US 20140277922A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2014/0277922 A1 Chinnadurai et al. (43) Pub. Date: Sep. 18, 2014 (54) DIAGNOSTICTOOL WITH A PLURALITY OF Publication Classification OPERATING SYSTEMS (51) Int. Cl. (71) Applicant: SERVICES SOLUTIONS U.S. LLC, G07C5/00 (2006.01) Warren, MI (US) (52) U.S. Cl. CPC ........................................ G07C5/00 (2013.01) (72) Inventors: Manokar Chinnadurai, Owatonna, MN USPC ......................................................... 701A33.2 (US); Reed Selkirk, Kalamazoo, MI (57) ABSTRACT (US) A diagnostic tool may include a user interface operating system comprising a computer processor that operates in a first operating environment. The diagnostic tool may also (21) Appl. No.: 13/841,111 include a vehicle diagnostic operating system comprising a computer processor that operates in a second operating envi ronment, wherein the second operating environment is differ (22) Filed: Mar 15, 2013 ent from the first operating environment. CO AGOSC 3 3 (OEDOO D. C Riji (SEST REACs Patent Application Publication Sep. 18, 2014 Sheet 1 of 3 US 2014/0277922 A1 3 s | || . sg C - () re ?y 2 S. : %: S C li () V 2 || e CD s | g i &N 9. - 8 C - - G. E. star < O) { E. 8: 3. s ----- s -------- N /- Patent Application Publication Sep. 18, 2014 Sheet 2 of 3 US 2014/0277922 A1 ? Patent Application Publication Sep. 18, 2014 Sheet 3 of 3 US 2014/0277922 A1 {ORANG GU 302 ENVRONVENS 38 WECE AEGNESC AARAS 23. 3O4. 34. AA DAABASE WANAGER COCR NAOR 38 3. 3) SERVER 312 OS RAAERS 314 RAR 3.18 FIG. 3 US 2014/0277922 A1 Sep. 18, 2014 DAGNOSTIC TOOL WITH A PLURALITY OF description thereof herein may be better understood, and in OPERATING SYSTEMS order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE the invention that will be described below and which will 0001. The present disclosure relates generally to a diag form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. nostic tool for diagnosing a vehicle. More particularly, the 0009. In this respect, before explaining at least one present disclosure relates to a diagnostic tool having a plural embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood ity of operating systems for diagnosing a vehicle. that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE forth in the following description or illustrated in the draw ings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to 0002. In many industries, diagnostic systems play an those described and of being practiced and carried out in increasingly important role in manufacturing processes, as various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology well as in maintenance and repair throughout the lifetime of and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are the equipment or product. Some diagnostic systems are based for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as on personal computer technology and feature user-friendly, limiting. menu-driven diagnostic applications. These systems assist 0010. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that technicians and professionals at all levels in performing sys the conception upon which this disclosure is based may tem diagnostics. readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other struc 0003. With equipment and products becoming more tures, methods and systems for carrying out the several pur advanced, more complex, and more expensive with the addi poses of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that tion of electronic components the knowledge base and finan the claims be regarded as including Such equivalent construc cial resources required to properly use, maintain, and fix these tions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of items have grown immensely. Different diagnostic systems the present invention. are built with varying capabilities to perform various func tions. For example, Some diagnostic systems may include a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS simple code reader, while other diagnostic systems include complex computer architectures. Also, different operating 0011 FIG. 1 depicts a front view of a diagnostic tool systems have been developed with advancement of diagnostic according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclo systems. Oftentimes, different operating systems are not SU compatible with each other and thus requires user to purchase 0012 FIG. 2 depicts components of a diagnostic tool different diagnostic systems for different applications. according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclo 0004. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a diagnostic SU tool having a plurality of operating systems. Also, it is desir 0013 FIG.3 depicts a system diagram of a diagnostic tool able to provide a diagnostic tool having a plurality of operat according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclo ing systems that may be used for different applications. SUC. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION DETAILED DESCRIPTION 0005. The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the 0014. The invention will now be described with reference present invention, wherein in one aspect an apparatus is pro to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer vided that in Some embodiments include a diagnostic tool to like parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with having a plurality of operating systems for diagnosing a the present invention provides a diagnostic tool having a vehicle. plurality of operating systems. For example, the diagnostic 0006. In accordance with one embodiment of the present tool may include a user interface operating system that may disclosure, a diagnostic tool may include a user interface be operated in an environment native to an operating system operating system comprising a computer processor that oper of different external devices. Also, a diagnostic tool may ates in a first operating environment. The diagnostic tool may include a vehicle diagnostic operating system that may also include a vehicle diagnostic operating system compris execute various functions of the diagnostic tool. ing a computer processor that operates in a second operating 0015. An embodiment of the present inventive system is environment, wherein the second operating environment is illustrated in FIG. 1. In particular, FIG. 1 is a front view different from the first operating environment. illustrating a diagnostic tool 100 according to an embodiment 0007. In accordance with another embodiment of the of the invention. The diagnostic tool 100 may be any com present disclosure, a diagnostic tool may include a user inter puting device, including a computer, a personal computer, a face operating system comprising a computer processor that laptop, a cellular communication device, a workstation, a operates in a first operating environment, wherein the first mobile device, a Smartphone, a television, a tablet, a personal operating environment is the same operating environment as digital assistant (PDA), a thin client system, a fat client sys an operating environment of an external device coupled to the tem, a network appliance, a gaming console, a wearable diagnostic tool. The diagnostic tool may also include a mounted device, an Internet computing device, a global posi vehicle diagnostic operating system comprising a computer tioning system (GPS), a range finder, or other any other com processor that operates in a second operating environment, puting device. In some embodiments, the diagnostic tool 100 wherein the second operating environment is different from may be part of a power tool, security systems, or the like. The the first operating environment. power tool may include, drills, saws, impact drivers, com 0008. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain pressors, grinder, sander, joiner, cutter, wrench, hammer, embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed blower, rotary tools, pneumatic tools, measuring tools, fluid US 2014/0277922 A1 Sep. 18, 2014 electronic timers, routers, oscillating tools, cleaner and the vehicle communication interface 230 to a conditioned signal like. The diagnostic tool 100 may include software in order to compatible with diagnostic tool 100. Selectable signal trans diagnose problems of the equipment under test. In another lator 210 may communicate with, for example, the following example, the diagnostic tool 100 may be, the Genisys(R Touch communication protocols: J1850 (VPM and PWM), ISO diagnostic tool from Service Solutions U.S. LLC in Owa 9141-2 signal, communication collision detection (CCD) tonna, Minn. or Elite Autoscanner R. Pro CP9190 from Actron (e.g., Chrysler collision detection), data communication links (a unit of Service Solutions). (DCL), serial communication interface (SCI), S/F codes, a 0016. The diagnostic tool 100 may include a housing 102 solenoid drive, J1708, RS232, Controller Area Network to house the various components of the diagnostic tool 100, (CAN), Keyword 2000 (ISO 14230-4), OBD II or other com such as a display 104, a user interface 106, a power key 108, munication protocols that are implemented in a vehicle. a memory card reader 110 (optional) and a connector inter 0021. The circuitry to translate and send in a particular face 112. The display 104 can be any display, for example, a communication protocol can be selected by FPGA 214 (e.g., liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED), by tri-stating unused transceivers) or by providing a keying organic light emitting diode (OLED), a video graphics array device that plugs into the connector interface 211 that may be (VGA), a touch display (which can also be a user interface), provided by diagnostic tool 100 to communicatively connect etc. The user interface 106 may allow the user to interact with diagnostic tool 100 to vehicle communication interface 230. the diagnostic tool 100 in order to operate the diagnostic tool Selectable signal translator 210 may be also coupled to FPGA 100 as desired.