| SNAP-ON INCORPORATED Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120117812 | LIGHTWEIGHT WHEEL CLAMP FOR VEHICLE WHEEL ALIGNMENT SYSTEM - A lightweight wheel clamp assembly is provided for attaching to a vehicle wheel for performing a wheel alignment on the vehicle. The assembly comprises a first bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a second bracket for engaging the vehicle wheel; a handle rotatably mounted to the second bracket; and a rod having a threaded portion and an attachment portion near a first end of the rod. The first bracket is attachable to the attachment portion of the rod, and the handle is threaded to engage the threaded portion of the rod, such that when a user grasps and rotates the handle, a distance between the first and second brackets can be adjusted to rigidly attach the wheel clamp assembly to the vehicle wheel. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120047499 | Apparatus and Method for Managing Software Applications Using Partitioned Data Storage Devices - Methods, devices, and computer storage media for installation, upgrading, reinstallation, and roll back of software application packages are disclosed. A first software application package is stored in an installation partition of a data storage device of a computing device. The first software application package includes a first software application. The first software application can be installed on an active partition of the data storage device. A first authentication key, associated with the first software application, is determined and stored on the active partition, and then copied to the installation partition. In response to determining that the first software application is to be reinstalled on the active partition: (a) the first software application is reinstalled from the first software application package stored on the installation partition to the active partition, and (b) the associated authentication key stored on the installation partition is copied to the active partition. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120047458 | System and Method for Selecting Individual Parameters to Transition from Text-to-Graph or Graph-to-Text - A system and method for selecting individual parameters to transform from text-to-graph and graph-to-text is disclosed. The system includes a display device having a display screen for showing multiple views, including a non-graph view and a graph view. The non-graph view includes a plurality of demarcated portions, each having a graph selection element, a parameter identifier that corresponds to the graph selection element, and a current parameter value that corresponds to the graph selection element. The graph selection element may be selected to show a graph view. The graph view includes a first parameter identifier and a first current parameter value each corresponding to the selected graph selection element, a text selection element, and a graph of multiple parameter values associated with the first parameter identifier. Upon selection of the text selection element, the screen returns to the non-graph view. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120047291 | System and method for integrating devices for servicing a device-under-service - A system comprising multiple devices that are operable when servicing a device-under service is described. A data acquisition (DAQ) device and a scanner device of the system are operable to acquire data from the device-under-service and to transmit the acquired data to a display device of the system. The DAQ device can operate in a local-control mode in which selection of DAQ mode for the DAQ device is carried out at the DAQ device. The DAQ device can operate in a remote-control mode in which selection of a DAQ mode for the DAQ device is carried out at the display device. The multiple devices may communicate with each other via one or more wireless network via one or more air interface protocols. Each device of the system may operate as a stand-alone device or in combination with multiple devices of the system. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120047289 | System and Method for Wireless Pairing via Wired Connection - Methods, devices, and computer-readable media related to establishing wireless connections using a wired connection are disclosed. A remote device is communicatively coupled via a wired connection. The remote device receives, via the wired connection, an initialization request to initialize a wireless connection to the remote device. A search of remote device data stored in the remote device is performed. The remote device data can store authentication data related to one or more wireless connections. At the remote device, an initialization response to the initialization request is determined based on the search. The remote device sends the initialization response via the wired connection. The initialization response can indicate whether the initialization response is accepted or rejected. If the initialization response is accepted, the wireless connection to the remote device can be subsequently established and the wired connection can be subsequently closed. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120046897 | System and method for simultaneous display of waveforms generated from input signals received at a data acquisition device - A method and system for displaying waveforms generated from input signals received at a common input channel (CIC) of a data acquisition (DAQ) device. An input signal received at the CIC can be displayed as a present-time waveform, and while the input signal is displayed as a present-time waveform, the input signal can be tagged for displaying the input signal as a historical waveform for the CIC. After receiving another input signal at the CIC, a display can be refreshed to display, simultaneously, the historical waveform for the CIC and the other input signal as another present-time waveform for the CIC. The DAQ device can tag the displayed input signal in response to a user pushing a selector device on the DAQ device. The display can display other present-time waveforms with the historical waveform to allow a user to compare input signals received at the CIC. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120046826 | System and method for a vehicle scanner to automatically execute a test suite from a storage card - Disclosed are systems and methods for a vehicle scanner to automatically execute applications from a removable storage card. The method includes detecting a presence of one or more executable diagnostic requests in removable data storage, and responsive to the detection, transmitting one or more corresponding requests for vehicle diagnostic data to the vehicle via a vehicle interface. Responsive to the transmission, the vehicle scanner receives and processes diagnostic data from the vehicle. The vehicle scanner may store the data back to the removable storage card, or may transmit the data via a wired or wireless interface to a display device. As part of the detection process, the vehicle scanner may first authenticate the removable storage card before executing vehicle diagnostic instructions from the card. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120046825 | System and Method for Universal Scanner Module to Buffer and Bulk Send Vehicle Data Responsive to Network Conditions - Disclosed are systems and methods for retrieving and transmitting vehicle diagnostic data from a vehicle to a display device. The method includes receiving vehicle diagnostic data via a vehicle interface to a diagnostic port of a vehicle and monitoring a status of a wireless interface for transmitting the vehicle diagnostic data to a display device. Responsive to detecting a break in wireless connectivity with the display device via the wireless interface, stopping routing of the vehicle diagnostic data from the vehicle interface to the wireless interface and instead beginning routing of the vehicle diagnostic data to a local storage. An external indication of a break in connectivity may also be provided. Once wireless connectivity is restored, incoming vehicle diagnostic data may be stored in the local storage while simultaneously reading stored vehicle diagnostic data from the local storage and transmitting it via the wireless interface to the display device. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120046824 | System and Method for Extending Communication Range and Reducing Power Consumption of Vehicle Diagnostic Equipment - Disclosed are systems and methods for transmitting obtained vehicle diagnostic data to a separate display device. The method includes a first vehicle diagnostic device obtaining vehicle diagnostic data via a vehicle interface to a diagnostic port of a vehicle, determining whether a direct wireless connection with one or more display devices is available, and determining whether an indirect wireless connection with the one or more display devices is available via a second separate vehicle diagnostic device. Responsive to a further determination, the vehicle diagnostic device may transmit the obtained diagnostic data to the one or more display devices via the second separate vehicle diagnostic device. The further determination may be based on one or more of wireless connectivity status, power level status, transmission power requirements, or other facts or determinations. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120046807 | System and Method for Preventing Theft of Vehicle Diagnostic Equipment - Disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and responding to a potential theft of a display device and/or vehicle diagnostic device in a modular vehicle diagnostic system. Display devices and/or vehicle diagnostic devices may monitor a status of a wireless communications link between them and, responsive to detecting a break in the link, execute one or more anti-theft responses. Furthermore, a display device may maintain a whitelist and/or be in communications with an authentication and anti-theft server, and may determine whether to execute an anti-theft response and/or accept a connection request from a new vehicle diagnostic device based on the whitelist contents and/or based on a response from the server. Anti-theft responses may include sounding an alarm, ceasing function and/or locking up, reporting a potential theft, transmitting a location of the potentially stolen device, or other responses. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120045927 | Cable assembly for protection against undesired signals - A cable assembly for connecting an electronic device to another electronic device and/or to a signal source. The cable assembly comprises a first connector and a second connector and a plurality of conductors connected between the connectors. The first connector may comprise receptacles for receiving a circuit-interrupter that can open a circuit in the cable assembly when an undesired signal (e.g., a over-voltage signal or an over-current signal) is applied to the cable assembly. The circuit-interrupter may comprise a fuse, such as a non-resettable fuse or a resettable fuse. The first connector may be arranged for connection to an automobile and the second connector may be arranged for connection to an electronic device operable for diagnosing and/or servicing the automobile. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120044607 | Overvoltage and Overcurrent Protection Scheme - Disclosed are methods and corresponding systems to detect and prevent and/or eliminate overload conditions for a transistor. According to an embodiment, a method includes providing an input signal to a base terminal of a transistor for a first amount of time, determining if an overload condition exists at the transistor, disabling the transistor for a second amount of time when the overload condition exists at the transistor, and providing the communication signal to the base terminal upon expiration of the second amount of time. Additional overload conditions can be checked upon expiration of the second amount of time as well. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120044527 | Apparatus and Method for Controlled Ethernet Switching - Methods, devices, and computer-readable media related to use of a scanner device and access node to repair a device-under-repair are disclosed. The first and second connections can utilize a first communication protocol (e.g., Ethernet or Bluetooth) and the third connection can utilize a different second communication protocol (e.g., OBD-II). In response to receiving a first communication addressed to a first address, the first communication can be sent from the scanner device via the second connection. In response to receiving a second communication addressed to a second address, where the first address differs from the second address, the second communication can be converted to conform to the second communication protocol and the converted second communication can be sent from the scanner device via the third connection. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120044086 | System and method for displaying input data on a remote display device - A system comprising multiple devices that are operable when servicing a device-under service is described. A DAQ device is operable to generate input data from input signals received from the device-under-service and to transmit the input data to a display device via a wireless network. The DAQ device comprises multiple buffers to store the input data. One of the buffers stores two frames of the input data, which can be live input data or historical input data. At any one time, a display at the display device visually presents one frame of input data for each respective input channel of the DAQ device. At any one time, a display at the DAQ device visually presents a half-frame of input data for each respective input channel of the DAQ device. Another buffer at the DAQ device can store more than two frames of input data including historical input data. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120044052 | Method and apparatus to use remote and local control modes to acquire and visually present data - A system comprising multiple devices that are operable when servicing a device-under service is described. A data acquisition (DAQ) device and a vehicle scanner device of the system are operable to acquire data from the device-under-service and to transmit the acquired data to a display device of the system. The DAQ device can operate in a local-control mode in which selection of DAQ mode for the DAQ device is carried out at the DAQ device. The DAQ device can operate in a remote-control mode in which selection of a DAQ mode for the DAQ device is carried out at the display device. The multiple devices may communicate with each other via one or more wireless network via one or more air interface protocols. Each device of the system may operate as a stand-alone device or in combination with multiple devices of the system. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120042031 | WIRELESS NETWORK AND METHODOLOGY FOR AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE SYSTEMS - A method and apparatus are provided for forming a wireless communications network using a standard communications link between a master controller and at least one slave device. In one example, a list of available slave devices for the network is generated, valid slave devices are determined from the list of available slave devices based on an identification protocol of the standard communications link, and the at least one slave device is selected from the valid slave devices. A network identification is established between the master controller and the at least one slave device, and the network identification is used to establish a network comprising only the master controller and the at least one slave device. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20110185779 | TOOL BOX LOCKING MECHANISIMS FOR REMOTE ACTIVATION - An improved method of rotating the lockrod of a tool storage unit to the “locked” or “unlocked” position by use of a linear actuator to rotate the lockrod actuator, where the linear actuator operates electrically, allowing for control by any remotely or automatically operated system. The tool storage unit locking mechanisms include a center-neutral key position that rotates 90 degrees in either direction from center to lock and unlock the unit. This design allows a standard key to operate the locking mechanism, but also allows a secondary mechanism (such as an electromagnetically driven mechanism) to directly operate the lock. Due to its specifics, the design would also allow for retrofitability. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110185584 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT - A vehicle wheel alignment method and system is provided. A three-dimensional target is attached to a vehicle wheel known to be in alignment. The three-dimensional target has multiple target elements thereon, each of which has known geometric characteristics and 3D spatial relationship with one another. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110179656 | VEHICLE WHEEL ALIGNMENT SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY - A hybrid wheel alignment system and methodology use passive targets for a first pair of wheels (e.g. front wheels) and active sensing heads for another pair of wheels (e.g. rear wheels). The active sensing heads combine image sensors for capturing images of the targets with at least one spatial relationship sensor for sensing a relationship between the active sensing heads. One or both of the active sensing heads may include inclinometers or the like, for sensing one or more tilt angles of the respective sensing head. Data from the active sensing heads may be sent to a host computer for processing to derive one or more vehicle measurements, for example, for measurement of parameters useful in wheel alignment applications. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110153151 | DISTRIBUTED VEHICLE SERVICE METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method and system for conducting a vehicle service comprises the steps of receiving signals representative of vehicle parameters, accessing data and/or software necessary for performing the vehicle service from at least one remote computer over a data transmission network, and performing signal processing related to the vehicle service based on the signals representative of the vehicle parameters and the accessed data and/or software. Since the data and/or software necessary for conducting the vehicle diagnostic analysis is distributed in different systems that are connected via a data communication network, an automotive service system can minimize the size of software stored locally and can access most of the information and/or algorithm required for conducting the vehicle diagnostic analysis from a remote system. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20100328060 | VEHICLE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM WITH USER INTERFACE - A vehicle measurement system that provides highly realistic guidance to perform a vehicle measurement procedure is described. An exemplary system includes a data storage device configured to store vehicle data for a plurality of vehicles. The vehicle data corresponding to each respective vehicle includes an image of the vehicle and information of predefined points on the vehicle to which emitters or targets should be attached for performing a vehicle measurement procedure. A user interface is provided to receive a user input identifying a vehicle under test. After the user identifies a vehicle under test, the system retrieves vehicle data corresponding to the vehicle under test from the data storage device; and displays the image of the vehicle under test on the display with the predefined points on the vehicle identified. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100262335 | VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL WITH PACKET AND VOICE OVER PACKET COMMUNICATIONS AND SYSTEMS INCORPORATING SUCH A TOOL - In an exemplary vehicle service facility that provides vehicle related sales, maintenance services or the like, a diagnostic tool has wireless packet data communication capabilities. To support voice communication, the tool also has one or more audible input/output transducers and a vocoder, and is configured to use VoIP technology or the like to enable wireless packet data transport of voice calls over the same wireless data links. The packet voice capability can support voice communications with technicians using other tools at the facility or with personnel in an office at the service facility. If the facility has a data link to a wide area packet network, like the Internet, the packet voice capability may also support voice communications with other parties having packet service. Examples are technicians at other locations or various personnel of technical support services for the tools or for different types of vehicles. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100251352 | System and method for rendering a set of program instructions as executable or non-executable - A method and system for rendering a set of computer-readable program instructions on a user device as executable or non-executable. The user device or an intermediary device may transmit an access-token request including a device identifier to a server device. The server device determines whether the device identifier matches a registered device identifier, and if so, transmits an access-token to the user device, or to the intermediary device, which in turn transmits the access-token to the user device. The access-token includes an expiration indicator. Preferably, the expiration indicator is not expired when received by the user device, but expires some time after being received by the user device. The user device executes a first set of program instruction to determine whether the expiration indicator is expired, and if so, renders a second set of program instructions as non-executable, otherwise the second set of program instructions are rendered as executable. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100177304 | VEHICLE WHEEL ALIGNMENT SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY - A hybrid wheel alignment system and methodology use passive targets for a first pair of wheels (e.g. front wheels) and active sensing heads for another pair of wheels (e.g. rear wheels). The active sensing heads combine image sensors for capturing images of the targets with at least one spatial relationship sensor for sensing a relationship between the active sensing heads. One or both of the active sensing heads may include inclinometers or the like, for sensing one or more tilt angles of the respective sensing head. Data from the active sensing heads may be sent to a host computer for processing to derive one or more vehicle measurements, for example, for measurement of parameters useful in wheel alignment applications. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100149526 | FAULT TOLERANT WHEEL ALIGNMENT HEAD AND SYSTEM - A sensing head and system utilizes fault tolerant design and self-diagnosis. Alternative operation modes are provided when one or more functional modules or components fail. Unique designs provide redundant system resources. Self-diagnoses and tests are provided to isolate and identify sources of malfunctions. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100138701 | Method and System for Retrieving Diagnostic Information - A system, method, and apparatus for retrieving trouble codes from an equipment under diagnosis and retrieving only relevant diagnostic information relative to the returned codes from one or more remote diagnostic libraries. An electronic diagnostic library contains diagnostic vehicle information tagged with trouble code identification ID's at a first location, and a diagnostic tool at a second location requests only relevant diagnostic information from the electronic library that is tagged with trouble code identification ID's corresponding to the retrieved trouble codes and information identifying the equipment under diagnosis. The diagnostic tool receives the specific diagnostic vehicle information at the first location and may store the specific vehicle information locally prior to displaying an index to the information to a repair technician. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100121482 | IMAGE-BASED INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEM - Inventory control systems for monitoring the removal and replacement of objects are described. An exemplary system includes at least one storage drawer, each storage drawer includes at least one storage location for storing objects, and configured to move in a first direction allowing increasing access to storage locations of the drawer, and a second direction allowing decreasing access to storage locations of the drawer. An image sensing device is provided to form at least one first image of the storage locations when a respective storage drawer moves in the second direction. The system includes a data processor configured to receive information representing images of the storage locations generated by the image sensing device, and determine an inventory condition of the objects stored in the respective storage drawer according to the at least one first image. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100046791 | IMAGE-BASED INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEM USING ADVANCED IMAGE RECOGNITION - Systems for monitoring an inventory condition of objects based on captured images are described. An exemplary system includes at least one storage drawer, each storage drawer including a plurality of storage locations for storing objects; and a data storage device storing reference data for each storage drawer. The reference data includes, for each region of interest corresponding to each respective storage drawer, at least one of a reference image signature representing attributes of the region of interest when a stored object is present, and a reference image signature representing attributes of the region of interest when the stored object is not present. A data processor of the system is configured to derive an image signature representing attributes of a region of interest corresponding to a drawer using a captured image of the drawer; and determine an inventory condition of the drawer according to the stored reference data corresponding to the region of interest and the derived image signature representing attributes of the captured image of the region of interest. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100045423 | IMAGE-BASED INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems and methods for determining an inventory condition of objects based on captured images are described. An exemplary inventory control system or method utilizes a highly efficient and economical approach to apply suitable imaging parameters for capturing images of a storage drawer being accessed by a user, or for manipulating the captured images of the drawer. An inventory condition of the drawer is determined based on the captured images or manipulated images. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100039513 | IMAGE-BASED INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEM WITH AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION AND IMAGE CORRECTION - Systems for monitoring an inventory condition of objects based on captured images are described. An exemplary system includes at least one storage drawer, each storage drawer including a plurality of storage locations for storing objects, wherein each drawer is associated with an identifier with known color attributes; and an image sensing device configured to capture an image of one of the storage drawers along with the associated identifier. A data storage device of the system stores, for each storage drawer, information of the known color attributes of the associated identifier. A data processor of the system is configured to access information of the known color attributes of the identifier associated with the drawer corresponding to the captured image; determine color attributes of the identifier in the captured image; determine a correction factor based on the color attributes of the identifier in the captured image and the known color attributes of the identifier; and apply the correction factor to subsequent images captured by the image sensing device. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20090307302 | System and Method for Providing Data from a Server to a Client - A method and system is provided for a server to provide data to a client. A client user requests presentation of a data file that is associated with time-to-live data and a hash. If the time-to-live data is not expired, the client presents to the user a data file stored at the client. If the time-to-live data is expired, the client requests the server to send the hash associated with the latest version of the data file stored at the server. The client determines whether the hashes match. If the hashes match, the client presents the data file stored at the client. If the hashes do not match, the client requests that the server provide the client with the latest version of the data file. After receiving the latest version of the data file, the client presents to the user the latest version of the data file. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090056152 | VEHICLE WHEEL ALIGNMENT SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY - A hybrid wheel alignment system and methodology use passive targets for a first pair of wheels (e.g. front wheels) and active sensing heads for another pair of wheels (e.g. rear wheels). The active sensing heads combine image sensors for capturing images of the targets with at least one spatial relationship sensor for sensing a relationship between the active sensing heads. One or both of the active sensing heads may include inclinometers or the like, for sensing one or more tilt angles of the respective sensing head. Data from the active sensing heads may be sent to a host computer for processing to derive one or more vehicle measurements, for example, for measurement of parameters useful in wheel alignment applications. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090030558 | WHEEL ALIGNMENT HEAD AND SYSTEM WITH ADVANCED POWER MANAGEMENT - A wheel alignment head and system use advanced power management to reduce non-essential power consumption, to extend operation time between charges. The wheel alignment head is operable in a first operation state and a second operation state that consumes less power than the first operation state. In response to an occurrence of at least one of preset events, the wheel alignment head switches its operation from the first operation mode to the second operation mode. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090027662 | FAULT TOLERANT WHEEL ALIGNMENT HEAD AND SYSTEM - A sensing head and system utilizes fault tolerant design and self-diagnosis. Alternative operation modes are provided when one or more functional modules or components fail. Unique designs provide redundant system resources. Self-diagnoses and tests are provided to isolate and identify sources of malfunctions. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20080307010 | Method and System for Sending Changes in Information to a Central System - A method and system is disclosed for sending changes in information to a central system. The method includes providing a first database having a plurality of information tables for storing information and providing a second database for tracking changes to the information in the information tables of the first database. The second database may include a link table containing links corresponding to the information tables in the first database. The changes in the information tables may be periodically extracted from the first database by using the second database. The changes may be extracted via a link of the link table which corresponds to the information table where an information change occurred. The extracted changes may be sent to a central server. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080306651 | System and Method for Transferring Vehicle Service Data - A system and method directed to generating a transfer file of categorized vehicle service data, wherein the vehicle service data was captured by a vehicle service tool, and transmitting the transfer file to a remote device. The remote device may store the categorized vehicle service data and thereafter send the categorized vehicle service data back to the vehicle service tool that captured the vehicle service data or to another vehicle service tool for use in comparing current vehicle service conditions to previous service conditions represented by the categorized vehicle service data. The transfer file may include a variety of categories such as diagnostic trouble codes, screen shots, calibration data, and parameter identifiers. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080306646 | System and Method for Using Vehicle Attributes to Identify a Vehicle Under Service - A system and method directed to determining vehicle attributes associated with a vehicle under service so as to eliminate the need for a user of a vehicle service tool to enter the vehicle attributes or to reduce the quantity of vehicle attributes that the user has to enter in order for the vehicle service tool to identify the vehicle under service and, in turn, to retrieve vehicle reference data associated with the vehicle under service. The vehicle service tool may include vehicle service applications for servicing various systems and/or components of the vehicle under service. A vehicle service application selected by the user may function as a requester application that queries other applications and/or data storage for the vehicle attributes needed by the requester application to identify the vehicle under service. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080306645 | Methods and Systems for Providing Open Access to Vehicle Data - A method for providing open access to vehicle data is disclosed From a vehicle under service, the method receives vehicle-diagnostic data in a manufacturer-specified format at a vehicle-service tool, and converts the vehicle data in the manufacturer-specified format into vehicle data in an open format. | 12-11-2008 |
