System and method for interfacing between an on-board diagnostic output and a distance measuring instrument input
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- providing an interface device configured to translate data output by a first processor in an in-vehicle system operable to output data associated with a moving vehicle, into an input that is recognized by a second processor in an in-vehicle commercially available distance measurement instrument (DMI) to enable said DMI to operate while said vehicle is moving, without modifying how said DMI normally operates, said DMI comprising an interface for coupling the interface device thereto, said second processor, and a display for displaying real-time distance measurements;
communicating with the in-vehicle system to obtain data from which a distance that the vehicle has travelled can be ascertained, the data being generated by the first processor as the vehicle moves;
using said data to determine said distance;
converting said distance to a series of pulses that resemble pulses generated by a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) in said vehicle to generate the recognized input required by the DMI for said DMI to operate as said DMI normally would, said DMI otherwise requiring an installation kit to access a signal provided by said VSS, said DMI normally operable to count said pulses generated by said VSS to determine said distance; and
providing said series of pulses as said recognized input to said second processor, via an existing data connection with said interface provided by said DMI in real-time during use of said DMI while said vehicle is moving to enable said DMI to display said distance while said vehicle is moving.
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Abstract
A method and system for interfacing and communicating between an in-vehicle device such as an on board diagnostic (OBD) system and an existing distance measurement instrument (DMI) are provided. In one embodiment, the interface sends a plurality of vehicle speed requests to the OBD system to obtain a plurality of vehicle speed measurements, uses the plurality of vehicle speed measurements and time stamps associated therewith to compute a distance travelled during a time interval, converts the distance travelled to a series of pulses, and sends the series of pulses to the DMI.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing an interface device configured to translate data output by a first processor in an in-vehicle system operable to output data associated with a moving vehicle, into an input that is recognized by a second processor in an in-vehicle commercially available distance measurement instrument (DMI) to enable said DMI to operate while said vehicle is moving, without modifying how said DMI normally operates, said DMI comprising an interface for coupling the interface device thereto, said second processor, and a display for displaying real-time distance measurements; communicating with the in-vehicle system to obtain data from which a distance that the vehicle has travelled can be ascertained, the data being generated by the first processor as the vehicle moves; using said data to determine said distance;
converting said distance to a series of pulses that resemble pulses generated by a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) in said vehicle to generate the recognized input required by the DMI for said DMI to operate as said DMI normally would, said DMI otherwise requiring an installation kit to access a signal provided by said VSS, said DMI normally operable to count said pulses generated by said VSS to determine said distance; andproviding said series of pulses as said recognized input to said second processor, via an existing data connection with said interface provided by said DMI in real-time during use of said DMI while said vehicle is moving to enable said DMI to display said distance while said vehicle is moving. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for operating an interface device configured to translate data output by a first processor in an in-vehicle system operable to output data associated with a moving vehicle, into an input that is recognized by a second processor in an in-vehicle commercially available distance measurement instrument (DMI) to enable said DMI to operate while said vehicle is moving, without modifying how said DMI normally operates, said DMI comprising an interface for coupling the interface device thereto, said second processor, and a display for displaying real-time distance measurements, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:
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communicating with the in-vehicle system to obtain data from which a distance that the vehicle has travelled can be ascertained, the data being generated by the first processor as the vehicle moves; using said data to determine said distance; converting said distance to a series of pulses that resemble pulses generated by a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) in said vehicle to generate the recognized input required by the DMI for said DMI to operate as said DMI normally would, said DMI otherwise requiring an installation kit to access a signal provided by said VSS, said DMI normally operable to count said pulses generated by said VSS to determine said distance; and providing said series of pulses as said recognized input to said second processor, via an existing data connection with said interface provided by said DMI in real-time during use of said DMI while said vehicle is moving to enable said DMI to display said distance while said vehicle is moving.
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11. An interface device configured to translate data output by a first processor in an in-vehicle system operable to output data associated with a moving vehicle, into an input that is recognized by a second processor in an in-vehicle commercially available distance measurement instrument (DMI) to enable said DMI to operate while said vehicle is moving, without modifying how said DMI normally operates, said DMI comprising an interface for coupling the interface device thereto, said second processor, and a display for displaying real-time distance measurements, said interface device comprising:
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a first connection compatible with a connector for said in-vehicle system; a second connection compatible with said DMI; and a processor communicable with said first and second connections, wherein said processor is configured to; communicate with said in-vehicle system to obtain data from which a distance that the vehicle has travelled can be ascertained, the data being generated by the first processor as the vehicle moves; use said data to determine said distance; convert said distance to a series of pulses that resemble pulses generated by a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) in said vehicle to generate the recognized input required by the DMI for said DMI to operate as said DMI normally would, said DMI otherwise requiring an installation kit to access a signal provided by said VSS, said DMI normally operable to count said pulses generated by said VSS to determine said distance; and provide said series of pulses as said recognized input to said second processor, via an existing data connection with said interface provided by said DMI in real-time during use of said DMI while said vehicle is moving to enable said DMI to display said distance while said vehicle is moving. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification