Multi-sensor module for communicating sensor information over a vehicle data bus

• US 6,338,010 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1998
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Noll, Tracy Adam, Sparks, Douglas Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/146,896
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 701/33, 701/34, 701/36, 340/459, 340/825.06, 340/825.16, 340/870.01, 340/870.13, 340/425.5, 340/501, 340/521, 340/524, 340/870.16, 370/442, 370/458
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J

Abstract

A multi-sensor module (10) includes a housing (12) with a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors (S₁-S_N) mounted therein and a signal processing circuit (20, 26, 30) also mounted therein which receives sensor signals provided by the plurality of sensors (S₁-S_N). The signal processing circuit (20, 26, 30) is operable to produce at an output thereof (38) a time-division multiplexed signal representative of the various sensor signals according to a vehicle data bus communications protocol. The signal processing circuit output is connected to an electrical connector (36) adapted for connection to an existing vehicle data bus (18) which is further connected to a vehicle control computer (16). The signal processing circuit (20, 26, 30) is accordingly operable to broadcast on the vehicle data bus (18) sensor information provided by each of the sensors (S₁-S_N) mounted within the module (10).

Claims

1. A multi-sensor module for communicating sensor information over a vehicle data bus, comprising:

a plurality of sensors producing a plurality of sensor signals indicative of a corresponding plurality of vehicle operating conditions;

a first signal processing circuit receiving said plurality of sensor signals and producing a first time-division multiplexed signal representative of said plurality of sensor signals according to a first vehicle data bus communications protocol; and

a housing having said plurality of sensors and said first signal processing circuit mounted therein.

2. The multi-sensor module of claim 1 further including a first connector mounted to said housing, said first connector having an input receiving said first time-division multiplexed signal according to said first vehicle data bus communications protocol and an output configured for connection to a first vehicle data bus.

3. The multi-sensor module of claim 2 further including a circuit board mounted within said housing, said circuit board having said plurality of sensors and said signal processing circuit mounted thereto.

4. The multi-sensor module of claim 2 further including first and second circuit boards mounted within said housing, said first circuit board having said plurality of sensors mounted thereto and said second circuit board having said first signal processing circuit mounted thereto.

5. The multi-sensor module of claim 2 further including:

a second signal processing circuit receiving said plurality of sensor signals and producing a second time-division multiplexed signal representative of said plurality of sensor signals according to a second vehicle data bus communications protocol; and

a second connector mounted to said housing, said second connector having an input receiving said second time-division multiplexed signal according to said second vehicle data bus communications protocol and an output configured for connection to a second vehicle data bus.

6. The multi-sensor module of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors include any of motion, impact, pressure, temperature, light and gas sensors.

7. The multi-sensor module of claim 2 further including a second connector mounted to said housing, said second connector having an input configured for connection to a vehicle power and ground bus and an output connected to said signal processing circuit to thereby supply power and ground potentials thereto.

8. The multi-sensor module of claim 7 wherein said output of said second connector is further connected to at least one of said plurality of sensors to thereby supply power and ground potentials thereto.

9. The multi-sensor module of claim 1 wherein said first signal processing circuit includes:

a multiplexer circuit receiving said plurality of sensor signals and producing a multiplexed signal indicative of said plurality of sensor signals;

a controller circuit receiving said multiplexed signal and producing said time-division multiplexed signal according to said first vehicle data bus communications protocol; and

a transceiver receiving said first time-division multiplexed signal from said controller circuit and broadcasting said first time-division multiplexed signal at an output thereof.

10. The multi-sensor module of claim 9 further including a connector mounted to said housing, said connector having one end connected to said transceiver output and an opposite end configured for connection to a vehicle data bus.

11. The muiti-sensor module of claim 9 wherein said multiplexer circuit and said controller circuit are combined to form a single integrated circuit.

12. The multi-sensor module of claim 1 wherein said first signal processing circuit includes a microprocessor portion operable to electronically calibrate any of said plurality of sensors.

13. The multi-sensor module of claim 12 wherein said first signal processing circuit further includes a memory unit having a number of different vehicle data bus communication protocol conversion instructions therein;

and wherein said first signal processing circuit is operable to produce said first time-division multiplexed signal representative of said plurality of sensor signals according to any of said number of different vehicle data bus communication protocol conversion instructions within said memory unit.

14. In combination:

a first vehicle control computer having an input/output port;

a first vehicle data bus connected to said input/output port of said first vehicle control computer; and

a multi-sensor module for communicating sensor information over said first vehicle data bus, said multi-sensor module comprising;

a plurality of sensors producing a plurality of sensor signals indicative of a corresponding plurality of vehicle operating conditions;

a first signal processing circuit receiving said plurality of sensor signals and producing at an output thereof a first time-division multiplexed signal representative of said plurality of sensor signals according to a first vehicle data bus communications protocol;

a housing having said plurality of sensors and said first signal processing circuit mounted therein; and

a first connector mounted to said housing, said first connector defining one end connected to said output of said first signal processing circuit and an opposite end connected to said first vehicle data bus.

15. The combination of claim 14 further including:

a second vehicle control computer; and

a second vehicle data bus;

and wherein said multi-sensor module further includes a second signal processing circuit receiving said plurality of sensor signals and producing a second time-division multiplexed signal representative of said plurality of sensor signals according to a second vehicle data bus communications protocol; and

a second connector mounted to said housing, said second connector defining one end receiving said second time-division multiplexed signal according to said second vehicle data bus communications protocol and an opposite end connected to said second vehicle data bus.

16. The combination of claim 15 further including a vehicle power and ground bus;

and wherein said multi-sensor module further includes a third connector mounted to said housing, said third connector connected at one end to said vehicle power and ground bus and at an opposite end to said signal processing circuit to thereby provide power and ground potentials thereto.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said opposite end of said third connector is further connected to at least one of said plurality of sensors to thereby provide power and ground potentials thereto.

18. The multi-sensor module of claim 14 wherein said plurality of sensors include any of motion, impact, pressure, temperature, light and gas sensors.