Automotive code reader

Abstract

A method of displaying automotive diagnostic information is disclosed comprising connecting a code reader to a vehicle computer and communicating monitor status information and trouble codes to the code reader. Only those monitor functions that are supported by the vehicle are illuminated on the code reader, along with their status. Trouble codes communicated from the vehicle are also displayed, along with trouble code descriptors. All display functions are operative independent of any manual input to identify the type of vehicle being tested.

1. A method of displaying automotive diagnostic information comprising:
 connecting a code reader to a vehicle computer;  
 communicating monitor status information and trouble codes to the code reader from the vehicle computer;  
 selectively illuminating  displaying monitor icons  icons of the monitors on the code reader that are supported by the vehicle being tested;  
 displaying status of the supported monitors on the code reader; and 
 displaying said trouble codes communicated from the vehicle computer and  on the code reader;  
 displaying trouble code descriptors corresponding to the displayed trouble codes. 
 wherein the icons of the supported monitors, the status of the supported monitors, and at least one trouble code are displayed on a single display, in response to a single user input signal.  
 
     
     
       2. The process as recited in  claim 1  wherein the trouble codedescriptors s are generated independent of any user input upon receipt of the trouble codes . 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 2  wherein the trouble codedescriptors s are generated independent of any user input to identify the type of vehicle being tested. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the selective illumination of  supported monitors is implemented  are displayed independent of any user input identifying the type of vehicle being tested. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the status of all the supported monitors is displayed in a single display. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the supported monitor icons, the monitor status, at least one trouble code and at least one trouble code descriptor are displayed in a single display. 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the supported monitoricons s, the monitor  status of the supported monitors, and at least one trouble code and at least one trouble code descriptor  are displayed independent of any manual input to identify the type of vehicle being tested. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the selected monitor  icons of the supported monitors, monitor  the status display  of the supported monitors, and at least one trouble code display, and trouble code descriptor  are displayed concurrently. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 8  wherein the supported monitor  icons of the supported monitors, the monitor  status of the supported monitors, and the at least one trouble code and at least one trouble code descriptor  are displayed on a single display independent of any user input identifying the vehicle being tested. 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 9  wherein the supported monitor icons, the monitor status, the at least one trouble code, and the at least one trouble code discriptor are displayed on a single display, in response to a single user input signal. 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the selected monitor  icons of the supported monitors, monitor  the status of the supported monitors, and at least one trouble code and at least one trouble code descriptor  are accessed and displayed independent of any navigation of a user interface menu. 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 1  further including a step of displaying trouble code descriptors corresponding to the displayed trouble codes. 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the icons of the supported monitors, the status of the supported monitors, at least one trouble code and at least one trouble code descriptor are displayed in a single display. 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the icons of the supported monitors, the status of the supporting monitors, at least one trouble code and at least one trouble code descriptor are displayed independent of any manual input to identify the type of vehicle being tested. 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the icons of the supported monitors, the status of the supported monitors, at least one trouble code, and at least one trouble code descriptor are displayed concurrently. 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the icons of the supported monitors, the status of the supported monitors, the at least one trouble code and the at least one trouble code descriptor are displayed on a single display independent of any user input identifying the vehicle being tested. 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the icons of the supported monitors, the status of the supported monitors, the at least one trouble code, and the at least one trouble code descriptor are displayed on a single display, in response to a single user input signal. 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein the icons of the supported monitors, the status of the supported monitors, at least one trouble code and at least one trouble code descriptor are accessed and displayed independent of any navigation of a user interface menu.