MULTIPURPOSE IN-VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC II ADAPTER

• US 20110270485A1
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allen Bailey Jones
• Original Assignee: Cability, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Allan Bailey
• Granted Patent: US 8,903,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/26 Algorithms, instructions, databases, computerized methods and graphical user interfaces employed by a user in conjunction with the wheel aligner
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an extension connector. The extension connector may include a first connector communicatively coupled to an in-vehicle connector associated with an automobile. The extension connector may further include a second connector that may be communicatively coupled to the first connector. The extension connector may further include a third connector that may be communicatively coupled to the first connector and the second connector.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle diagnostic connector adapter comprising:

a first connector for communicatively coupling to the in-vehicle diagnostic connector;

a second connector communicatively coupled to the first connector, the second connector providing physical and electrical features that are substantially the same as the in-vehicle diagnostic connector;

a third connector for facilitating access to a plurality of signals communicatively coupled between the first connector and the second connector; and

a housing suitable for long-term in-vehicle use and for rigidly and compactly integrating the first, second, and third connectors, the second connector disposed to be accessible when the first connector is connected to the in-vehicle diagnostic connector.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the first and second connectors are J1962 compatible connectors.

3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the third connector comprises a sixteen terminal connector arranged as two parallel rows of eight terminals.

4. The adapter of claim 3, wherein signals of the in-vehicle diagnostic connector are available on correspondingly numbered terminals of each of the first, second, and third connectors.

5. The adapter of claim 1, further including a processor integrated into the housing and communicatively coupled to a portion of the first connector signals to provide processed signals to the third connector.

6. The adapter of claim 5, wherein a portion of the processed signals conform to signaling requirements that are different than those provided by the in-vehicle diagnostic connector.

7. The adapter of claim 5, further including a wireless transceiver in communication with the processor to facilitate access to the in-vehicle diagnostic connector signals via one of Bluetooth, WiFi, WiMax, and LTE wireless communication.

8. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the third connector is disposed at substantially a right angle to the first connector.

9. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the first and second connectors are J1939 compatible connectors.

10. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the third connector comprises a nine terminal connector arranged as two parallel rows of terminals.

11. The adapter of claim 10, wherein signals of the in-vehicle diagnostic connector are available on correspondingly numbered terminals of each of the first, second, and third connectors.

12. An in-vehicle diagnostic connector adapter comprising:

a first connector for communicatively coupling to the in-vehicle diagnostic connector;

a second connector communicatively coupled to the first connector, the second connector providing physical and electrical features that are substantially the same as the in-vehicle diagnostic connector;

a wireless communication port for facilitating wireless access to signals communicatively coupled between the first connector and the second connector; and

a housing suitable for long-term in-vehicle use and for rigidly and compactly integrating the first and second connectors and the wireless communication port, the second connector disposed to be accessible when the first connector is connected to the in-vehicle diagnostic connector.

13. The adapter of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication port provides Bluetooth compatible wireless communication.

14. The adapter of claim 12, wherein the first connector and the second connector conform to one of J1962 and J1939 connection requirements.

15. The adapter of claim 12, further including a third connector disposed to be accessible when the first connector is connected to the in-vehicle diagnostic connector and wherein signals of the in-vehicle diagnostic connector are available on correspondingly numbered terminals of each of the first, second, and third connectors.

16. The adapter of claim 15, wherein the third connector comprises a plurality of terminals disposed in two parallel rows.

17. The adapter of claim 15, further including a processor communicatively coupled to a portion of the first connector signals to process signals through the third connector.

18. The adapter of claim 17, wherein the processed signals conform to J1578 signaling requirements.

19. An method of in-vehicle diagnostic connector interfacing, comprising:

communicatively coupling a first connector that is compatible with the in-vehicle diagnostic connector to a second connector that includes physical and electrical features that are substantially the same as the in-vehicle diagnostic connector;

enabling access through a third connector to a plurality of signals communicatively coupled between the first connector and the second connector while providing full access to each of the first and second connectors; and

disposing the first, second, and third connectors in a housing that is suitable for long-term in-vehicle use and for rigidly and compactly integrating the first, second, and third connectors.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first connector and the second connector conform to one of J1962 and J1939 connection requirements.