from disengaging from the card reader.  
      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.