Protocol adapter for transferring diagnostic signals between in-vehicle networks and a computer

• US 20110035461A1
• Filed: 10/19/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dearborn Group Technology
• Inventors: Sodergren, Jason, Blanton, Robin
• Granted Patent: US 8,554,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25204 Translate between different communication protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2637 Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair

Abstract

A protocol adapter for simultaneously communicating with one or more remote computers over any one of a plurality of protocols. The adapter includes a motherboard having an integrated CPU, a plurality of interface modules, a plurality of device drivers and a plurality of daughter-board module slots. The protocol adapter further includes at least one daughter-board interface module mounted in one of the plurality of daughter-board slots. The at least one daughter-board modules expands the number of protocols of the adapter beyond those protocols being run by the motherboard.

Claims

1. A circuit board having quick-start data logging capability and is functional with a protocol adapter for providing communication between a vehicle network and a host computer in one or more of a plurality of protocols, said circuit board comprising:

a circuit in communication with a vehicle network and a host computer;

at least one transceiver circuit selectively in electrical communication with said circuit, said at least one transceiver circuit supporting at least one vehicle network protocol; and

a memory device in electrical communication with said circuit, such that said memory device is operable to receive data from a vehicle network operating in said vehicle network protocol during the initial boot up of said protocol adapter and said host computer.

2. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said circuit board is removable from said protocol adapter and is used with other protocol adapters.

3. The circuit board according to claim 1, said memory device further comprising a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) device.

4. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said circuit is a field programmable gate array.

5. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said circuit is a microprocessor.

6. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said one or more of a plurality of protocols are selected from the group consisting of controller area network protocols, SAE J1708 protocols, SAE J1939 protocols, J1850 protocols, key word protocol 2000, and UART-based protocols.

7. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transceiver circuit is a transceiver card selectively in electrical communication with said circuit board.

8. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein said at least one transceiver circuit is one selected from the group consisting of J1850, UBP, CCD, SCI, CAN, J1587, J1939, J2284, J2411, ISO 11992, ISO 9141-2 and KWP2000 modules.

9. A circuit board having quick-start data logging capability and is functional with a protocol adapter for providing communication between a vehicle network and a host computer in one or more of a plurality of protocols, said circuit board comprising:

a circuit in electrical communication with other components of a protocol adapter, said circuit being operable to communicate with a vehicle network operating in more than one of a plurality of protocols;

one or more transceiver circuits in electrical communication with said circuit, said one or more transceiver circuits providing communication between said protocol adapter and said vehicle network in said one or more plurality of protocols; and

a memory device in electrical communication with said circuit such that data received by said circuit from said vehicle network is stored on said memory device as said protocol adapter is performing a boot sequence.

10. The circuit board according to claim 9, wherein said circuit board is removable from said protocol adapter and is used with other protocol adapters.

11. The circuit board according to claim 9, said memory device further comprising a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) device.

12. The circuit board according to claim 9, wherein said circuit is one selected from the group consisting of a field programmable gate array and a microprocessor.

13. The circuit board according to claim 9, wherein said at least one transceiver circuit is one selected from the group consisting of J1850, UBP, CCD, SCI, CAN, J1587, J1939, J2284, J2411, ISO 11992, ISO 9141-2 and KWP2000 modules.

14. The circuit board according to claim 9, wherein said one or more of a plurality of protocols are selected from the group consisting of controller area network protocols, SAE J1708 protocols, SAE J1939 protocols, J1850 protocols, key word protocol 2000, and UART-based protocols.

15. The circuit board according to claim 9, wherein said transceiver circuit is part of a transceiver card selectively mounted to said circuit board.

16. A circuit board having quick-start data logging capability and is functional with a protocol adapter for providing communication between a vehicle network and a host computer in one or more of a plurality of protocols, said circuit board comprising:

a field programmable gate array (FPGA) in communication with a vehicle network and a host computer;

at least one transceiver card selectively mounted to said circuit board and in electrical communication with said field programmable gate array; and

a memory device in electrical communication with said field programmable gate array such that said memory device stores data received from said vehicle network during as said protocol adapter is booting up and said host computer is booting up.

17. The circuit board according to claim 16, wherein said circuit board is removable from said protocol adapter and is used with other protocol adapters.

18. The circuit board according to claim 16, said memory device further comprising a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) device.

19. The circuit board according to claim 16, wherein said one or more of a plurality of protocols are selected from the group consisting of controller area network protocols, SAE J1708 protocols, SAE J1939 protocols, J1850 protocols, key word protocol 2000, and UART-based protocols.

20. The circuit board according to claim 16, wherein the at least one transceiver card includes a transceiver circuit which expands the number of said plurality of protocols used for communication between said field programmable gate array and said vehicle network, and between said vehicle network and said host computer.

21. The circuit board according to claim 16, wherein said at least one transceiver circuit is one selected from the group consisting of J1850, UBP, CCD, SCI, CAN, J1587, J1939, J2284, J2411, ISO 11992, ISO 9141-2 and KWP2000 modules.