Apparatus, system and method that interfaces with an automobile engine control unit

• US 7,363,129 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Moon Valley Software
• Original Assignee: Moon Valley Software
• Inventors: Ryan, Peter J., Barnicle, Daniel, Mancuso, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KWON, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/620,633
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/29, 701/102
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof

Abstract

The present embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems that interface with automobile Engine Control Units (ECU). In some embodiments, methods are provided that communicate with an ECU by establishing a wireless communication link with a remote device, coupling with an ECU, pairing the remote device with the ECU, identifying a protocol to communicate with the ECU, and transferring communications between the remote device and the ECU.

Claims

1. A method of communicating with an Engine Control Unit (ECU), comprising:

establishing a wireless communication link with a remote device;

coupling with an ECU;

pairing the remote device with the ECU;

identifying a protocol to communicate with the ECU; and

transferring communications between the remote device and the ECU.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pairing comprises:

determining whether a pairing connection command is received;

determining whether a pairing request is received;

determining whether the pairing request is received within a pairing threshold time period from receiving the pairing connection command when it is determined that the pairing connection command was received and the pairing request was received; and

implementing the pairing of the remote device with the ECU when the pairing request is received within the pairing threshold time period from receiving the pairing connection command.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a first time of a rising edge;

detecting a second time of a falling edge;

determining a time difference between the first time of the rising edge and the second time of falling edge and determining a bit value according to the time difference.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a first time of a first falling edge;

detecting a second time of a second subsequent falling edge;

determining a time difference between the first time and the second time; and

determining a bit value according to the time difference.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a logic level transition;

determining a time since previous logic level transition; and

determining a bit value according to the determined time since the previous logic level transition.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the pairing request comprises receiving an access code, and confirming the access code is associated with the ECU.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless connection comprises a Bluetooth connection.

8. An apparatus that provides communication with an Engine Control Unit (ECU), the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver;

a controller coupled with the transceiver such that the transceiver receives communications from the controller and externally transmits the communications, and further receives and forwards received external communications to the controller; and

an interface coupled between the controller and the ECU, where the interface interfaces communications between the controller and the ECU.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

an activation button coupled with the controller that triggers a pairing command at the controller in response to an activation of the activation button.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a voltage adjustment circuitry coupled between the controller and the transceiver that provides voltage adjustment of communications between the controller and the transceiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the voltage adjustment circuitry comprises first and second inverting Negative-Positive-Negative (NPN) transistors.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a first pull-up resistor coupled with the first NPN transistor and a second pull-up resistor coupled with the second NPN transistor.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a resistor-capacitor network that extends a duration that a reset signal is active relative to a length of the received reset signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the resistor-capacitor network extends the length of the reset signal to at least about 5 ms.

15. A method of communicating with an Engine Control Unit (ECU), comprising:

receiving a pairing connection command;

receiving a pairing request from a remote device;

determining whether the pairing request is received within a pairing threshold time since the receiving of the connection command; and

pairing the remote device with an ECU when it is determined that the pairing request is received within the pairing threshold time.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting a first request using a first protocol to an ECU;

determining whether a first response is received to the first request;

transmitting a second request using a second protocol to an ECU when there is no response to the first request;

determining whether a second response is received to the second request;

registering the first protocol when it is determined that the first response is received; and

registering the second protocol when it is determined that the second response is received.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

activating timer in response to the transmission of each of the plurality of requests; and

activating a subsequent one of the plurality of requests when the response is not received within a threshold time period of the transmission.