In-vehicle wiring harness with multiple adaptors for an on-board diagnostic connector

• US 7,225,065 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HTI IP LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hunt, Robert, Washicko, Paul L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAULIEU, YONEL
• Application Number:
  US10/831,952
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 701 29- 34, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 439/34, 439/49, 439/638, 439/653, 702/183, 324/500, 324/503, 324/512
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/675 with contacts having at least a slotted plate for penetration of cable insulation, e.g. insulation displacement contacts for round conductor flat cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/24 Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands

Abstract

An embodiment provides a wiring harness that connects a telematics device to a host vehicle. One embodiment of the wiring harness may include: 1) a cable featuring a plurality of wires; 2) a first connector featuring a snap-on adaptor that attaches to a connector core with a pin configuration that mates with a diagnostic scan tool; 3) a second connector that connects to an in-vehicle diagnostic system; and 4) a third connector that connects to the telematics device. A wiring kit embodiment and method embodiments for coupling a telematics device to a host vehicle are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A wiring harness for connecting a telematics device to a host vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of electrical conductors;

a first connector electrically coupled to at least some of the electrical conductors, said first connector configured to be coupled to a diagnostic scan tool;

a second connector electrically coupled to at least some of the electrical conductors and being configured to be connected to an in-vehicle diagnostic system; and

a third connector electrically coupled to at least one of the electrical conductors and configured to be coupled to the telematics device.

2. The wiring harness of claim 1, further comprising a first connector portion that mates to the first connector, and a second connector portion that mates with the second connector.

3. The wiring harness of claim 2, wherein the first and second connector portions each comprise IDC connectors.

4. The wiring harness of claim 2, wherein the first connector further comprises a first set of metal contacts that mate with the diagnostic scan tool, and a second set of metal contacts that mate with the first connector portion.

5. The wiring harness of claim 4, wherein the first connector further comprises a printed circuit board that provides electrical contact between the first and second set of metal contacts.

6. The wiring harness of claim 1 wherein said first connector comprises:

a connector core having a pin configuration for mating with the diagnostic scan tool; and

an adaptor coupled to said connector core.

7. The wiring harness of claim 6, wherein the adaptor comprises an opening configured to receive the connector core therein.

8. The wiring harness of claim 6 wherein said adaptor is configured to be snapped onto said connector core.

9. The wiring harness of claim 7 wherein said adaptor is configured to be snapped onto said connector core.

10. The wiring harness of claim 6, wherein the connector core comprises sixteen metallized cavities.

11. The wiring harness of claim 1, wherein the first connector is a female connector that mates with an on-board diagnostic male connector.

12. The wiring harness of claim 11, wherein the first connector comprises sixteen metallized pins.

13. The wiring harness of claim 1, wherein the second connector is a male connector that mates with an on-board diagnostic female connector.

14. The wiring harness of claim 13, wherein the second connector comprises sixteen metal pins.

15. The wiring harness of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors is configured so that:

the first connector may electrically communicate with the second connector, and

the third connector may electrically communicate with the second connector.

16. The wiring harness of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors is configured so that the harness is in a “

Y”

shape, with one connector at each end of the “

Y.”

17. A wiring harness for connecting a telematics device to a host vehicle, comprising:

a cable comprising a plurality of wires;

a first connector, in electrical contact with the cable, said first connector comprising;

a connector core; and

a snap-on adaptor configured to attach around a perimeter of the connector core;

a second connector, in electrical contact with the cable and configured to connect to an in-vehicle diagnostic system; and

a third connector, in electrical contact with the cable and configured to connect to the telematics device.

18. The wiring harness of claim 17, wherein the cable further comprises a first connector portion that mates with the first connector, and a second connector portion that mates with the second connector.

19. The wiring harness of claim 18, wherein the first and second connector portions each comprise IDC connectors.

20. The wiring harness of claim 18, wherein the first connector further comprises a first set of metal contacts that mate with a diagnostic scan tool, and a second set of metal contacts that mate with the first connector portion.

21. The wiring harness of claim 20, wherein the first connector further comprises a printed circuit board that provides electrical contact between the first and second set of metal contacts.

22. The wiring harness of claim 17, wherein the connector core comprises sixteen metallized cavities.

23. The wiring harness of claim 17, wherein the first connector is a female connector that mates with an on-board diagnostic male connector.

24. The wiring harness of claim 23, wherein the first connector comprises sixteen metallized cavities.

25. The wiring harness of claim 17, wherein the second connector is a male connector that mates with an on-board diagnostic female connector.

26. The wiring harness of claim 25, wherein the second connector comprises sixteen metal pins.

27. A wiring harness for connecting a telematics device to a host vehicle, comprising:

a cable comprising a plurality of wires;

a first 16-cavity connector, in electrical contact with the cable, comprising a connector core and a connector configured to attach to the connector core;

a second 16-pin connector, in electrical contact with the cable, configured to connect to an in-vehicle diagnostic system; and

a third connector, in electrical contact with the cable, configured to connect to the telematics device.

28. The wiring harness of claim 27, wherein the first 16-cavity connector is a female connector that mates with an on-board diagnostic male connector.

29. The wiring harness of claim 27, wherein the second 16-pin connector is a male connector that mates with an on-board diagnostic female connector.

30. A wiring kit for connecting a telematics device to a host vehicle, comprising:

a wiring harness comprising;

an electrically conductive cable;

a first connector, in electrical contact with the electrically conductive cable and having a connector core;

a second connector, in electrical contact with the electrically conductive cable and being configured to connect to an in-vehicle diagnostic system; and

a third connector, in electrical contact with the electrically conductive cable and being configured to connect to the telematics device; and

a plurality of adaptors, each configured to be selectively attached to the connector core.

31. A wiring kit for electrically connecting a telematics device to an engine control unit of a vehicle selected from a plurality of vehicles each having a telematics device and an engine control unit and a diagnostic connector unique to a type of vehicle, said wiring kit comprising:

an electrical cable;

a first connector in electrical contact with the electrical cable;

a plurality of adaptors, each adaptor being selectively attachable to the first connector and at least one adaptor being configured to facilitate electrically coupling the first connector to a core connector that corresponds to the diagnostic connector of the selected vehicle;

a second connector mounted in electrical contact with the engine control unit of the selected vehicle control unit; and

a third connector in electrical contact with the cable and being configured to be connected to the telematics device within the selected vehicle.

32. The wiring kit of claim 31 wherein said core connector corresponding to the diagnostic connector of the selected vehicle is electrically coupled to the first connector by:

an IDC connector electrically coupleable to said first connector; and

a printed circuit board electrically coupleable to said IDC connector and said core connector.

33. The wiring kit of claim 32 wherein said IDC connector comprises:

an IDC connector core portion; and

a plurality of pins supported in said IDC connector core portion and protruding from opposing sides thereof.

34. The wiring kit of claim 31 wherein said second connector is mounted in electrical contact with the engine control unit of the selected vehicle by an on-board diagnostic connector coupled to the second connector and another on-board diagnostic connector coupled to the engine control unit.

35. The wiring kit of claim 31 wherein each said adaptor has a form factor that differs from the form factors of other of said adaptors.

36. The wiring kit of claim 35 wherein each form factor is unique to a particular type of vehicle.

37. Apparatus for connecting a telematics device to a host vehicle, comprising:

means for defining an electrical conductive path;

first means for electrically coupling a diagnostic scan tool to means for defining an electrically conductive path;

second means for electrically coupling the means for defining an electrically conductive path to a vehicle diagnostic system; and

third means for electrically coupling the means for defining an electrically conductive path to the telematics device.

38. A wiring harness arrangement for connecting a telematics device to a host vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of first electrical conductors;

a first connector electrically coupled to at least some of the first electrical conductors and being configured to be connected to an in-vehicle diagnostic system; and

a second connector electrically coupled to at least one of the first electrical conductors and configured to be coupled to the telematics device;

a plurality of second electrical conductors, configured to be connected to the telematics device; and

a third electrical connector electrically coupled to at least some of the second electrical conductors and being configured to be coupled to a diagnostic scan tool.

39. A wiring harness for connecting a telematics device to a host vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of conductors;

a vampire tap electrically coupled to at least some of the electrical conductors and being configured to be connected to an in-vehicle diagnostic system; and

a first connector electrically coupled to at least one of the electrical conductors and configured to be coupled to the telematics device.