Abstract: A diagnostic tool for simultaneously communicating with a plurality of motor vehicle control units and implements at least two different communication protocols within a single motor vehicle. The diagnostic tool includes a processor and a field programmable gate array. The processor simultaneously executes a plurality of diagnostic routines and thereby provides messages to at least two of the plurality of motor vehicle control units. The field programmable gate array provides a selectable multiple protocol interface to simultaneously accommodating the at least two different communication protocols. The field programmable gate array is coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the processor. The selectable multiple protocol interface simultaneously converts the messages from the processor into a format readable by the selected motor vehicle control units and simultaneously converting received control unit information into a format readable by the processor.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool for simultaneously communicating with a plurality of motor vehicle control units and implements at least two different communication protocols within a single motor vehicle. The diagnostic tool includes a processor and a field programmable gate array. The processor simultaneously executes a plurality of diagnostic routines and thereby provides messages to at least two of the plurality of motor vehicle control units. The field programmable gate array provides a selectable multiple protocol interface to simultaneously accommodating the at least two different communication protocols. The field programmable gate array is coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the processor. The selectable multiple protocol interface simultaneously converts the messages from the processor into a format readable by the selected motor vehicle control units and simultaneously converting received control unit information into a format readable by the processor.

Abstract: A vehicle diagnostic tool includes an asynchronous serial communications device for communicating with an automobile using a digital communication system having a dominant/recessive bus. The device includes a transmitter configured to communicate over the dominant/recessive bus, a sensor capable of sensing the state of the dominant/recessive bus and a collision detection device configured to compare a desired bitstream transmitted by the transmitter and the state of the dominant/recessive bus, and generate an arbitration loss flag during the period when the desired bitstream is transmitted. Further, a method of communicating with an automobile using a digital communication system having a dominant/recessive bus is provided.