METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF STEERING WHEEL CONTROL SIGNALS

• US 20120271485A1
• Filed: 07/02/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Circuit Works, Inc., Metra Electronics
• Original Assignee: Circuit Works, Inc., Metra Electronics
• Inventors: Daly, Charles David, Jones, William H. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25068 Check correct configuration of device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A method for automatically detecting a control signal configuration of a vehicle component includes making a connection to a channel of the component, performing an electrical measurement on the channel, and identifying a control signal configuration based upon the measurement. A method for sending control signals from one vehicle component to another includes making a connection on a channel of one component, making a connection to a channel of the other component, performing electrical measurements on the channels, identifying control signal configurations based upon the measurements, and configuring a control signal interface. A control signal interface includes an input unit, a signal processing unit, and an output unit. The input and output units each can connect to a channel of a vehicle component and perform an electrical measurement. The signal processing unit can determine control commands based upon control signals.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. An apparatus comprising:

an input unit electrically connectable to at least one channel of a data bus of a vehicle; and

a signal processing unit coupled to said input unit,

wherein said signal processing unit is adapted to auto-detect a configuration of the vehicle, by;

(i) identifying a frame rate of the data bus of the vehicle,

(ii) identifying a data bus configuration of the data bus of the vehicle based at least partially on the identified frame rate, and

(iii) identifying the configuration of the vehicle based at least partially on the identified data bus configuration.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the identifying a data bus configuration includes identifying a data bus type of the data bus of the vehicle.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the identifying a data bus type includes identifying the data bus type from among a plurality of types including at least one of a J1850 bus, a CAN-BUS, and a K-BUS.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the identifying a configuration of the vehicle includes identifying at least one of a make, a model, and a model year of the vehicle.

17. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the identifying the data bus configuration is based also on identified data bus signals received from the at least one channel.

18. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said input unit includes:

an input port electrically connectable to at least one channel of the data bus of the vehicle, and

a line receiver adapted to receive data bus signals from said input port,

wherein said line receiver is adapted to output logic signals to said signal processing unit.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said line receiver is adapted to convert a first signal amplitude of the data bus signals, from among a plurality of potential signal amplitudes corresponding to a plurality of potential data bus configurations, to a second signal amplitude of the logic signals, the second signal amplitude being compatible with the signal processing unit.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said line receiver is adapted to receive both single-ended signals and differential signals from said input port and to output the logic signals having a signal type compatible with said signal processing unit.

21. A method for automatically detecting a configuration of a vehicle using an auto-detection apparatus connected to at least one channel of a data bus of the vehicle, the auto-detection apparatus including at least one processor, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying, via the at least one processor, a frame rate of the data bus of the vehicle;

identifying, via the at least one processor, a data bus configuration of the data bus of the vehicle based at least partially on the identified frame rate; and

identifying, via the at least one processor, the configuration of the vehicle based at least partially on the identified data bus configuration.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said data bus configuration identifying step includes identifying a data bus type of the data bus of the vehicle.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein said data bus type identifying step includes identifying the data bus type from among a plurality of types including at least one of a J1850 bus, a CAN-BUS, and a K-BUS.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein said vehicle configuration identifying step includes identifying at least one of a make, a model, and a model year of the vehicle.

25. A method according to claim 21, wherein said data bus configuration identifying step is based also on identified data bus signals received from the at least one channel.

26. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

receiving data bus signals from an input port of the auto-detection apparatus; and

outputting logic signals to the at least one processor.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

converting a first signal amplitude of the data bus signals, from among a plurality of potential signal amplitudes corresponding to a plurality of potential data bus configurations, to a second signal amplitude of the logic signals, the second signal amplitude being compatible with the at least one processor.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein a line receiver of the auto-detection apparatus is adapted to receive both single-ended signals and differential signals from the input port and to output the logic signals having a signal type compatible with the at least one processor.

29. An apparatus comprising:

means for electrically connecting to at least one channel of a data bus of a vehicle; and

means for auto-detecting a configuration of the vehicle,

wherein said auto-detecting means includes;

means for identifying a frame rate of the data bus of the vehicle,

means for identifying a data bus configuration of the data bus of the vehicle based at least partially on the identified frame rate, and

means for identifying the configuration of the vehicle based at least partially on the identified data bus configuration.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a program stored thereon which, when executed, causes a processor to perform the steps of:

identifying a frame rate of a data bus of a vehicle;

identifying a data bus configuration of the data bus of the vehicle based at least partially on the identified frame rate; and

identifying a configuration of the vehicle based at least partially on the identified data bus configuration.