Wireless communications system - tractor / trailer

• US 20040224630A1
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Preco Electronics Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Original Assignee: Preco Electronics Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Inventors: MacFarland, Darin
• Application Number:
  US10/430,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20040224630A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

A wireless communication system may be used for exchanging information between all types of vehicles and to/from locations within radio range of said vehicles, where there is a need for data transfer in order to monitor and control certain functions and equipment on, within or near a vehicle. This is made possible via connection of sub-networks over a common-protocol wireless network. A system for converting between various wired data links to a common wireless link is provided. An interface translator is provided to make this data conversion possible. This translator provides a full-duplex linkage between a network that implements a wireless protocol, and an interconnected data bus, which interfaces to a vehicle measurement and control system. The homogeneous part of the system is on the wireless link side of the translator, and the customizable part of the system is on the measurement and control side of the translator. Each node on the network communicates packetized data with other nodes present on the network. This network facilitates ease of use, whereby nodes can be installed in a variety of different vehicles or extra-vehicular locations, and nodes can be installed in areas near vehicles, for extra-vehicular communication.

Claims

1. An inter-nodal, expandable wireless communications network for vehicles, having a plurality of programmable nodes, each node comprising:

A radio frequency transceiver for data communication to or from any other node; and

An interface translator circuit capable of encoding and decoding packetized information comprising;

A microprocessor and data storage circuit for implementation of a data protocol; and

A generic data transfer protocol for transceiving of packetized information amongst a plurality of nodes in said network; and

An interface circuit for signal communication with a local interface bus; and

A local, hard-wired interface bus, comprising;

A circuit that provides bi-directional signal communication with said interface translator; and

Monitoring circuitry for gathering data from a multiplicity of separate inputs; and

Controlling circuitry for outputting a multiplicity of separate signals, for control of external devices.

3. The communications network of claim 1, where the radio frequency transceiver for data communication is a Bluetooth compatible radio.

5. The communications network of claim 1, where the radio frequency transceiver for data communication is a Bluetooth compatible radio.

7. The communications network of claim 1, where the local, hard-wired interface bus circuit is a CAN standard bus.

9. The communications network of claim 1, where the local, hard-wired interface bus circuit is an SAE J1708 standard bus.

11. The communications network of claim 1, where the local, hard-wired interface bus circuit is an IEEE RS-422 standard bus.

13. The communications network of claim 1, where the local, hard-wired interface bus circuit is an IEEE 1394 FireWire standard bus.

15. The communications network of claim 1, where the local, hard-wired interface bus circuit is an IEEE RS-422 standard bus.

2. An inter-nodal, expandable radio communications network, having physical, programmable nodes located on, within or near vehicles, each node comprising:

A radio frequency transceiver for two-way data communication to or from any other node; and

An interface translator circuit capable of encoding and decoding packetized information, comprising;

A microprocessor and data storage circuit for implementation of a data protocol; and

A generic data transfer protocol for transceiving of packetized information amongst a plurality of nodes in said network; and

An interface circuit for signal communication with a local interface bus; and

A local, hard-wired interface bus, comprising;

A circuit that provides bi-directional signal communication with said interface translator; and

Monitoring circuitry for a multiplicity of separate sensor inputs; and

Controlling circuitry for outputting a multiplicity of separate signals, for control of external devices.

4. The communications network of claim 2, where the radio frequency transceiver for data communication is a Bluetooth compatible radio.

6. The communications network of claim 2, where the radio frequency transceiver for data communication is a Bluetooth compatible radio.

8. The communications network of claim 2, where the local, hard-wired interface bus circuit is a CAN standard bus.

10. The communications network of claim 2, where the local, hard-wired interface bus circuit is an SAE J1708 standard bus.

12. The communications network of claim 2, where the local, hard-wired interface bus circuit is an IEEE RS-422 standard bus.

14. The communications network of claim 2, where the local, hard-wired interface bus circuit is an IEEE 1394 FireWire standard bus.

16. The communications network of claim 2, where the local, hard-wired interface bus circuit is an IEEE RS-422 standard bus.