Patent ID: 6947816

Claim:
An automotive code reader for diagnosing a vehicle having an onboard computer for generating diagnostic trouble code signals, the diagnostic trouble code signals being related to a vehicle status, the tool comprising: a connector for connecting to the onboard computer; a connect button for electrically connecting the scan tool to the onboard computer; a microprocessor disposed in the code reader, in electrical communication with the connector, for determining the presence of diagnostic trouble code signals as indicative of either a passed or problem status of the vehicle; and a plurality of indicator lights in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the microprocessor being operative to selectively illuminate a first indicator light in response to receipt of diagnostic trouble code signals from the onboard computer, a second indicator light in response to a determination that no diagnostic code signals were received from the onboard computer, and a third indicator light in response to an inability to conclusively determine presence or absence of diagnostic trouble code signals in the onboard computer; the selective illumination of one of the indicator lights proceeding in response to operation of the connect button, independent of user interaction with a visual interface.