METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATION OF FACTORY AND AFTERMARKET VEHICLE COMPONENTS

• US 20130197753A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• 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 8,825,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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

An interface and corresponding method, where the interface is connected via a first connection to a factory data bus of a vehicle which transports signals according to a first data format, and further connected via a second connection to a data channel of the aftermarket component which transports signals according to a second data format. The interface identifies a factory data bus type corresponding to the factory data bus, out of a plurality of potential factory data bus types. The interface receives digital signals from the aftermarket component via the second connection, the digital signals being in the second data format which corresponds to the aftermarket component. The interface translates the digital signals into the first data format which corresponds to the identified factory bus type. The interface transmits the translated digital signals in the first data format to the vehicle via the first connection.

Claims

1. A method of connecting an aftermarket component with a vehicle using an interface apparatus, the interface apparatus connected via a first connection to a factory data bus of the vehicle which transports signals according to a first data format, the interface apparatus further connected via a second connection to a data channel of the aftermarket component which transports signals according to a second data format, the interface apparatus including at least one processor, the method comprising:

identifying, via the at least one processor, a factory data bus type corresponding to the factory data bus, out of a plurality of potential factory data bus types;

receiving digital signals from the aftermarket component via the second connection, the digital signals being in the second data format, the second data format corresponding to the aftermarket component;

translating the digital signals into the first data format, the first data format corresponding to the identified factory bus type; and

transmitting the translated digital signals in the first data format to the vehicle via the first connection.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the aftermarket component is an aftermarket stereo that has replaced a factory-installed stereo.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the aftermarket component is a cellular telephone or a tablet.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying step includes:

performing an electrical measurement on the factory data bus; and

identifying the factory data bus type based upon the performed electrical measurement.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying step includes:

identifying a frame rate of the factory data bus;

identifying the factory data bus type out of the plurality of potential factory data bus types, based at least partially on the identified frame rate.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a factory-installed display on the vehicle.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a factory-installed satellite radio module on the vehicle.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a factory-installed Bluetooth module on the vehicle.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a heating and air-conditioning module on the vehicle.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a factory-installed amplifier on the vehicle.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a factory-installed navigation module on the vehicle.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the vehicle include signals to control a factory-installed speech module on the vehicle.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second connection is a USB connection.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving digital signals from the vehicle via the first connection, the digital signals being in the first data format;

translating the digital signals into the second data format; and

transmitting the translated digital signals in the second data format to the aftermarket component via the second connection.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the aftermarket component include status signals from a factory-installed heating and air-conditioning module on the vehicle.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the translated digital signals transmitted to the aftermarket component include control signals from factory-installed steering wheel controls or from a factory-installed central control module.

17. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving analog signals from the vehicle via a third connection between the interface apparatus and the vehicle;

digitizing the analog signals;

translating the digitized analog signals into the second data format; and

transmitting the translated digitized analog signals to the aftermarket component via the second connection,

wherein the second connection is a USB connection.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the analog signals received from the vehicle via the third connection include audio signals from a factory-installed satellite radio module or a factory-installed Bluetooth module.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the analog signals received from the vehicle via the third connection include video signals from a factory-installed camera.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle-interface unit electrically connectable to a factory data bus of a vehicle via a first connection, the vehicle-interface unit being adapted to identify a factory data bus type corresponding to the factory data bus, out of a plurality of potential factory data bus types, and transmit and receive digital signals via the first connection according to a first data format corresponding to the identified factory data bus type;

an aftermarket-component-interface unit electrically connectable to a data channel of an aftermarket component via a second connection, the aftermarket-component-interface unit being adapted to transmit and receive digital signals via the second connection according to a second data format corresponding to the aftermarket component; and

a signal processing unit,

wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to translate signals of the first data format, received by the vehicle-interface unit via the first connection, into signals of the second data format, and the aftermarket-component-interface unit is adapted to transmit, to the aftermarket component via the second connection, the signals translated by the signal processing unit from the first data format to the second data format, and

wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to translate signals of the second data format, received by the aftermarket-component-interface unit via the second connection, into signals of the first data format, and the vehicle-interface unit is adapted to transmit, to a vehicle component via the first connection, the signals translated by the signal processing unit from the second data format to the first data format.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the aftermarket component is an aftermarket stereo that has replaced a factory-installed stereo.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the aftermarket component is a cellular telephone or a tablet.

23. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the vehicle-interface unit is further electrically connectable to the vehicle via a third connection, and is adapted to transmit audio or video signals via the third connection to a factory-installed vehicle module,

wherein the signals translated by the signal processing unit from the second data format to the first data format and transmitted by the vehicle-interface unit via the first connection include signals to control the factory-installed vehicle module, and

wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to translate signals of the second data format, received by the aftermarket-component-interface unit via the second connection, into the audio or video signals for transmission by the vehicle-interface unit to the factory-installed vehicle module.

24. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the audio or video signals are of a third format, the third format being different from the first data format and the second data format.

25. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the factory-installed vehicle module includes at least one of a factory audio amplifier interface module and a factory video display module.

26. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the second connection is a USB connection.

27. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the vehicle-interface unit is further electrically connectable to the vehicle via a third connection, and is adapted to receive audio or video signals via the third connection from a factory-installed vehicle module,

wherein the signals translated by the signal processing unit from the first data format to the second data format and transmitted by the vehicle-interface unit via the first connection include signals to control the aftermarket component, and

wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to translate the audio or video signals, received by the vehicle-interface unit via the first connection, into signals of the second data format, for transmission by the aftermarket-component-interface unit to the aftermarket component.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the audio or video signals are of a third format, the third format being different from the first data format and the second data format.

29. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the factory-installed vehicle module includes at least one of a factory-installed satellite radio module, a factory-installed backup camera, a factory-installed navigation module, and a factory-installed speech module.

30. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the second connection is a USB connection.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a program stored thereon for an interface apparatus connected via a first connection to a factory data bus of a vehicle which transports signals according to a first data format, the interface apparatus further connected via a second connection to a data channel of an aftermarket component which transports signals according to a second data format, the program, when executed, causes a processor to perform the steps of:

identifying a factory data bus type corresponding to the factory data bus, out of a plurality of potential factory data bus types;

receiving digital signals from the aftermarket component via the second connection, the digital signals being in the second data format, the second data format corresponding to the aftermarket component;

translating the digital signals into the first data format, the first data format corresponding to the identified factory bus type; and

transmitting the translated digital signals in the first data format to the vehicle via the first connection.