Multi-protocol wireless communication module

• US 6,603,394 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2000
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Raichle, Kurt R., Reul, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/731,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20020070851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 701/29, 701/32, 701/33
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A wireless communication module communicates with a remote station and a plurality of motor vehicle control units that implement at least two different communication protocols within a single motor vehicle. The wireless communication module includes an RF interface, a processor and a selectable multiple protocol interface. The processor communicates with the RF interface and thereby communicates with the remote station. The processor executes diagnostic routines and thereby provides commands to one of the plurality of motor vehicle control units. The selectable multiple protocol interface is coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the processor. The selectable multiple protocol interface converts processor commands into a format that is readable by the selected motor vehicle control unit and converts received diagnostic information into a format that is readable by the processor. If desired, both the selectable multiple protocol interface and the processor functionality can be incorporated within the field programmable gate array (FPGA).

Claims

1. A wireless communication module for communicating with a remote station and a plurality of motor vehicle control units within a single motor vehicle, the plurality of motor vehicle control units implementing at least two different communication protocols, the wireless communication module comprising:

an RF interface including an RF transceiver for communicating with the remote station;

a processor for communicating with the RF interface, the processor further executing a plurality of diagnostic routines and thereby providing commands to one of the plurality of motor vehicle control units in response to an input received from the RF interface, wherein each of the plurality of diagnostic routines corresponds to a selected motor vehicle control unit; and

a selectable multiple protocol interface coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the processor, the selectable multiple protocol interface converting the commands from the processor into a format readable by the selected motor vehicle control unit and converting received diagnostic information into a format readable by the processor, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is implemented solely within a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

2. The wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the processor is integrated within the FPGA.

3. The wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a J1850 channel module that includes conversion circuitry for J1850 variable pulse width modulation (VPWM) and J1850 pulse width moudlation (PWM) communication protocols.

4. The wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a pulse code decorder (PCD) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for GM slow baud pulse width modulation (PWM), Ford fast and slow pulse codes and Import pulse code communication protocols.

5. The wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a serial communication interface (SCI) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for generic GM, Chrysler and Import SCI communication protocols.

6. The wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface includes conversion circuitry for Chrysler collision detection (CCD), Ford data communication links (DCL), heavy duty J1708 and RS232 communication protocols.

7. The wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a serial communication interface (SCI) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for ISO 9141, Ford 9141, Keyword 2000 and Harley-Davidson SCI communication protocols.

8. The wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface includes a serial communication interface (SCI) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for an analog-to-digital converter, a controller area network (CAN) and an Import serial peripheral interface (SPI) communication protocol.

9. The wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the RF transceiver operates in a frequency range from about 800 MHZ to about 2.5 GHZ.

10. The wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the RF interface further includes a modem for radio packet communication.

11. The wireless communication module of claim 1, wherein the RF transceiver operates in a frequency range from about 800 MHZ to about 2.5 GHZ and the RF interface further includes a modem for radio packet communication.

12. The wireless communication module of claim 9, 10 or 11, further comprising:

a selectable signal translator coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the selectable multiple protocol interface, the selectable signal translator changing a voltage level of the commands from the processor or the diagnostic information from the selected motor vehicle control unit to a voltage level compatible with the selected motor vehicle control unit or the processor, respectively.

13. The wireless communication module of claim 1, 9, 10 or 11, further comprising:

a non-volatile memory coupled to the processor, the non-volatile memory storing the diagnostic routines for the selected motor vehicle control unit which responds to receive the commands from the processor and to transmit the diagnostic information to the processor in response to the commands.

14. The wireless communication module of claim 13, wherein the non-volatile memory is a flash ROM.

15. The wireless communication module of claim 13, wherein the non-volatile memory is an EEPROM.

16. The wireless communication module of claim 13, wherein the non-volatile memory is provided external to the wireless communication module as a plug-in module.

17. A wireless diagnostic system for communicating with a plurality of motor vehicle control units within a single motor vehicle, the plurality of motor vehicle control units implementing at least two different communication protocols, the wireless diagnostic system comprising:

a wireless communication module, including;

a first RF interface including an RF transceiver providing for communication;

a processor for communicating with the first RF interface, the processor further executing a plurality of diagnostic routines and thereby providing commands to one of the plurality of motor vehicle control units in response to an input received from the first RF interface, wherein each of the plurality of diagnostic routines corresponds to a selected motor vehicle control unit; and

a selectable multiple protocol interface coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the processor, the selectable multiple protocol interface converting the commands from the processor into a format readable by the selected motor vehicle control unit and converting received diagnostic information into a format readable by the processor, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is implemented solely within a field programmable gate array (FPGA); and

a remote station for communicating with the first RF interface and providing a user interface.

18. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 17, further comprising:

a selectable signal translator coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the selectable multiple protocol interface, the selectable signal translator changing a voltage level of the requests from the processor or the diagnostic information from the selected motor vehicle control unit to a voltage level compatible with the selected motor vehicle control unit or the processor, respectively.

19. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 17, further comprising:

a non-volatile memory coupled to the processor, the non-volatile memory storing the translation routines for the selected motor vehicle control unit which responds to receive the requests from the processor and to transmit the diagnostic information to the processor in response to the requests.

20. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 19, wherein the non-volatile memory is a flash ROM.

21. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 19, wherein the non-volatile memory is an EEPROM.

22. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 19, wherein the non-volatile memory is provided external to the wireless communication module as a plug-in module.

23. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 17, wherein the processor is integrated within the FPGA.

24. The wireless diagnostic systems of claim 17, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a J1850 channel module that includes conversion circuitry for J1850 variable pulse width modulation (VPWM) and J1850 pulse width modulation (PWM) communication protocols.

25. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 17, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a pulse code decorder (PCD) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for GM slow baud pulse width modulation (PWM), Ford fast and slow pulse codes and Import pulse code communication protocols.

26. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 17, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a serial communication interface (SCI) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for generic GM, Chrysler and Import SCI communication protocols.

27. The wireless disagnostic system of claim 17, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface includes conversion circuitry for Chrysler collisi8on detection (CCD), Ford data communication links (DCL), heavy duty J1708 and RS232 communication protocols.

28. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 17, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is a serial communication interface(SCI) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for ISO 9141, Ford 9141, Keyword 2000 and Harely-Davidson SCI communication protocols.

29. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 17, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface includes a serial communication interface (SCI) channel module that includes conversion circuitry for an analog-to-digital converter, a controller area network (CAN) and an Import serial peripheral interface (SPI) communication protocol.

30. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 17, wherein the remote station further includes:

an antenna;

a second RF interface coupled to the antenna;

a workstation, the workstation receiving an input from a user and displaying an output to the user; and

a local area network (LAN) coupling the workstation to the second RF interface.

31. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 17, wherein the remote station further includes:

an antenna;

a second RF interface coupled to the antenna;

a processor coupled to the second RF interface, the processor further receiving an input from a user and displaying an output to the user;

a keypad providing the processor with the input from the user; and

a display for displaying the output from the processor to the user.

32. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 17, wherein the RF transceiver operates in a frequency range from about 800 MHZ to about 2.5 GHZ.

33. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 17, wherein the first RF interface further includes a modem for radio packet communication.

34. The wireless diagnostic system of claim 17, wherein the RF transceiver operates in a frequency range from about 800 MHZ to about 2.5 GHZ and the first RF interface further includes a modem for radio packet communication.

35. A method for providing a wireless communication module for communicating with a remote station and a plurality of motor vehicle control units within a single motor vehicle, the plurality of motor vehicle control units implementing at least two different communication protocols, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an RF interface including an RF transceiver for communicating with the remote station;

providing a processor for communicating with the RF interface, the processor further executing a plurality of diagnostic routines and thereby providing commands to one of the plurality of motor vehicle control units in response to an input received from the RF interface, wherein each of the plurality of diagnostic routines corresponds to a selected motor vehicle control unit; and

providing a selectable multiple protocol interface coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the processor, the selectable multiple protocol interface converting the commands from the processor into a format readable by the selected motor vehicle control unit and converting received diagnostic information into a format readable by the processor, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface is implemented solely within the field programmable gate array (FPGA).

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the RF transceiver operates in a frequency range from about 800 MHZ to about 2.5 GHZ.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the RF interface further includes a modem for radio packet communication.

38. The method of claims 35, wherein the RF transceiver operates in a frequency range from about 800 MHZ to about 2.5 GHZ and the RF interface further includes a modem for radio packet communication.

39. A wireless communication module for communicating with a remote station and a plurality of motor vehicle control units within a single motor vehicle, the plurality of motor vehicle control units implementing at least two different communication protocols, the wireless communication module comprising:

an RF communications means including an RF transceiver means for interfacing with the remote station;

processing means for communicating with RF communications means, executing a plurality of translation routines, and providing requests to one of the plurality of motor vehicle control units in response to an input received form the RF communications means, wherein each of the plurality of translation routines corresponds to a selected motor vehicle control unit; and

selectable multiple protocol interface means coupled between coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control unites and the processing means, wherein the selectable multiple protocol converting means is for converting the requests from the processing means into a format readable b the selected motor vehicle control unit, and for converting received diagnostic information into a format readable by the processing means, wherein the selectable multiple protocol interface means is implemented solely within a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

40. The wireless communication module of claim 39, wherein the RF transceiver means operates in a frequency range from about 800 MHZ to about 2.5 GHZ.

41. The wireless communication module of claim 39, wherein the RF communications means further includes a modem means for radio packet communication.

42. The wireless communication module of claim 39, wherein the RF transceiver means operates in a frequency range from about 800 MHZ to about 2.5 GHZ and the RF communication means further includes a modem means for radio packet communications.

43. The wireless communication module of claim 39, 40, 41 or 42, further comprising:

selectable voltage level changing means coupled between the plurality of motor vehicle control units and the selectable multiple protocol interface means, wherein the selectable voltage level changing means changes a voltage level of the requests from the processor or the diagnostic information from the selected motor vehicle control unit to a voltage level compatible with the selected motor vehicle control unit or the processor, respectively.

44. The wireless communication of claims, 39, 40, 41 or 42, further comprising:

storage means coupled to the processing means for storing the translation routines for the selected motor vehicle control unit that response to receipt of the requests from the processing means, and for storing the diagnostic information for transmission to the processing means in response to the requests.