On-board diagnostic connector module and vehicle diagnostic system

• US 8,818,612 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Das, Rajesh
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMBY, RICHARD M
• Application Number:
  US13/232,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20130066514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 701/31.4, 701/31.5, 701/32.7, 701/33.2, 701/33.4
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 7/00 Details or accessories common to the registering or indicating apparatus of groups G07C3/00 and G07C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0069 having connector relating features for connecting the connector pins with the PCB or for mounting the connector body with the housing

Abstract

A diagnostic connector module for a vehicle includes an electronic communication module and a housing enclosing the electronic communication module. The housing has integrated connectors electrically connected to the electronic communication module. The integrated connectors include a diagnostic service connector for connection with an external diagnostic scan tool and a vehicle bus connector connectable to a vehicle bus. The diagnostic service connector has a plurality of female pin-receptors electrically connected to the electronic communication module, and the vehicle bus connector has a plurality of terminals electrically connected to the electronic communication module. A vehicle diagnostic system including the diagnostic connector module is also provided.

Claims

1. A diagnostic connector module for a vehicle, the module comprising:

an electronic communication module mounted on a printed circuit board; and

a housing enclosing the electronic communication module, the housing having integrated connectors electrically connected to the electronic communication module, the integrated connectors including

a diagnostic service connector integrally molded as a single piece with a first housing member and forming an on-board diagnostic port of the vehicle for connection with an external diagnostic scan tool via OBD-ll protocol, the diagnostic service connector having a plurality of female pin-receptors electrically connected to the electronic communication module, and

a vehicle bus connector integrally molded as a single piece with a second housing member, the vehicle bus connector being connectable to a vehicle bus and having a plurality of terminals electrically connected to the electronic communication module,

wherein the plurality of female pin-receptors for the diagnostic service connector includes a plurality of female-female box terminals coupled to the printed circuit board via male terminals extending from a first side of the printed circuit board, and the plurality of terminals for the vehicle bus connector includes a plurality of male terminals extending from a side of the printed circuit board opposite the first side, and

wherein each of the first and second housing members includes a hood and a pair of adjacent channels configured to direct water away from the corresponding one of the diagnostic service connector and the vehicle bus connector.

2. The diagnostic connector module of claim 1, wherein the vehicle bus connector is a controller-area network (CAN) protocol bus connector configured to be coupled to a vehicle instrument panel where power/ground and vehicle CAN busses are active.

3. The diagnostic connector module of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing members are provided with a snap-together coupling interface.

4. The diagnostic connector module of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second housing members has an external face facing away from the other of the first and second housing members when connected, and wherein at least one of the first and second housing members includes an integral mounting flange projecting outwardly from the external face thereof.

5. A vehicle diagnostic system comprising:

an electronic control unit on-board the vehicle and configured to monitor at least one vehicle system for one or more fault conditions and to generate one or more corresponding fault codes;

a vehicle bus plug connector on-board the vehicle, the vehicle bus plug connector being non-compatible with OBD-ll protocol;

a vehicle bus extending between and coupling the vehicle bus plug connector with the electronic control unit to enable the communication of electrical signals between the electronic control unit and the vehicle bus plug connector; and

a removable diagnostic connector module including

a diagnostic service connector forming an on-board diagnostic port of the vehicle for establishing connection with an external diagnostic scan tool via OBD-ll protocol,

an electronic communication module electrically coupled with the diagnostic service connector,

a housing enclosing the electronic communication module, and

an integrated vehicle bus connector having a plurality of terminals electrically connected to the electronic communication module, the plurality of terminals being configured for making a plug-type connection with the vehicle bus plug connector,

wherein the electronic communication module of the diagnostic connector module is configured to transfer the one or more fault codes from the electronic control unit to an external diagnostic scan tool via the diagnostic service connector of the diagnostic connector module, and

wherein the electronic control unit on-board the vehicle is only operable to communicate with the external diagnostic scan tool when the diagnostic connector module is coupled to the vehicle bus plug connector.

6. The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 5, wherein the vehicle bus is a controller-area network (CAN) protocol bus, and wherein the vehicle bus plug connector and the integrated vehicle bus connector of the diagnostic connector module are CAN protocol bus connectors.

7. The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 5, wherein the vehicle bus is further connected to an instrument panel provided on a dashboard of the vehicle and configured to visually indicate the presence of the one or more fault codes.

8. The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 7, wherein the vehicle bus plug connector is provided on the dashboard, and the diagnostic connector module is removably coupled to the dashboard.

9. The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 8, wherein the housing of the diagnostic connector module includes at least one mounting flange having at least one mounting aperture for attachment to the dashboard.

10. The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 5, wherein the housing includes at least one integral hood covering at least one of the diagnostic service connector and the integrated vehicle bus connector.

11. The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 10, wherein the housing includes at least one external drain channel configured to receive water incident on the at least one integral hood and to direct water away from at least one of the diagnostic service connector and the vehicle bus connector.

12. The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 5, wherein the housing includes first and second mateable housing members, the first housing member including the diagnostic service connector, and the second housing member including the integrated vehicle bus connector.

13. The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 5, wherein the electronic communication module includes a microcontroller mounted on a printed circuit board enclosed within the housing.

14. The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 5, wherein the electronic communication module is mounted on a printed circuit board enclosed within the housing, wherein the diagnostic service connector includes a first plurality of terminals extending from the printed circuit board, and the integrated vehicle bus connector includes a second plurality of terminals extending from the printed circuit board.

15. The vehicle diagnostic system of claim 14, wherein the first plurality of terminals extend from the printed circuit board in a first direction, and the second plurality of terminals extend from the printed circuit board in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction.