Protocol adapter for passing diagnostic messages between vehicle networks and a host computer

• US 20050038921A1
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Inventors: McClure, Robert E., Such, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,337,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21134 Signal adaption circuit build into connector
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25451 Connect module to bus using interface with adaptive logic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2637 Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4135 using bit-wise arbitration

Abstract

A protocol adapter for transferring diagnostic messages between networks within a vehicle and a host computer. The protocol adapter operates as a voltage translator to support J1708 software. The protocol adapter also recognizes when the protocol adapter is connected to a host computer running the J1939 and/or J1708 protocols and automatically switches to that protocol.

Claims

1. A protocol adapter for transferring diagnostic messages between a vehicle network in a vehicle and an external host computer, said adapter comprising:

a control area network (CAN) transceiver circuit, said CAN transceiver circuit providing an interface between the vehicle network and the host computer when the vehicle network is operating in a J1939 protocol;

a J1708 transceiver circuit, said J1708 transceiver circuit providing an interface between the vehicle network and the host computer when the vehicle network is operating in a J1708 protocol, said J1708 transceiver circuit including a voltage translator for translating the voltage of the J1708 protocol signals; and

a central processing unit (CPU), said CPU controlling the operation of the CAN transceiver circuit and the J1708 transceiver circuit to switch between the CAN transceiver circuit and the J1708 transceiver circuit depending on whether the host computer is operating in the J1939 protocol or the J1708 protocol or both.

2. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 further comprising an RS-232 transceiver, said RS-232 transceiver circuit providing an interface to an RS-232 port on the host computer.

3. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 further comprising a device decoder, said device decoder decoding input signals sent to the CPU.

4. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 further comprising a static random access memory (RAM) circuit, said RAM circuit including a RAM that provides temporary data storage and is connected to the CPU through data and address channels.

5. The protocol adapter according to claim 4 wherein the RAM circuit further provides redirection of mailbox data, storage for oversized messages and the concatenation of small messages.

6. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 further comprising a flash memory module, said flash memory module providing permanent storage of application data and loader application information.

7. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 further comprising a universal asynchronous receive and transmit (UART) circuit, said UART circuit providing communication of asynchronous data to and from the host computer.

8. The protocol adapter according to claim 1 further comprising a CPU I/O interface circuit, said CPU I/O interface circuit providing an interface between the CPU and the transceiver circuits.

9. A protocol adapter for transferring diagnostic messages between a vehicle network in a vehicle and an external host computer, said adapter comprising:

a control area network (CAN) transceiver circuit, said CAN transceiver circuit providing an interface between the vehicle network and the host computer when the vehicle network is operating in a first protocol; and

a J1708 transceiver circuit, said J1708 transceiver circuit providing an interface between the vehicle network and the host computer when the vehicle network is operating in a J1708 protocol and the protocol adapter is operating in a pass-through mode, said J1708 transceiver circuit including a voltage translator for translating the voltage of the J1708 protocol signals.

10. The protocol adapter according to claim 9 further comprising an RS-232 transceiver, said RS-232 transceiver circuit providing an interface to an RS-232 port on the host computer.

11. The protocol adapter according to claim 9 further comprising a static random access memory (RAM) circuit, said RAM circuit including a RAM that provides temporary data storage and is connected to a CPU through data and address channels.

12. The protocol adapter according to claim 11 wherein the RAM circuit further provides redirection of mailbox data, storage for oversized messages and the concatenation of small messages.

13. The protocol adapter according to claim 9 further comprising a flash memory module, said flash memory module providing permanent storage of application data and loader application information.

14. The protocol adapter according to claim 9 further comprising a universal asynchronous receive and transmit (UART) circuit, said UART circuit providing communication of asynchronous data to and from the host computer.

15. The protocol adapter according to claim 9 further comprising a CPU I/O interface circuit, said CPU I/O interface circuit providing an interface between a CPU and the transceiver circuits.

16. A protocol adapter for transferring diagnostic messages between a vehicle network in a vehicle and an external host computer, said adapter comprising:

an I/O board, said I/O board including an external I/O interface circuit, an RS-232 transceiver circuit for providing an interface to an RS-232 port on the host computer, a power supply regulator circuit, a controller area network (CAN) transceiver circuit for providing an interface between the vehicle network and the host computer when the vehicle network is operating in a J1939 protocol, a J1708 transceiver circuit for providing an interface between the vehicle network and the host computer when the vehicle network is operating in a J1708 protocol, said J1708 transceiver circuit including a voltage translator for translating the voltage of the J1708 protocol signals, and an LED circuit; and

a CPU board, said CPU board including a CPU, a device decoder circuit that decodes input signals sent to the CPU, a static RAM circuit for providing temporary data storage and is connected to the CPU through data and address channels, a flash memory module for providing a flash memory storage for permanent storage of application data and loader application information, a universal asynchronous receive transmit (UART) circuit for providing communication of asynchronous data to and from the host computer and a CPU I/O interface circuit for providing an interface between the CPU and other adapter circuits.

17. The protocol adapter according to claim 16 wherein the RAM circuit further provides redirection of mailbox data, storage for oversized messages and the concatenation of small messages.