Apparatus and method for data communication between heavy duty vehicle and remote data communication terminal

• US 6,064,299 A
• Filed: 08/08/1997
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ves-Tek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vehicle Enhancement Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Lesesky, Alan, Weant, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/907,861
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/928, 340/933, 340/942, 340/825.31, 340/825.54, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.08, 340/825.06, 359/142, 359/143, 235/384, 307/9.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/431
• 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: B60R 2016/0322 Temporary code for documents to be reclassified to G08C, H04L or H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for data communications associated with a heavy duty vehicle. The apparatus preferably includes at least one electronic subsystem associated with the heavy duty vehicle and a plurality of electrical conductors connected to the at least one electronic subsystem and associated with the heavy duty vehicle. A vehicle data communications protocol converter is preferably connected to the plurality of electrical conductors for converting a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second data communications protocol such as an infrared or an RF data communications protocol. The apparatus also preferably includes a transceiver connected to the data communications protocol converter for transmitting the second data communications protocol from the heavy duty vehicle and receiving the data communications protocol from a remote data communications terminal.

Claims

1. A heavy duty vehicle comprising:

a tractor and a trailer connected thereto, said tractor including a cab; and

a data communications apparatus connected to said tractor and said trailer for communicating data to and from said tractor and said trailer, said data communications apparatus comprising;

at least one electronic subsystem associated with the heavy duty vehicle and related to the operation of the heavy duty vehicle;

a plurality of electrical conductors connected to the at least one electronic subsystem and associated with the heavy duty vehicle;

a connector connected in series with said plurality of electrical conductors and positioned in said cab of said tractor;

vehicle data communications protocol converting means connected to said plurality of electrical conductors for converting a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second data communications protocol;

a first transceiver associated with said connector and connected to said vehicle data communications protocol converting means for transmitting and receiving the second data communications protocol; and

a remote data communications terminal including a second transceiver for transmitting the second data communications protocol to said first transceiver and receiving the second data communications protocol from said first transceiver.

2. A heavy duty vehicle as defined in claim 1, further comprising a transceiver housing detachably connected to said connector and positioned within the cab of the tractor, and wherein said first transceiver is positioned within said transceiver housing.

3. A heavy duty vehicle as defined in claim 2, wherein the second data communications protocol comprises one of either an infrared data communications protocol or an RF data communications protocol, and wherein said transceiver housing includes a translucent cover member for optically transmitting the data communications protocol therethrough.

4. A heavy duty vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second transceivers each include a signal processing physical layer, and wherein the second data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of the first and second transceivers for signal processing.

5. A heavy duty vehicle as defined in claim 4, wherein said connector includes a plurality of pins having a predetermined pin configuration, and wherein said connector has one of either a generally cylindrical or a generally rectangular shape.

6. A heavy duty vehicle as defined in claim 5, wherein said connector comprises a six-pin connector having first and second connector portions thereof, and wherein the second connector portion defines said transceiver housing.

7. A heavy duty vehicle as defined in claim 5, wherein the first data communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by either SAE J1708 or SAE J1939.

8. A heavy duty vehicle as defined in claim 7, wherein said at least one electronic subsystem comprises an anti-locking brake system, and wherein said connector is also connected to said anti-locking brake system.

9. A heavy duty vehicle as defined in claim 8, further comprising a controller connected to said at least one electronic subsystem and said plurality of electrical connectors for controlling data communications along said plurality of electrical conductors and signal generating means connected to said controller for generating a signal related to the operation of the vehicle.

10. A heavy duty vehicle as defined in claim 9, wherein said remote data communications terminal comprises a computer and further includes remote data communications protocol converting means for converting the second data communications protocol received by said remote data communications terminal to a third data communications protocol associated with said computer.

11. An apparatus for data communications associated with a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of electrical conductors associated with the vehicle;

vehicle data communications protocol converting means connected to said plurality of electrical conductors for converting a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second local-area data communications protocol; and

a transceiver connected to said vehicle data communications protocol converting means for transmitting the second local-area data communications protocol from the heavy duty vehicle and receiving the second local-area data communications protocol from a remote data communications terminal not connected to the vehicle.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a connector connected in series with said plurality of electrical conductors, wherein said transceiver is associated with said connector, and wherein said transceiver is positioned to transmit and receive the second local-area data communications protocol to the remote data communications terminal.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a transceiver housing detachably connected to said connector, and wherein said transceiver is positioned within said transceiver housing.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the second local-area data communications protocol comprises one of either a local-area infrared data communications protocol or a local-area RF data communications protocol, and wherein said transceiver housing includes a translucent cover member for transmitting the second data communications protocol therethrough.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising at least one electronic subsystem associated with the heavy duty vehicle and related to operation of the heavy duty vehicle, the at least one electronic subsystem including an anti-locking brake system connected to the heavy duty vehicle, and wherein said connector is also connected to said anti-locking brake system.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said connector includes a plurality of pins having a predetermined pin configuration, and wherein said connector has one of either a generally cylindrical or a generally rectangular shape.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said connector comprises a six-pin connector positioned within a passenger area of a vehicle having first and second connector portions thereof, and wherein the second connector portion defines said transceiver housing.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said transceiver comprises a first transceiver, and wherein the remote data communication terminal includes a second transceiver in communication with said first transceiver for transmitting the second local-area data communications protocol to said first transceiver and receiving the second local-area data communications protocol from said first transceiver.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the first and second transceivers each include a signal processing physical layer, and wherein the second local-area data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of the first and second transceivers for signal processing and not a data link layer to thereby simplify coding or conversion schemes.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a vehicle light housing connected to an outer surface of the vehicle for housing a vehicle light, and wherein said transceiver is positioned in said vehicle light housing.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said vehicle light housing comprises a side-marker light housing.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said transceiver comprises a first transceiver, and wherein the remote data communication terminal includes a second transceiver in communication with said first transceiver for transmitting the second local-area data communications protocol to said first transceiver and receiving the second local-area data communications protocol from said first transceiver.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein the first and second transceivers each include a physical layer, and wherein the second local-area data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of the first and second transceivers and not a data link layer to thereby simplify coding or conversion schemes.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said remote data communications terminal comprises a computer not connected to the vehicle and further includes remote data communications protocol converting means for converting the second local-area data communications protocol received by said remote data communications terminal to a third local-area data communications protocol associated with said computer.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, further comprising at least one micro-controller connected to said at least one electronic subsystem and said plurality of electrical connectors for controlling data communications along said plurality of electrical conductors and signal generating means connected to said micro-controller for generating a signal related to the operation of the vehicle.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the first local-area data communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by either SAE J1708 or SAE J1939, and wherein the second local-area data communications protocol comprises either IrDA or CEBus.

27. An apparatus for data communications associated with a heavy duty vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

at least one electronic subsystem associated with the heavy duty vehicle;

a plurality of electrical conductors connected to the at least one electronic subsystem and associated with the heavy duty vehicle;

vehicle data communications protocol converting means connected to said plurality of electrical conductors for converting a first local-area data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second local-area data communications protocol, the second local-area data communications protocol comprising an infrared data communications protocol;

a connector connected to said plurality of electrical conductors;

a transceiver housing connected to said connector, said transceiver housing including a translucent cover member for transmitting and receiving the infrared data communications protocol therethrough; and

a transceiver positioned within said transceiver housing connected to said vehicle data communications protocol converting means for transmitting the infrared data communications protocol from the heavy duty vehicle and receiving the infrared data communications protocol from a remote data communications terminal not connected to the heavy duty vehicle so that the data communications between the heavy duty vehicle and the remote data communications terminal is immune from electro-magnetic interference.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the infrared data communications protocol comprises IrDA.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein the at least one electronic subsystem includes an anti-locking brake system connected to the heavy duty vehicle, and wherein said connector is also connected to said anti-locking brake system.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein said connector includes a plurality of pins having a predetermined pin configuration, and wherein said connector has one of either a generally cylindrical or a generally rectangular shape.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein said connector comprises a six-pin connector having first and second connector portions thereof, wherein the second connector portion defines said transceiver housing, and wherein the first and second connector portions are positioned in a cab of a tractor.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein said transceiver comprises a first transceiver, and wherein the remote data communication terminal includes a second transceiver in communication with said first transceiver for transmitting the infrared data communications protocol to said first transceiver and receiving the infrared data communications protocol from said first transceiver.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the first and second transceivers each include a signal processing physical layer, and wherein the infrared data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of the first and second transceivers for signal processing and not a data link layer to thereby simplify coding or conversion schemes.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 33, wherein said transceiver housing comprises a vehicle light housing connected to said connector and to an outer surface of the heavy duty vehicle for housing a vehicle light, and wherein said transceiver is positioned in said vehicle light housing.

35. An apparatus as defined in claim 34, wherein said vehicle light housing comprises a side-marker light housing.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 33, wherein said remote data communications terminal comprises a computer not connected to the heavy duty vehicle and further includes remote data communications protocol converting means for converting the infrared data communications protocol received by said remote data communications terminal to a third data communications protocol associated with said computer.

37. An apparatus as defined in claim 36, further comprising at least one micro-controller connected to said at least one electronic subsystem and said plurality of electrical connectors for controlling data communications along said plurality of electrical conductors and signal generating means connected to said at least one micro-controller for generating a signal related to the operation of the vehicle.

38. An apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein the first data communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by either SAE J1708 or SAE J1939.

39. An apparatus for data communications associated with a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver housing mounted to an outer surface of a vehicle, said transceiver housing including a vehicle light housing;

vehicle data communications protocol converting means positioned in said vehicle light housing for converting a first local-area data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second local-area data communications protocol, the second data communications protocol comprising an infrared data communications protocol; and

a transceiver positioned within said vehicle light housing of said transceiver housing and connected to said vehicle data communications protocol converting means for transmitting the infrared data communications protocol from the vehicle and receiving the infrared data communications protocol from a remote data communications terminal not connected to the vehicle so that the data communications between the vehicle and the remote data communications terminal is immune from electro-magnetic interference.

40. An apparatus as defined in claim 39, wherein said vehicle light housing comprises a side-marker light housing.

41. An apparatus as defined in claim 40, wherein said side marker light housing includes a translucent cover member for transmitting the infrared data communications protocol therethrough.

42. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein said side marker light housing of the heavy duty vehicle is mounted to a trailer of a truck.

43. An apparatus as defined in claim 42, wherein said side marker light housing is also connected to an anti-locking braking system of the trailer of the truck.

44. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein said transceiver includes a signal processing physical layer, and wherein the infrared data communications protocol only uses the physical layer of said transceiver for signal processing and not the data link layer to thereby simplify coding or conversion schemes.

45. An apparatus as defined in claim 44, wherein the first communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by either SAE J1708 or SAE J1939.

46. A method of data communications associated with a heavy duty vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of electrical conductors associated with a heavy duty vehicle;

converting a first local-area vehicle data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second local-area data communications protocol; and

transmitting the second local-area data communications protocol from the heavy duty vehicle to a remote data communications terminal not connected to the vehicle.

47. A method as defined in claim 46, further comprising receiving the second local-area data communications protocol from the remote data communications terminal, controlling data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors, and generating a signal related to the operation of the vehicle.

48. A method as defined in claim 46, further comprising positioning a connector so as to be connected in series with the plurality of electrical conductors and positioning a transceiver in association with the connector.

49. A method as defined in claim 48, further comprising detachably connecting a transceiver housing to the connector and positioning the transceiver within the transceiver housing, the connector being positioned within a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

50. A method as defined in claim 49, wherein the second local-area data communications protocol comprises one of either an infrared local-area data communications protocol or an RF local-area data communications protocol, and wherein the transceiver housing includes a translucent cover member for transmitting and receiving the second local-area data communications protocol therethrough.

51. A method as defined in claim 50, further comprising providing at least one electronic subsystem associated with the heavy duty vehicle and connected to the plurality of electrical conductors related to operation of the heavy duty vehicle.

52. A method as defined in claim 51, wherein the transceiver comprises a first transceiver, and wherein the remote data communication terminal includes a second transceiver positioned in communication with the first transceiver, the method further comprising transmitting the second local-area data communications protocol to the first transceiver and receiving the second local-area data communications protocol from the first transceiver.

53. A method as defined in claim 52, wherein the first and second transceivers each include a physical layer, and the method further comprising transmitting and receiving the second data communications protocol only using the physical layer of the first and second transceivers and not the data link layer to thereby simplify coding or conversion schemes.

54. A method as defined in claim 53, wherein the remote data communications terminal comprises a computer not connected to the vehicle, and the method further comprises remotely converting the second local-area data communications protocol received by the remote data communications terminal to a third data communications protocol associated with the computer.

55. A method as defined in claim 54, wherein the first data communications protocol comprises one of the data communications protocols specified by either SAE J1708 or SAE J1939.