Self Service Vehicle Diagnostics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017193716-A1
Application number	US-201514985693-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 31, 2015
Priority date	Dec 31, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A station for providing power to a vehicle, comprising:
a power providing station that provides power to the vehicle via a connector, the power providing station configured to lock a wireless diagnostic tool or a wireless battery tester in place until released and includes a mobile payment sensor; a diagnostic bay configured to perform various diagnostic functions including tire depth measurement and retrieving a set diagnostic trouble code from a vehicle's electronic control unit; and a control system configured to receive a payment for the various diagnostic functions and power, the control system further configured to receive the tire depth measurement and the set diagnostic trouble code, wherein the control system diagnoses the connected vehicle based on the received tire depth measurement and the set diagnostic trouble code, and wherein the diagnosis is sent to a driver's wireless computing device.

2 . The station of claim 1 , wherein the wireless diagnostic tool or the wireless battery tester is released from the power providing station upon the payment being received for the power.

3 . The station of claim 1 , wherein the wireless battery tester conducts a battery test on a vehicle's battery and sends the results to the driver's wireless computing device or the control system.

4 . The station of claim 1 , wherein the power providing station is an electric vehicle charging station or a gas pump.

5 . The station of claim 1 , wherein the wireless diagnostic tool retrieves vehicle diagnostic information including the set diagnostic trouble code from the vehicle and transmit the diagnostic information to the control system.

6 . The station of claim 1 , wherein instructions to a driver to turn on a light of the vehicle as part of a partial safety inspection is displayed on a display of the driver's wireless computing device or the vehicle.

7 . The station of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic functions include an emission inspection or a partial safety inspection.

8 . The station of claim 7 , wherein the emission inspection includes retrieving a set emissions related diagnostic trouble code.

9 . The station of claim 1 , wherein the connector is an electrical connector or a fuel dispenser.

10 . The station of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic functions also include interrogation of a tire sensor on the connected vehicle via a tire interrogation system.

11 . The station of claim 2 , wherein a second payment is made if the wireless diagnostic tool or the wireless battery tester is not returned to the power providing station after a predetermined period of time.

12 . An electric charging station for providing electric power to a vehicle, comprising:
a connector configured to be received in the vehicle's charging receptacle to provide electric power; a mobile payment sensor configured to receive a payment via a wireless computing device; a wireless diagnostic tool configured to be locked in place with the electric charging station until released; a diagnostic bay configured to perform various diagnostic functions including tire depth measurement and retrieving any set diagnostic trouble code from a vehicle's electronic control unit; and a control system configured to receive the payment sensed by the mobile payment sensor for the various diagnostic functions and electric power, the control system further configured to receive the tire depth measurement and the set diagnostic trouble code, wherein the control system diagnoses the connected vehicle based on the received tire depth measurement and the set diagnostic trouble code, and wherein the diagnosis is sent to the wireless computing device.

13 . The station of claim 12 further comprising a wireless battery tester that is locked in place with the electric charging station, the wireless battery tester conducts a battery test on a vehicle's battery and sends the results to the wireless computing device or the control system.

14 . The station of claim 13 , wherein the wireless diagnostic tool or the wireless battery tester is released from the electric charging station upon the payment being received for the electric power.

15 . The station of claim 12 , wherein the wireless diagnostic tool retrieves vehicle diagnostic information including the set diagnostic trouble code from the vehicle and transmit the diagnostic information to the control system.

16 . The station of claim 12 , wherein the diagnostic functions include an emission inspection or a partial safety inspection.

17 . The station of claim 16 , wherein instructions to a driver to turn on a light of the vehicle as part of the partial safety inspection is displayed on a display of wireless computing device or the vehicle.

18 . The station of claim 12 , wherein the diagnostic functions also include interrogation of a tire sensor on the connected vehicle via a tire interrogation system.

19 . The station of claim 12 , wherein a second payment is made if the wireless diagnostic tool or the wireless battery tester is not returned to the electric charging station after a predetermined period of time.

20 . The station of claim 12 , wherein a contact information for the wireless device is provided when a mobile pay system on the wireless computing device is used to pay for the electric power.

Assignees

• Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Wittliff Iii William W

Classifications

• B60L11/1816

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60L11/1861

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• G06Q20/18

  involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals · CPC title

• G07C5/0841 Primary

  Registering performance data (recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B) · CPC title

• G06Q50/06

  Energy or water supply · CPC title