ASCII gateway to in-vehicle networks
First Claim
1. A system for providing data communications between a motor vehicle electronic control module network and an RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device, said motor vehicle electronic control module network using one or more of a plurality of different protocols, the system comprising:
- a microprocessor-based hardware having vehicle communications network bus circuitry for interfacing with said motor vehicle electronic control module network, said microprocessor-based hardware also having at least one port, at least one connector used with said at least one port for connecting said microprocessor-based hardware with said RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device, and programmed with software to translate communications between the vehicle communications network bus circuitry and the at least one port;
universal asynchronous transmit and receive (UART) circuitry operable as part of said microprocessor-based hardware for providing universal asynchronous communication between said microprocessor-based hardware and said ASCII-text capable device, and between said microprocessor-based hardware and said motor vehicle electronic control network; and
wherein said microprocessor-based hardware is connected to said RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device, said RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device transmits ASCII-text to the microprocessor-based hardware and receives ASCII-text from the microprocessor-based hardware, where the microprocessor-based hardware is able to convert the ASCII-text to any one of the plurality of protocols that the motor vehicle electronic control module network may be using, and convert the protocol that the motor vehicle electronic control module network is using to ASCII-text so that the motor vehicle electronic control module network can communicate with and receive one or more of a plurality of commands from the RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device through the microprocessor-based hardware in more than one of said plurality of protocols, said microprocessor-based hardware being operable to monitor and translate messages between said plurality of protocols at the same time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
ASCII gateway to in-vehicle system provides bi-directional translation between multiplexed motor vehicle networks and industrial control and monitoring devices. Integrated hardware and software components provide data communications between motor vehicle electronic control module networks and RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device, for industrial control and/or industrial automation application in manufacturing or assembly operations. Communications networks (CAN, SAE or ISO protocols) implemented inside motor vehicles pass data between electronic control modules that control operation of important vehicle components like engine, transmission and brake systems, have their messages converted to RS-232 serial ASCII-text; and from RS-232 serial ASCII-text converted to motor vehicle communications network by the system. Messages to monitor and/or control vehicle networks are generated by a serial ASCII-test capable device. Multiple vehicle protocols are supported by the system. The system translates between RS-232 serial ASCII-text message generated or received by a device and the vehicle network.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for providing data communications between a motor vehicle electronic control module network and an RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device, said motor vehicle electronic control module network using one or more of a plurality of different protocols, the system comprising:
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a microprocessor-based hardware having vehicle communications network bus circuitry for interfacing with said motor vehicle electronic control module network, said microprocessor-based hardware also having at least one port, at least one connector used with said at least one port for connecting said microprocessor-based hardware with said RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device, and programmed with software to translate communications between the vehicle communications network bus circuitry and the at least one port; universal asynchronous transmit and receive (UART) circuitry operable as part of said microprocessor-based hardware for providing universal asynchronous communication between said microprocessor-based hardware and said ASCII-text capable device, and between said microprocessor-based hardware and said motor vehicle electronic control network; and wherein said microprocessor-based hardware is connected to said RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device, said RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device transmits ASCII-text to the microprocessor-based hardware and receives ASCII-text from the microprocessor-based hardware, where the microprocessor-based hardware is able to convert the ASCII-text to any one of the plurality of protocols that the motor vehicle electronic control module network may be using, and convert the protocol that the motor vehicle electronic control module network is using to ASCII-text so that the motor vehicle electronic control module network can communicate with and receive one or more of a plurality of commands from the RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device through the microprocessor-based hardware in more than one of said plurality of protocols, said microprocessor-based hardware being operable to monitor and translate messages between said plurality of protocols at the same time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for providing data communications between a motor vehicle electronic control module network and an RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device, the system comprising:
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a microprocessor-based hardware having vehicle communications network bus circuitry for interfacing with said motor vehicle electronic control module network, said microprocessor-based hardware also having at least one port, at least one connector used with said at least one port for connecting said microprocessor-based hardware with said RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device, and programmed with software to translate communications between the vehicle communications network bus circuitry and the at least one port; universal asynchronous transmit and receive (UART) circuitry operable as part of said microprocessor-based hardware for providing universal asynchronous communication between said microprocessor-based hardware and said ASCII-text capable device, and between said microprocessor-based hardware and said motor vehicle electronic control network; and wherein said microprocessor-based hardware is connected to the RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device, said RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device transmits ASCII-text to the microprocessor-based hardware and receives ASCII-text from the microprocessor-based hardware, where the microprocessor-based hardware is able to convert the ASCII-text to any one of a plurality of different protocols that the motor vehicle electronic control module network may be using, and convert the protocol that the motor vehicle electronic control module network is using to ASCII-text so that the module network can communicate with, and receive one or more of a plurality of commands from, the RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device through said microprocessor-based hardware in more than one of said plurality of protocols, said microprocessor-based hardware being operable to monitor and translate messages between said plurality of protocols at the same time, said system further comprising pass-through mode circuitry including a voltage translator, said pass-through mode circuitry translating the voltage of signals passing through the system between the motor vehicle electronic control module network and the RS-232 serial ASCII-text capable device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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15. The system according to 14 wherein the ASCII-text capable device is selected from the group consisting of a programmable logic controller, a microcomputer and a personal digital assistant.
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16. The system according to 14 wherein the plurality of protocols are selected from the group consisting of SAE J1850 GM class 2 protocol, SAE J1850 Chrysler protocol, GM class 1 UART protocol, ISO 9141-2 protocol, ISO 9141-1989 protocol, ISO 9141-special protocol, SAE J2284 dual-wire CAN protocol and SAE J2411 single wire CAN protocol.
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21. A system for converting signals transmitted between a vehicle network and an ASCII-text external device, said vehicle network using one or more of a plurality of different protocols, said system comprising:
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an RS-232 port for coupling the ASCII-text external device to the system; universal asynchronous transmit and receive (UART) circuitry operable for providing universal asynchronous communication between said microprocessor-based hardware and said ASCII-text capable device, and between said microprocessor-based hardware and said motor vehicle electronic control network; and circuitry responsive to signals from the vehicle network and signals from the ASCII-text external device, said circuitry converting ASCII-text signals from the ASCII-text external device to any one of the plurality of protocols that the vehicle network may be using and converting signals in any of the protocols from the vehicle network to ASCII-text such that said ASCII-text external device is operable to send one or more of a plurality of commands to the vehicle network and said circuitry provides communication between said ASCII-text external device and said vehicle network in more than one of said plurality of protocols, said microprocessor-based hardware being operable to monitor and translate messages between said plurality of protocols at the same time, said circuitry further including a voltage translator for voltage translating signals transmitted between the vehicle network and the ASCII-text external device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification