Diagnostics, protection, and isolation system for electronic devices on a vehicle data communication bus
First Claim
1. A system for use in programming and diagnostics of electronic devices in a vehicle that communicate via a data communication bus in the vehicle, the system comprising:
- (a) a connector jack having a plurality of electrical connection sites configured for electrical connection to the electronic devices in the vehicle;
(b) a shorting plug configured to removably engage the connector jack, the shorting plug electrically interconnecting the plurality of electrical connection sites to form the data communication bus when the shorting plug is engaged with the connector jack; and
(c) an electronics module configured to removably engage the connector jack in place of the shorting plug, the electronics module including a plurality of switching units that electrically connect to the plurality of electrical connection sites in the connector jack when the electronics module is engaged with the connector jack, wherein the switching units, when set in a closed state, electrically interconnect the electrical connection sites in the connector jack to form the data communication bus, each switching unit being operable independently from the other switching units so that one or more of the switching units may be set in an open state to electrically disconnect an electronic device from the data communication bus.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for use in programming and diagnostics of electronic devices (32) in a vehicle includes a connector jack (36) having a plurality of electrical connection sites configured for electrical connection to the electronic devices (32) in the vehicle. A shorting plug (38) configured to removably engage the connector jack (36) interconnects the plurality of electrical connection sites to form a data communication bus. An electronics module (50) configured to removably engage the connector jack (36) in place of the shorting plug includes a plurality of switching units (56) that, when set in a closed state, electrically interconnect each of the electronic devices (32) to form the data communication bus. Each switching unit (56a, . . . ,56g) in the electronics module (50) is selectively and independently operable to electrically disconnect an electronic device (32) from the data communication bus, especially for programming and diagnostics of the electronic devices (32) in the vehicle.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A system for use in programming and diagnostics of electronic devices in a vehicle that communicate via a data communication bus in the vehicle, the system comprising:
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(a) a connector jack having a plurality of electrical connection sites configured for electrical connection to the electronic devices in the vehicle;
(b) a shorting plug configured to removably engage the connector jack, the shorting plug electrically interconnecting the plurality of electrical connection sites to form the data communication bus when the shorting plug is engaged with the connector jack; and
(c) an electronics module configured to removably engage the connector jack in place of the shorting plug, the electronics module including a plurality of switching units that electrically connect to the plurality of electrical connection sites in the connector jack when the electronics module is engaged with the connector jack, wherein the switching units, when set in a closed state, electrically interconnect the electrical connection sites in the connector jack to form the data communication bus, each switching unit being operable independently from the other switching units so that one or more of the switching units may be set in an open state to electrically disconnect an electronic device from the data communication bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for use in programming electronic devices in a vehicle that communicate via a data communication bus in the vehicle, comprising:
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(a) connecting the electronic devices in the vehicle to the data communication bus via switching units;
(b) connecting a programming device to the data communication bus for transmitting programming codes via the data communication bus to an electronic device in the vehicle that is to be programmed, the switching unit connecting the electronic device to be programmed being set in a closed state;
(c) electrically disconnecting from the data communication bus other electronic devices in the vehicle that are not to be programmed, by setting the switching units that connect the other electronic devices to the data communication bus in an open state; and
(d) transmitting the programming codes from the programming device to the electronic device to be programmed via the data communication bus. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
(e) providing a connector jack having a plurality of electrical connection sites, wherein each electrical connection site is electrically connected to at least one of the electronic devices in the vehicle;
(f) providing an electronics module that removably engages the connector jack, the electronics module including the switching units that connect the electronic devices to the data communication bus; and
(g) instructing the electronics module to electrically disconnect from the data communication bus the other electronic devices that are not to be programmed by setting in an open state the switching units that connect the other electronic units to the data communication bus.
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21. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing a shorting plug configured to removably engage the connector jack in place of the electronics module, the shorting plug interconnecting the plurality of electrical connection sites to form the data communication bus when the shorting plug is engaged with the connector jack.
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22. The method of claim 21, further comprising reconnecting to the data communication bus the other electronic devices that were electrically disconnected from the data communication bus by disengaging the electronics module from the connector jack and engaging the shorting plug with the connector jack.
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23. A method for use in diagnostics of electronic devices in a vehicle that communicate via a data communication bus in the vehicle, the method comprising:
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(a) connecting the electronic devices in the vehicle to the data communication bus via switching units;
(b) monitoring data communicated by the electronic devices on the data communication bus for abnormalities; and
(c) if an abnormality is detected, setting at least one of the switching units in an open state to electrically disconnect from the data communication bus at least one of the electronic devices to help identify the electronic device that is causing the abnormality. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
(a) providing an electronics module that includes the switching units that connect the electronic devices to the data communication bus; and
(b) providing a processing unit in communication with the data communication bus, wherein the processing unit monitors the data communicated by the electronic devices on the data communication bus, and if an abnormality in the data is detected by the processing unit, the processing unit instructs the electronics module to set at least one of the switching units in an open state to electrically disconnect at least one of the electronic devices from the data communication bus.
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27. The method of claim 26, further comprising providing a memory in communication with the processing unit and storing in the memory information relating to an abnormality detected by the processing unit.
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28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
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(a) providing an output device in communication with the processing unit;
(b) producing a report that includes information relating to the detected abnormality; and
(c) transmitting the report to the output device.
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29. An electronics module for use in programming and diagnostics of electronic devices in a vehicle that are configured to communicate via a data communication bus, the electronics module comprising:
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(a) a plurality of switching units configured to connect to the electronic devices in the vehicle, wherein when the switching units are set in a closed state, the electronic devices in the vehicle are interconnected in the electronics module to form the data communication bus, and when set in an open state, the switching units electrically disconnect the electronic devices from the data communication bus; and
(b) a processing unit in communication with the plurality of switching units for selectively setting each of the switching units in an open or closed state. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification