Patent ID: 8150671

Claim:
A portable tool operable for simulating a low-current ignition switch and usable with a vehicle power master module (PMM), the tool comprising: a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having: a USB port that is connectable to a host computer and configured for receiving user-selectable configuration data from the host computer, including a predetermined set of switch positions for the low-current ignition switch; a microcontroller in communication with the USB port and configured for transforming the configuration data into a set of solid-state signals; and a circuit in electrical communication with the microcontroller, the circuit having a set of solid-state buffers and transistors, wherein the circuit receives the solid-state signals from the microcontroller and selectively transmits one of two discrete voltages as an output to the PMM in response to receiving the solid-state signals; and an algorithm downloadable to and executable by the microcontroller, wherein the algorithm includes the configuration data; wherein the microcontroller is configured to transmit the set of solid-state signals to the solid-state buffers and transistors to thereby simulate the predetermined set of switch positions of the low-current ignition switch.