Artificial intelligence vehicle leak detection system and related methodology

Abstract

A leak detection system is configured to provide vehicle-specific leak detection for a vehicle. The leak detection system includes a memory circuit having a plurality of leak detection instructions matched with vehicle identification information. The system additionally includes an ultraviolet light source and a camera configured to capture an image of an area illuminated by the ultraviolet light source. A processor is in operative communication with the memory circuit and the camera. The processor is configured to facilitate identification of at least one of the plurality of leak detection instructions in response to receipt of vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle, and compare the image captured by the camera to a known image of the vehicle to determine presence and location of a leak.

1 . A leak detection system configured to provide vehicle-specific leak detection for a vehicle, the leak detection system comprising:
 a memory circuit having a plurality of leak detection instructions matched with vehicle identification information;   an ultraviolet light source;   a camera configured to capture an image of an area illuminated by the ultraviolet light source; and   a processor in operative communication with the memory circuit and the camera, the processor being configured to:   facilitate identification of at least one of the plurality of leak detection instructions in response to receipt of vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle;   analyze the image captured by the camera to detect presence of a leak based on illumination of the area captured in the image by the ultraviolet light source; and   compare the image captured by the camera to a known image of the vehicle to determine location of the detected leak.   
     
     
         2 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of identification of a part requiring replacement in response to determination of the location of the leak by the processor. 
     
     
         3 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate a part identification signal associated with the part requiring replacement for communication to the user. 
     
     
         4 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 3 , wherein the part identification signal is generated autonomously in response to identification of the part requiring replacement. 
     
     
         5 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to implement the analyzing step, the comparing step and the identification step autonomously in response to receipt of the image and the vehicle identification information. 
     
     
         6 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate placement of an order for the part requiring replacement autonomously in response to receipt of the image and the vehicle identification information. 
     
     
         7 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle image database operatively communicable with the processor and having a plurality of vehicle images matched with vehicle identification information, the processor being configured to identify at least one of the plurality of vehicle images matched with received vehicle identification associated with the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a housing, the memory circuit and the processor being located within the housing, the vehicle image database being located external to the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a vehicle identification signal associated with received vehicle identification information, the vehicle identification signal being communicable to a remote server including a vehicle image database thereon having a plurality of vehicle images matched with vehicle identification information. 
     
     
         10 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hand-holdable housing, the processor and the memory circuit being located within the housing; and   a diagnostic connector head coupled to the housing, the diagnostic connector head having a diagnostic connector configured to be plug connectable to a diagnostic port on a vehicle.   
     
     
         11 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 10 , wherein the ultraviolet light source and the camera are located on the diagnostic connector head. 
     
     
         12 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a display connected to the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 12 , wherein the display is in communication with the processor and is configured to display the at least one of the plurality of leak detection instructions identified in response to receipt of the vehicle identification information associated with the particular vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 12 , wherein the display is in operative communication with the camera and is configured to display the image captured by the camera. 
     
     
         15 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a hand-holdable housing connected to the ultraviolet light source and the camera, the memory circuit and the processor being located external to the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a communication circuit in the housing and configured to facilitate communications with the memory circuit and the processor. 
     
     
         17 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the memory circuit further includes a plurality of leak symptoms and associated leak locations matched with vehicle identification information, the processor being configured to facilitate identification of at least one of the plurality of leak symptoms in response to receipt of vehicle identification information associated with the particular vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to facilitate identification of at least one of the plurality of leak detection instructions autonomously in response to receipt of the vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to analyze the image captured by the camera to detect presence of a leak autonomously in response to receipt of the image captured by the camera. 
     
     
         20 . The leak detection system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to implement the analyzing step and the comparing step autonomously in response to receipt of the image and the vehicle identification information. 
     
     
         21 . A method of vehicle-specific leak detection for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving vehicle identification information associated with a particular vehicle;   identifying at least one of a plurality of leak detection instructions in response to receipt of the vehicle identification information;   generating a signal including the identified at least one of the plurality of leak detection instructions;   receiving an image of an area illuminated by an ultraviolet light source;   analyze the received image to detect presence of a leak based on illumination of the area captured in the image by the ultraviolet light source; and   comparing the received image to a known image of the vehicle to determine location of the leak.   
     
     
         22 . The method recited in  claim 21 , wherein the steps of receiving vehicle identification information, identifying, generating, receiving the image, and analyzing are all performed within a hand-holdable housing. 
     
     
         23 . The method recited in  claim 21 , wherein the step of receiving vehicle identification information includes receiving the vehicle identification information from an onboard vehicle computer. 
     
     
         24 . The method recited in  claim 21 , wherein the step of receiving vehicle identification information includes receiving user input from a user. 
     
     
         25 . The method recited in  claim 21 , wherein the generating step includes generating a visual display including the identified at least one of the plurality of leak detection instructions. 
     
     
         26 . The method recited in  claim 21 , wherein the generating step includes generating an audio signal including the identified at least one of the plurality of leak detection instructions. 
     
     
         27 . The method recited in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of emitting an ultraviolet light to facilitate detection of a possible leak. 
     
     
         28 . The method recited in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of receiving symptomatic leak data from a user. 
     
     
         29 . The method recited in  claim 28 , further comprising the step of comparing the received symptomatic leak data to stored leak symptoms to identify a possible leak. 
     
     
         30 . The method recited in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of displaying the received image. 
     
     
         31 . The method recited in  claim 21 , wherein the analyzing and comparing steps are performed autonomously in response to receipt of the image. 
     
     
         32 . The method recited in  claim 31 , further comprising the step if identifying a part requiring replacement autonomously in response to determination of the location of the leak. 
     
     
         33 . The method recited in  claim 32 , further comprising the step of placement of an order for the part requiring replacement autonomously in response to identifying the part requirement replacement. 
     
     
         34 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for use in providing vehicle-specific leak detection for a vehicle, the computer readable medium configured for use with a memory circuit having a plurality of leak detection instructions matched with vehicle identification information, and a camera configured to capture an image of an area illuminated by an ultraviolet light source, the computer executable instructions being downloadable onto a mobile communication device for configuring the mobile communication device to:
 facilitate identification of at least one of the plurality of leak detection instructions in the memory circuit in response to receipt of vehicle identification information associated with the vehicle;   analyze the image captured by the camera to detect presence of a leak based on illumination of the area captured in the image by the ultraviolet light source; and   compare the image captured by the camera to a known image of the vehicle to determine location of the detected leak.   
     
     
         35 . The computer readable medium recited in  claim 34 , wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the mobile communication device to identify a part requiring replacement in response to determination of the location of the leak. 
     
     
         36 . The computer readable medium recited in  claim 35 , wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the mobile communication device to implement the analyzing step, the comparing step and the identification step autonomously in response to receipt of the image and the vehicle identification information. 
     
     
         37 . The computer readable medium recited in  claim 36 , wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the mobile communication device to facilitate placement of an order for the part requiring replacement autonomously in response to receipt of the image and the vehicle identification information.