Patent ID: 7191040

Claim:
An vehicle data system for processing and displaying vehicle data transmitted through a bus connector of a data bus on an electronically controlled engine operating in accordance with a predetermined bus protocol, comprising a. a handheld computer including a memory for storing operating system software adapted to operate said handheld computer in accordance with a data protocol which is different from the vehicle bus protocol, a handheld microprocessor for executing the operating system software and an external data port which is physically incompatible with the bus connector of the data bus and which is connected to said handheld microprocessor to allow the vehicle data when properly formatted to pass into said handheld computer; and b. an adapter, having an adapter housing, for creating a data pathway between the bus connector and said external data port including i. a data port connector positioned on said adapter housing for direct coupling with said external data port of said handheld computer, ii. a bus compatible connector for connection with the bus connector, and iii. an adapter microprocessor positioned on said adapter housing and connected via the data pathway with said bus compatible connector, and adapter memory for storing a microprocessor-readable set of instructions for protocol conversion of the data received from the vehicle bus for processing by said handheld computer and supplied to said handheld computer through said data port connector, wherein the adapter housing is capable of being releasably affixed to said handheld computer to form an integral handheld vehicle data system package when said data port connector is coupled to said external data port of said handheld computer, and wherein signal levels of the vehicle data appropriate for transmission by the vehicle bus and for processing by said handheld computer are respectively different and wherein said adapter includes level adjustment means for converting the signal levels of the vehicle data to the appropriate levels as the vehicle data passes between the vehicle bus and said handheld computer.