Abstract: A status tracker tracks the state of a patient during a diagnostic test sequence to eliminate redundant steps between diagnostic procedures. The status tracker maintains a list of preconditions required for each diagnostic procedure, reads a current patient status from a memory register and verifies the current setting of the patient status corresponding to a specific precondition. If the precondition is required and the current setting is not valid, the state tracker further formats a test preparation step corresponding to the precondition for display to instruct a patient technician to satisfy the precondition. Otherwise, if the precondition is not required and the corresponding setting is valid, the status tracker formats an instruction to reverse the corresponding patient status or condition. The status tracker additionally receives feedback indicating when a precondition has been satisfied or the corresponding patient status has been reversed, and updates the patient status in memory.

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 diagnostic tool and method are provided wherein the diagnostic tool includes indicators to indicate the condition of the vehicle using a database and the DTCs present in the vehicle. The tool indicates for each DTC retrieved from the vehicle, the level of repair urgency. The tool also can indicate if the vehicle can be driven without damaging the vehicle.

Abstract: A puller tool and method for pulling a component from another component are provided. The puller tool can include a cross bar, a pair of puller legs that are movable along the length of the cross bar and a forcing screw. The puller legs can be quickly positioned anywhere along the length of the cross bar through a quick release mechanism. The cross bar can include notches on its outer surface to ensure that the puller legs are equidistant from each other during use.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool for a vehicle, includes a signal translator communicating with the vehicle in at least one protocol, an input unit for inputting information, a processor controlling a software according to the input information from the input unit and communication with the vehicle from the signal translator, the processor controlling a reception of diagnostic data of the vehicle through the signal translator, an input and output unit receiving and transmitting audio and video signals controlled by the processor, a memory storing a software controlled by the processor, the memory storing audio and video information, and transferring the audio and video information through the input and output unit; and a display unit displaying information according to the received and processed audio and video signals stored in the memory.

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: 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: 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: A single input having multiple functions is provided. The single input having multiple functions may be used on off-board tools. In accordance with one embodiment, an off-board tool having a read/scroll actuator is provided. The read/scroll actuator, upon being actuated, performs either a read function or a scroll function. Another embodiment of an off-board tool having a display and capable of receiving information is provided. The off-board tool includes a contextual actuator having a first and a second mode. Actuation of the actuator in the first mode effectuates retrieval of information. Actuation of the actuator in the second mode effectuates display of at least a portion of the retrieved information. In accordance with another embodiment, an off-board device is provided. The off-board tool includes a display, read logic, scroll logic and a read/scroll actuator. Another embodiment of an off-board tool includes a display, a read means, a scroll means and a read/scroll means.

Abstract: An upgradeable A/C maintenance system and methodology is provided including one or more modular manifolds for mounting and fluidly connecting several components. Embodiments include first and second manifolds, each for removably mounting a plurality of components, and each comprising an internal passage for fluidly connecting at least two of the plurality of components to each other, and a port for fluidly connecting the internal passage to an external surface of the first manifold. The first and second manifolds are removably attachable to each other such that their respective ports fluidly communicate with each other. The first manifold provides a first functionality for the system when the second manifold is not attached to the first manifold, and the second manifold provides a second functionality different from the first functionality when the second manifold is attached to the first manifold.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a scale in a fluid handling device needs to be calibrated includes weighing a storage tank of fluid a first time with a scale, transferring the fluid from the storage tank to an area of known volume, weighing the storage tank at a second time with the scale, after fluid has been moved to the area of known volume, determining the pressure of the fluid in the area of known volume with a pressure sensor, calculating a temperature of the fluid in the area of known volume with the determined pressure, calculating the weight of fluid in the area of known volume based on the calculated temperature, calculating the weight of fluid in the area of known volume based on the determined temperature and temperature, comparing a difference in weight of the storage tank between the first and second weighing times with the weight of the fluid in the area of known volume; and sending a first signal to a user indicating a calibration of the scale is not needed if the difference between the compar

Abstract: A technical information management device includes an information manager, a data manager, a user interface builder, and a vehicle technical information database. The information manager accesses the database in order to provide a segment of the vehicle technical information to the user interface builder. The data manager receives conditioned input data from a vehicle diagnostic tool and sends it to the user interface builder. The user interface builder includes a graphics generator and a display screen formatter. The graphics generator converts the vehicle diagnostic data into graphical coordinate data and the display screen formatter formats the graphical coordinate data for real time display in a digital multimeter mode or in a scope mode. The user interface builder further can display a dual-display screen wherein half of the screen is a vehicle diagnostic data display and the other half of the screen displays vehicle technical information.

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: An active overvoltage protection process and device is disclosed to protect vehicle communication components. The overvoltage protection process and device includes determining an allowed low and high voltage threshold range for a communication interface, monitoring the communication interface, and disconnecting the communication interface when a voltage of the communication outside a threshold range.

Abstract: An apparatus and methodology are provided for advantageously increasing heat transfer between the evaporator/oil separator (“accumulator”) and condenser of a refrigerant recovery/recycling system, to increase the efficiency of the system and to simplify the system. Embodiments include a refrigerant recovery/recycling device comprising a compressor having a suction inlet and a discharge outlet; an accumulator fluidly connected to a refrigerant source and to the compressor suction inlet; a recovery tank fluidly connected to the compressor discharge outlet; and a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the recovery tank to the accumulator, for raising the temperature of the accumulator and lowering the temperature of the recovery tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital data acquisition module, such as a digital oscilloscope, that includes a synchronous random access memory (RAM), a digital signal processing unit, and a master control unit. The digital signal processing unit is coupled to the synchronous RAM and includes at least one analog-to-digital (A/D) converter that digitizes an analog signal, and a digital signal processor that includes a dual-port RAM, a plurality of processing blocks and a communications interface. The plurality of processing blocks process the digitized analog signal data, store the processed signal data in the synchronous RAM, create display data from the stored signal data, store the display data in the dual-port RAM.

Abstract: A programmable actuator having multiple programmable functions is provided. The programmable actuator may be used on an off-board tool. In accordance with an embodiment, an off-board tool, OBT, including a user-defined programmable actuator is provided. In accordance with another embodiment, an OBT includes a processor, an internal memory, a programmable actuator, program logic and perform function logic. In accordance with yet another embodiment, a method of actuating performance of a user-defined series of functions for a OBT is provided. The method includes the step of actuating a programmable actuator of the OBT with a single actuating action.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital oscilloscope with glitch detection, including a synchronous random access memory (RAM), a digital signal processing unit, coupled to the synchronous RAM, and a master control unit coupled to the digital signal processing unit. The digital signal processing unit includes an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter to digitize an analog signal and a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor includes a dual-port RAM, a plurality of processing blocks to process the digitized analog signal data, detect glitches in the digitized analog signal data, store the processed signal data in the synchronous RAM, create display data from the stored signal data, and store the display data in the dual-port RAM, and a communications interface to transmit the stored display data.

Abstract: A technique detects an abnormal signal in a compound sampled signal recorded in the time domain. The technique involves dividing the sampled signal recorded in the time domain into sample segments; transforming each of the sample segments from the time domain into the frequency domain to determine transformed segments, each transformed segment having frequency points, each frequency point having an amplitude associated with a certain frequency; for a frequency point in a given transformed segment, determining a ratio by dividing the amplitude of the frequency point by a value indicative of an average of the amplitudes of the frequency points at the same frequency across transformed segments; repeating the determination of a ratio for frequency points in each transformed segment to determine ratios for each transformed segment; repeating the determination of ratios for transformed segments; and using the ratios to detect the abnormal signal in the compound sampled signal.

Abstract: A dynamic diagnostic plan generator arranges diagnostic test procedures related to a vehicle 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 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.