Patent Application
20070095912
The present invention relates generally to an automotive scan tool. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automotive scan tool having a memory card reader accessed through a battery compartment.
Virtually all-modern automotive scan tools use expandable storage memory based on flash memory devices such as compact flash, secure digital, memory stick, etc. (collectively “memory card”) in order to save data or to update software on the scan tool. A user would typically insert the memory card into a memory card reader located on the periphery of the scan tool. However, the memory card reader does not have a cover that prevents the memory card from accidentally falling out during use, transport or if the scan tool is dropped. Adding additional covers will increase the costs of the scan tool.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus that will prevent the memory card from accidentally falling out of the scan tool.
The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in one aspect an apparatus is provided that in some embodiments a scan tool includes a battery cover that can cover at least a portion of a battery compartment and a card reader.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a scan too includes a housing to contain components of the scan tool, a card reader contained in the housing and configured to receive a memory card, and a cover that covers at least a portion of a battery compartment and at least a portion of the card reader.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of preventing a memory card from disengaging from a scan tool, includes providing a card reader within a housing of the scan tool, the card reader can be configured to communicate with the memory card, inserting the memory card into the card reader, and preventing the memory card from disengaging the card reader with a battery cover that can be received by the housing.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a scan tool system that includes means for housing that can contain components means of the scan tool, means for reading a memory storing means that can be contained in the means for housing and configured to receive the memory storing means, and means for covering that can cover at least a portion of a battery containing means and at least a portion of means for reading.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides for a scan tool having a cover for the memory card, wherein the cover is also the battery cover.
The battery cover 34 provides a cover for the batteries that are utilized by the scan tool. The battery cover 34 is removable so that the user can have access to the battery compartment and the card reader, which can be integrated with the battery compartment. The battery cover can be made from any material including the same material as the scan tool. The battery cover can be coupled to the scan tool through conventional means. The battery cover 34 may also have on its outside surface ridges 38 that interact with a finger of the user to facilitate the removable or replacement of the battery cover. The ridges 38 can be placed at any point on the outer surface of the battery cover as desired by the user, Additionally, the battery cover 34 may at a first end be narrower than at a second end. The second end may be wider in order to cover the card reader. The battery cover 34 can also cover a portion of the battery compartment and the card reader.
In other embodiments, the card reader may be located in other parts of the scan tool where the batteries are also located. The batteries can also act as the cover for the card reader, wherein the batteries are seated or positioned over the top of the card reader. Thus, for card reader access, the batteries are removed to expose the card reader.
The battery cover protects the card reader from dust or other contaminants when no memory card is present. Additionally, the battery cover prevents the memory card from falling out during use. If the card memory falls out during use, such as while software is being uploaded, it can damage the scan tool or require the entire software to be reloaded onto the scan tool, thus, wasting time of the user. The battery cover also prevents the memory card from disengaging from the card reader should the scan tool is accidentally dropped. Further, by using a battery cover, no additional design is required and thereby saving time and money.
In operation, the user can remove the battery cover from the housing, thereby exposing the card reader. The user then inserts the appropriate memory card into the card reader. Once a good connection is established between the memory card and the card reader, the user can replace the battery cover. With the battery cover in place, the memory card is prevented from disengaging from the card reader until the battery cover is removed.
To remove the memory card from the card reader, the user again removes the battery cover from the housing, thereby exposing the card reader. The user then removes the memory card from the card reader. At this point, the user can replace the memory card with another memory card, if desired. Afterwards, the user can replace the battery cover once again. If no memory card is present in the card reader, than the battery cover can prevent dust and other contaminants from entering the card reader. If a memory card is present in the card reader, then the cover prevents the memory from disengaging from the card reader.
The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
