Abstract: An apparatus is provided to electrically protect a circuit for USB protection against excessive voltage and/or current such as ground loop damage. A circuit is connected between electrical components where at least one of the connections is a USB connection. There is a possibility for the ground points of the electrical components to be at different voltage potentials and can create a ground loop. The apparatus can include a voltage limiting circuit connected to circuit lines which connect to the USB connection, and circuit breakers or resistors can be connected to the circuit lines between the USB connection and the connection to the other electrical component. In some aspects, the connections at either end of the circuit can all be USB connections. The components of the apparatus protect the connected electrical components from receiving more power than they can tolerate, and protect a user of the electrical components from injury caused by excess power.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the removing of a spark plug, or portions thereof, from a cylinder head are disclosed. The apparatus includes a lower socket with a longitudinal bore therethrough, a radial compression member disposed in the longitudinal bore of the lower socket, and a shaft disposed on a first end of the radial compression member. The radial compression member includes an internal surface defining a concavity that faces a longitudinal axis of the lower socket. The method includes compressing the radial compression member in a radial direction toward a longitudinal axis of the spark plug terminal, thereby decreasing an outer dimension of the radial compression member in the radial direction.

Abstract: The diagnostic tool for testing the performance of a component of a vehicle may include a processor configured to process test information from a component of the vehicle and control and activate the component of the vehicle having identification information to be tested. The diagnostic tool may also include a memory configured to store the test information of the component and software that operates the component of the vehicle. The diagnostic tool may further include an interface module configured to provide information in addition to that of the test information of the component, wherein the additional information is related to the performance of a different vehicle component from the component, and wherein the means for storing and the means for providing are in communication with the means for processing.

Abstract: A system for connecting an electric vehicle to a high voltage power source. The system including electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) having an electrical plug compatible with a high voltage power outlet, the plug connected to a power cord. The power cord is connected to a housing containing a number of electrical components configured to control the power flow to an electric vehicle to recharge the vehicle's batteries. The housing includes a plurality of light emitting diodes configured to indicate a status of the EVSE. The LEDs can flash, illuminate a solid color, not illuminate a solid color or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A battery testing and charging system that includes at least one battery testing device and at least one battery charging device, wherein the battery testing device is removable from the battery charging device and wherein the battery testing device may communicate with a plurality of battery charging devices. Also, a method of testing and charging a battery that may be implemented using, for example, the above-described battery testing and charging system.

Abstract: A wheel alignment apparatus is capable of automatically obtaining tire pressure information from a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems. The wheel alignment apparatus may include an alignment bay configured to receive a vehicle and an optical system located at an end of the alignment bay and configured to provide an image of wheels of the vehicle. The wheel alignment apparatus may also include a camera configured to receive the image of the wheels of the vehicle and a computer configured to display the image of the wheels of the vehicle and automatically display tire pressure information of the wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is located within a predetermined proximity of the wheel alignment apparatus.

Abstract: A dynamic diagnostic plan generator arranges diagnostic test procedures related to a vehicle/power tool/patient symptom or operational problem in a sequence based on a probabilistic Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). The diagnostic plan generator also tracks a vehicle/power tool/patient state, and provides instructions for test preparation steps and instructions for performing the diagnostic test procedures. The plan generator further generates schematic illustrations of the diagnostic test procedures, and creates a diagnostic data structure containing information related to the diagnostic test procedures. In addition, the diagnostic plan generator sends and receives information regarding actual failure mode occurrences, for example, to and from a central database. Furthermore, the diagnostic plan generator facilitates the creation of failure mode tests by an expert diagnostics author.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery unit is provided and includes a safe purging mode. The safe purging mode allows non-condensable gases to be incrementally purged from a storage tank when the determined ideal vapor pressure is high, such as 40 p.s.i., in order to minimize refrigerant loss during purging. The purging can be done in small increments of time, pressure or mass. The storage tank can include a dip tube that extends into the liquid portion of the refrigerant in order to heat up the refrigerant in the tank with the heated recovered refrigerant.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are developed to improve accuracy of diagnostic tests for A/C systems. In particular, a refrigerant recovery unit may have its hoses pre-charged with a refrigerant to a predetermined pressure or amount before performing the diagnostic tests on the A/C system of the vehicle. For example, a predetermine amount of refrigerant may be injected into the hoses of the refrigerant recovery unit to pre-charge them. The pre-charged hoses of the refrigerant recovery unit may prevent a refrigerant flow from the A/C system to the hoses connected thereto before the diagnostic tests are implemented and thus, improve the accuracy of the diagnostic tests.

Abstract: A vehicle measurement apparatus and a method for measuring vehicle data are provided. For example, the vehicle measurement apparatus includes a system-on-a-chip (SoC) device configured to integrate a programmable module with a microcontroller unit to receive vehicle data, process the vehicle data, and communicate the processed vehicle data to a remote computer.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool and method are provided wherein the diagnostic tool can be configured to communicate a message including indicators to indicate the condition of the vehicle using a database and the DTCs present in the vehicle. The message can indicate for each DTC retrieved from the vehicle, the level of repair urgency and whether the vehicle can be driven without damaging the vehicle through one or both of a display and a speaker.

Abstract: The invention is directed to arrangement and process for housing a battery charger. The battery charger housing arrangement includes a battery charger configured to provide power to charge a vehicle battery, a reinforcement structure configured to hold the battery charger, and a housing configured to cover the reinforcement structure and the battery charger. The housing forms a waterproof covering to protect the battery charger from the environment, a charge cable extends from the housing and is configured to connect to and charge a vehicle, and a window is arranged in the housing so that a user can operate the battery charger. The reinforcement structure is configured to structurally locate the housing in a stable non-movable location.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting the ignition timing of an engine. The system includes a strobe device in communication with a wireless clamp. The wireless clamp sends a firing signal of a spark plug of an engine to the strobe device and the strobe device synchronously strobes an LED with the signal. The user can use the strobe light to view markings on the engine in relation to an indicator to determine whether the ignition timing of the engine needs to be adjusted.

Abstract: An extendable handled tool may include: a shaft; a hollow shaft extension encompassing the shaft and configured to move axially on the shaft so that the shaft moves in and out of the hollow space in the shaft extension; a locking collar attached to the shaft extension, the locking collar configured to rotate on the shaft; a tooth connected to the locking collar such that the tooth rotates with the locking collar; and a locking ring mounted on the shaft, the locking ring configured to fit with the tooth to rotate between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locked position prevents the shaft extension from moving axially with respect to the shaft and the unlocked position permits the shaft extension to move axially with respect to the shaft. A method of exting a handle on a tool may also be provided.

Abstract: A power balancing system includes a vehicle communication device connected to a data link connector of a vehicle, and a scan tool connected to the vehicle communication device, the scan tool including a handset and a vehicle connector interface (VCI), wherein power can be received from one or more of an external power source being external from the VCI, the vehicle, and an internal power supply of the scan tool, and wherein the system balances the received power.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool and method are provided wherein the diagnostic tool includes a global positioning system that alerts a user when a condition is exceeded. Examples of conditions include that the user is speeding during the test drive or has driven passed a defined area. The user can be alerted to such conditions. The owner of the shop may also locate the diagnostic tool by using a location server.

Abstract: A system and method for remote control of and notification by an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). The system including a remote device, such as a smart phone, having a software configured to remotely control the EVSE and remotely retrieve and receive information from the EVSE. The smart phone may identify and connect to a communication network, automatically identify the EVSE, connect to the EVSE, and send the EVSE instructions for various functions of the EVSE, including charging, vehicle control, and reporting functions. The EVSE may execute the instructions received and return a confirmation to the remote device. The remote device may present the confirmation to a user.

Abstract: A system for connecting an electric vehicle to a high voltage power source is disclosed. The system including an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) having an electrical plug compatible with a high voltage power outlet, the plug connected to a power cord. The power cord is connected to a housing containing a number of electrical components configured to control the power flow to an electric vehicle to recharge the vehicle's batteries. The power cord extends from the housing and is connected to a standard electric vehicle connector compatible with battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). The EVSE further includes safety measures, such as a relay that controls the flow of power to the vehicle connector, a ground fault interrupter, and a circuit tester to protect users from high voltage electric shocks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided that allow an off-the-shelf USB flash memory device to be used with a scan tool. The USB flash memory device can have a different operating system then the proprietary operating system of the scan tool. The method and apparatus allows the scan tool to read from and write on the USB flash memory device regardless of the formatted operating system on the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided that allows a technician to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) and remove any duplicates. The diagnostic tool can retrieve DTCs from the various diagnostic systems in the vehicle, remove any duplicates and display a unique list of DTCs. The diagnostic tool can also erase all DTCs including any duplicates from the vehicle after repairs have been completed. The tool can retrieve the DTCs without the user selecting the system to retrieve from.