Abstract: A car wash with integrated diagnostic functions is provided that includes the ability to wash and dry a connected vehicle and perform various diagnostic functions. The various diagnostic functions such as tread depth measurement, measuring tire pressures, performing safety inspection, emissions testing and performing vehicle diagnostics and the like may be performed while the connected vehicle is at the car wash. The results of the diagnostic tests may be provided to the driver at the end of the car wash via the driver's wireless computing device.

Abstract: A power providing station with integrated diagnostic functions is provided that includes the ability to charge or fuel a vehicle and perform various diagnostic functions. The various diagnostic functions such as tread depth measurement, battery testing, measuring tire pressures, performing safety inspection, emissions testing and performing vehicle diagnostics and the like may be performed while the vehicle is at the power providing station. The results of the diagnostic tests may be provided to the driver at the end of the charging or fueling via a wireless computing device.

Abstract: An optimization system for a vehicle includes a dongle and a wireless device. The vehicle includes a diagnostic port and an electronic control unit (ECU) electrically connected to the diagnostic port. The ECU includes a memory storing vehicle setting data. The dongle is configured to connect with the diagnostic port to enable the dongle to establish a wired communication link with the ECU. The wireless device includes a memory storing program instructions and a processor configured to execute the program instructions to establish a wireless communication link between the ECU and the wireless device via the connected dongle, to determine location data representative of a location of the vehicle, to determine environmental condition data at the location of the vehicle, to receive the vehicle setting data from the ECU, and to generate optimized vehicle setting data using at least the vehicle setting data and the environmental condition data.

Abstract: A dongle that may be plugged into an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) port of a vehicle and provide notification if a human or animal is left within a parked car. The dongle accesses a first sensor from the vehicle's communication system and a second sensor from within the dongle. If data from the first and second sensors exceeds predetermined threshold values programmed into the dongle's memory, then the dongle sends out a response signal. The response signal may be sent to an owner's cellular phone or to a 911 dispatch center. Additional sensors within the vehicle, or placed within the dongle, may also be used to verify the presence of a human or animal left within the parked vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle maintenance system comprising an ECU and a port for interfacing with the ECU, the ECU configured to store diagnostic data related to the vehicle. The system further comprises a dongle configured to interface with the port to send data to the ECU and receive data from the ECU and a local device configured to communicate with the dongle and a remote computer, the local device comprising a display, a memory storing program instructions, and a processor configured to execute the program instructions to establish a communications link with the ECU via the dongle to allow the transfer of diagnostic data from the ECU to the local device, to allow the transfer of the diagnostic data from the local device to the remote computer and to receive data from the remote computer, such that the data received is used to perform a maintenance action on the vehicle.

Abstract: A fuel economy calculator system for a vehicle including a fuel cell, a diagnostic port, and an ECU, the fuel economy calculator system includes a dongle configured to connect with the diagnostic port to enable the dongle to establish a wired communication link with the ECU, and a wireless device including a display unit, a memory storing program instructions and capacity data of the fuel cell, and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the program instructions to establish a link between the ECU and the wireless device, to receive a data set from the ECU via the connected dongle each time the ECU generates engine change state data, the data set including at least mileage data and remaining fuel data, to calculate fuel economy data of the vehicle based on the capacity data, a most recent data set, and a next most recent data.

Abstract: A dongle that may be plugged into an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) port of a vehicle and provide notification if a human or animal is left within a parked car. The dongle accesses a first sensor from the vehicle's communication system and a second sensor from within the dongle. If data from the first and second sensors exceeds predetermined threshold values programmed into the dongle's memory, then the dongle sends out a response signal. The response signal may be sent to an owner's cellular phone or to a 911 dispatch center. Additional sensors within the vehicle, or placed within the dongle, may also be used to verify the presence of a human or animal left within the parked vehicle.

Abstract: A power providing station with integrated diagnostic functions is provided that includes the ability to charge or fuel a vehicle and perform various diagnostic functions. The various diagnostic functions such as tread depth measurement, battery testing, measuring tire pressures, performing safety inspection, emissions testing and performing vehicle diagnostics and the like may be performed while the vehicle is at the power providing station. The results of the diagnostic tests may be provided to the driver at the end of the charging or fueling via a wireless computing device.

Abstract: A car wash with integrated diagnostic functions is provided that includes the ability to wash and dry a connected vehicle and perform various diagnostic functions. The various diagnostic functions such as tread depth measurement, measuring tire pressures, performing safety inspection, emissions testing and performing vehicle diagnostics and the like may be performed while the connected vehicle is at the car wash. The results of the diagnostic tests may be provided to the driver at the end of the car wash via the driver's wireless computing device.

Abstract: A system and method for creating and distributing diagnostic tests to diagnostic devices. The system includes user devices, diagnostic devices, diagnostic development system and validation/authentication system. The system can create, validate and distribute one or more diagnostic tests to various diagnostic devices. This allows user to have the latest diagnostic tests in a timely manner.

Abstract: A method for providing an interactive wiring diagram is provided. The method includes receiving, at a processor of a wireless device, from an image sensor of the wireless device, an image of a wire loom between a first vehicle component and a second vehicle component of a vehicle, the wire loom including a plurality of wire connections of the vehicle. The method includes determining, using a position sensor of the wireless device, a position of the wire loom relative to the vehicle and to the wireless device. The method includes identifying, using a database, a wire connection based upon at least the image or the position of the wire loom. The method includes generating an interactive wiring diagram of the wire connection based upon the identifying. The interactive wiring diagram includes a trace route indicating a presence of a third vehicle component between the first and the second vehicle component.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a remotely controllable service cart system, and methods of operating the same. Such systems and methods may include a remotely controllable service cart, a microcontroller located on the service cart, a transmitter configured to transmit a command from a user, a receiver located on the service cart for receiving the transmitted command, the microcontroller configured to produce a control signal from the transmitted command, and a drive system located on the service cart and operatively connected to the microcontroller, the drive system configured to move the service cart in response to the control signal.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for a vehicle, includes a computer storing software on a computer readable media, configurable for setting up recording of vehicle operations, selecting from a plurality of customizable triggering operations according to Boolean logic, and a vehicle communication interface detachably connected to the computer, being setup by the computer for recording of vehicle operation while the vehicle is operating and recorded information stored in a computer readable media of the vehicle communication interface being reviewed by the computer, and detachably connected to the vehicle for recording of the vehicle operations.

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: A vehicle maintenance system comprising an ECU and a port for interfacing with the ECU, the ECU configured to store diagnostic data related to the vehicle. The system further comprises a dongle configured to interface with the port to send data to the ECU and receive data from the ECU and a local device configured to communicate with the dongle and a remote computer, the local device comprising a display, a memory storing program instructions, and a processor configured to execute the program instructions to establish a communications link with the ECU via the dongle to allow the transfer of diagnostic data from the ECU to the local device, to allow the transfer of the diagnostic data from the local device to the remote computer and to receive data from the remote computer, such that the data received is used to perform a maintenance action on the vehicle.

Abstract: An optimization system for a vehicle includes a dongle and a wireless device. The vehicle includes a diagnostic port and an electronic control unit (ECU) electrically connected to the diagnostic port. The ECU includes a memory storing vehicle setting data. The dongle is configured to connect with the diagnostic port to enable the dongle to establish a wired communication link with the ECU. The wireless device includes a memory storing program instructions and a processor configured to execute the program instructions to establish a wireless communication link between the ECU and the wireless device via the connected dongle, to determine location data representative of a location of the vehicle, to determine environmental condition data at the location of the vehicle, to receive the vehicle setting data from the ECU, and to generate optimized vehicle setting data using at least the vehicle setting data and the environmental condition data.

Abstract: A fuel economy calculator system for a vehicle including a fuel cell, a diagnostic port, and an ECU, the fuel economy calculator system includes a dongle configured to connect with the diagnostic port to enable the dongle to establish a wired communication link with the ECU, and a wireless device including a display unit, a memory storing program instructions and capacity data of the fuel cell, and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the program instructions to establish a link between the ECU and the wireless device, to receive a data set from the ECU via the connected dongle each time the ECU generates engine change state data, the data set including at least mileage data and remaining fuel data, to calculate fuel economy data of the vehicle based on the capacity data, a most recent data set, and a next most recent data.

Abstract: A modular docking station for receiving a mobile device is disclosed. The docking station includes a base component having a plurality of modular apertures configured to receive hardware to perform a specific function. The docking station also includes a receiving component having a protective enclosure configured to receive and protect the mobile device in from environmental containment. The docking station further includes a coupler for coupling the receiving component to the base component.

Abstract: A measuring system including a sensor positioned to a belt to measure an oscillation or vibration of the belt based at least in part on a trigger threshold. Also, the measuring system may include a diagnostic tool coupled the sensor to receive a plurality of measurements of the oscillation or vibration of the belt, wherein the diagnostic tool may determine a tension of the belt based at least in part on an average of the plurality of measurements of the oscillation or vibration of the belt.

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.